BSU is coming off a 28-21 loss at Toledo, which has clinched the MAC West crown. However, a Cardinals win this week or at interdivision rival Miami Nov. 22 would give BSU bowl eligibility.
Ball State and Ohio are set to face off for the 27th time in series history. The Bobcats have won six of the last eight meetings since 1999, including each of the last three duels. The Cardinals are 8-4 when welcoming Ohio to Muncie all-time. In addition, Ball State is 6-2 against Ohio when the two teams meet in November.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
OHIO BOBCATS (5-1 MAC, 7-3 OVERALL)
~~ The 'Cats have already qualified for bowl eligibility.
~~ Winners of five straight, Ohio moved into first place with by beating previously MAC-undefeated Buffalo two weeks ago and following that up with a 37-21 victory at rival Miami last week.
~~ Ohio outgained MU 556-313 and held the RedHawks run game to 69 yards.
~~ Junior QB Kurtis Rourke completed 25-of-35 against Miami, good for 362 yards with three TDs. Miles Cross led Bobcat receivers with six catches totaling 133 yards. Jacoby Jones recorded two touchdowns among his four catches for 78 yards.
~~ Sieh Bangura was a key contributor, logging 20 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown while rushing. He also had a 27-yard TD reception.
~~ As of Nov. 11, Rourke is ranked fourth in the NCAA in passing yards, with 3,087. He is also seventh in passing efficiency and
ninth in passing yards per game.
~~ Nathanial Vakos has had a strong freshman season, going 15-for-18 on field goals and 38-for-39 on PATs. So far this
season, he’s scored 83 points.
~~ Ohio ranks first (MAC) in total offense (444.2 ypg), first in pass offense (314.7 ypg) and second in scoring (33.8 ppg).
~~ The Bobcats are 10th in scoring defense (32.0 ppg), 12/last in total defense (465.0 ypg), fifth in rushing defense (148.8 ypg) and 12/last in pass defense (316.2 ypg).
BALL STATE CARDINALS (3-3 MAC, 5-5 OVERALL)
~~ The Cardinals are coming off a 28-21 loss at Toledo. That contest was tied 7-7 after one quarter, 14-14 after two quarters and 21-21 after three periods. UT, however, scored the only points in the final period when DeQuan Finn tossed an 8-yard pass to Jamal Turner with 1:18 remaining.
~~ Ball State stayed with the Rockets despite being outgained 437-281. UT also had a 24-16 edge in first downs.
~~ Carson Steele ran 28 times, picking up 198 yards and scoring three TDs against Toledo. Had 192 yards the previous week and has been over 100 yards in each of his last five games. He exceeded the century mark in eight of 10 2021 contests. He leads all MAC rushers, averaging 128.0 ypg on the year.
~~ Quarterback John Paddock completed 13-of-35 attempts against Toledo. That yielded 94 yards. He also threw one interception.
~ Paddock is completing 59.6 percent of his passes in 2021. The junior has thrown 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
~~ BSU has recorded four comebacks of at least 10 points this season, which is the most in all of FBS.
~~ The Cardinals have averaged 33 points per game in contests following a loss. They are 3-1 in those outings.
~~ Ball State is aiming to accomplish something that has never been done in program history: make it to a bowl game in three straight seasons. The Cardinals have appeared in two straight seasons three times: 2007-08, 2012-13 and 2020-21, and have won 18 games over the past two-plus campaigns, which is tied with Toledo for the most in the Mid-American Conference.
~~ In the last five games, Ball State has recorded 34 tackles-for-loss, including 15 sacks. In the five previous games, the Cardinals had 22 tackles-for-loss and five sacks.