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With its nonconference slate now complete, Ball State football can fully shift its focus to conference play with five MAC games left on the schedule.
Up first is a homecoming matchup with interstate rival Northern Illinois in the Battle for the Bronze Stalk. Ball State and NIU have played for the trophy since 2008. The Cardinals have taken home the last two Bronze Stalks and four of the last five. The trophy, consisting of several cornstalks, pays tribute to the prevalence of the crop throughout the two states.
Ball State (2-5, 1-2) is coming off a 24-14 loss at Vanderbilt in which the defense looked the best it has all season. NIU (4-3, 1-2) clinched a signature win in Week 2 with a 16-14 upset of then-No. 7 Notre Dame but has gone 2-3 since then. The Huskies lost 13-6 to Toledo last week.
More: Ball State football: 3 takeaways from hard-fought road loss to Vanderbilt
More: ‘We’re getting better every week’: Ball State defense gains confidence vs Vanderbilt
Ball State and NIU are set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Scheumann Stadium. Here’s a scouting report, as well as a score prediction, for Ball State football vs. Northern Illinois in the Battle for the Bronze Stalk.
Two head coaches, two proud alumni
Both teams are led by former players who returned to their alma maters as head coaches.
Ball State’s Mike Neu played quarterback for the Cardinals from 1990-93. As a senior, he led Ball State to a MAC championship and was named the the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. He spent some time as a QB coach in the Arena Football League, college football, and the NFL before returning to Ball State as the head coach in 2016.
On the other side, NIU coach Thomas Hammock was a running back for the Huskies from 1999-2002. He ran for 2,432 yards in 32 games, including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ball-state-football-niu-scouting-070100271.html
Author : The Star Press
Publish date : 2024-10-25 07:01:00
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