Ball State Cardinals 2026 Football Schedule Breakdown, Predictions and Prop Bets

The Ball State Cardinals enter the 2026 college football season looking to take another step forward in Year Two under head coach Mike Uremovich.

Ball State finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play during Uremovich’s first season. That represented a one-win overall improvement and a one-win conference improvement from 2024. The Cardinals produced impressive home victories over New Hampshire, Ohio, Akron and Kent State, but struggled badly away from Muncie. Ball State went 4-1 at Scheumann Stadium and 0-7 on the road in 2025.

That road record becomes especially important when evaluating the 2026 schedule.

Ball State has only five home games and seven road contests. The Cardinals open against preseason No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus, later travel to Liberty and Northwestern during nonconference play, and must play MAC road games against Kent State, Bowling Green, Massachusetts and Ohio.

Expectations remain modest.

Ball State was selected 11th in the 13-team MAC preseason coaches poll with 34 points. Defending champion Western Michigan was picked first, followed by Miami, Toledo, Ohio and Central Michigan. Only Sacramento State and Massachusetts were projected below the Cardinals.

The encouraging news is that Ball State does not face Western Michigan or Miami during the regular season. Those teams occupied the top two positions in the preseason poll. The Cardinals also get third-place Toledo at Scheumann Stadium rather than traveling to the Glass Bowl.

The roster has undergone significant changes.

Uremovich welcomes 58 new players, including 34 transfers. The offensive line could become one of the more stable areas of the team, with left tackle Chris Hood, center Cole Mosier and right tackle Tristan Cook returning with 43 combined career starts. Hood leads the roster with 20 starts.

Quarterback is the most important question.

Transfers Keldric Luster and Tyler Mizzell handled most of the first-team work during the spring. Luster arrives from Texas State after previously playing at SMU, while Mizzell transferred from Division II Concord. Redshirt freshman Khalel Wright provides another athletic option behind them.

Whoever wins the position must improve an offense that averaged only 15.8 points and 271.7 total yards per game last season. Ball State averaged 139.9 passing yards and 131.8 rushing yards while scoring only 23 offensive touchdowns.

The schedule gives Uremovich several opportunities to demonstrate progress, but the Cardinals must find a way to win away from Scheumann Stadium if they hope to approach bowl eligibility.

Ball State Cardinals 2026 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time and TV

Saturday, Sept. 5at Ohio State Ohio Stadium 12:30 p.m., BTN

Saturday, Sept. 12 Stony Brook Scheumann Stadium 2 p.m., ESPN+

Saturday, Sept. 19 at Liberty Williams Stadium 4 p.m., ESPN+

Saturday, Sept. 26 at Kent State Dix Stadium TBA

Saturday, Oct. 3 Toledo Scheumann Stadium TBA

Saturday, Oct. 10 at Northwestern Evanston, Illinois TBA

Saturday, Oct. 17 at Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium TBA

Saturday, Oct. 24 Sacramento State Scheumann Stadium TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts 7 or 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 Buffalo Scheumann Stadium 7 or 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Ohio Peden Stadium Evening window

Saturday, Nov. 28 Central Michigan Scheumann Stadium Noon

Saturday, Dec. 5 MAC Championship Game Ford Field, Detroit Noon, ESPN

The MAC Championship Game is included for reference but is not guaranteed. Ball State must finish among the top two teams in the conference standings to qualify.

September 5: at Ohio State

Ball State begins the season against perhaps the most difficult opponent it could possibly face.

Ohio State enters 2026 ranked No. 1 in the preseason Coaches Poll and will play the Cardinals at Ohio Stadium. Ball State will be a massive underdog. Current markets have Ohio State favored by roughly 50 points.

This game should be viewed differently from the rest of the schedule.

Ball State’s primary goal is not to determine whether it can compete with the nation’s preseason No. 1 team. The Cardinals need to evaluate their quarterback, test the rebuilt roster against elite competition and leave Columbus healthy enough to begin the portion of the schedule where victories are realistically available.

The quarterback will immediately face an enormous challenge.

Ohio State’s speed and pass rush should punish mistakes, meaning Ball State must use quick throws and the running game to prevent the offense from consistently facing third-and-long.

Defensively, avoiding explosive plays will be extremely difficult.

A competitive opening quarter would provide some confidence, but the result of this game should have little influence on how Ball State’s season is ultimately judged.

Difficulty level: Extremely high

September 12: Stony Brook

Ball State’s home opener may already feel like a must-win game.

Stony Brook visits Scheumann Stadium during Family Weekend in the first meeting between the programs.

After beginning at Ohio State, the Cardinals need an opportunity to establish offensive rhythm and confidence.

This is that opportunity.

Ball State’s offensive line should have a more favorable matchup, giving the Cardinals an opportunity to establish the running game and provide their new quarterback with manageable situations.

The defense also needs to demonstrate improvement after surrendering nearly 30 points per game last season.

Ball State was 4-1 at home in 2025.

Protecting Scheumann Stadium needs to remain a major part of the program’s identity, especially because the Cardinals have only five home games this season.

A loss here would immediately create serious concerns about the possibility of reaching four or five victories.

Difficulty level: Low to moderate

September 19: at Liberty

Ball State travels to Lynchburg for another difficult nonconference game.

Liberty has developed into one of the more successful Group of Five programs in recent years and should provide a much more realistic test than Ohio State while still entering with a significant preseason advantage over the Cardinals.

The major concern is Ball State’s road performance.

The Cardinals did not win a single game away from Muncie last season.

That means every 2026 road game becomes an opportunity to prove that Uremovich has changed something fundamental about the team.

Liberty should have enough offensive talent to challenge Ball State’s rebuilt defense, while Williams Stadium gives the Flames a legitimate home-field advantage.

The Cardinals need to run the football effectively and avoid putting an inexperienced quarterback in obvious passing situations.

An upset would dramatically improve Ball State’s bowl chances.

Realistically, however, Liberty should enter as the favorite.

Difficulty level: High

September 26: at Kent State

Ball State begins MAC play at Kent State.

This is one of the most important games on the schedule.

Kent State was selected eighth in the preseason MAC poll with 64 points. Ball State was picked 11th with 34.

The preseason expectations suggest Kent State should be favored, but Ball State already proved it can beat the Golden Flashes.

The Cardinals earned a 17-13 victory over Kent State at Scheumann Stadium last season.

The challenge is moving the matchup to Kent.

Ball State must prove it can reproduce its home success on the road.

A victory would accomplish several things simultaneously: end the road losing streak, begin conference play 1-0 and give Ball State confidence that it can outperform its 11th-place preseason projection.

This may be the first true measuring-stick game of the season.

Difficulty level: Moderate

October 3: Toledo

Ball State’s first MAC home game comes against one of the conference favorites.

Toledo was picked third in the preseason coaches poll with 115 points, trailing only Western Michigan and Miami.

The Rockets defeated Ball State 38-9 last season in Toledo.

The rematch moves to Scheumann Stadium for Community Day.

Ball State’s strong home performance last year gives the Cardinals at least some reason for optimism, but Toledo represents a major step up from the teams Ball State defeated in Muncie during 2025.

The Cardinals need to avoid falling behind early.

Toledo is capable of controlling a game through its running attack and defensive pressure. If Ball State becomes one-dimensional offensively, the matchup could quickly become difficult.

The offensive line will be tested, and whoever wins the quarterback job must protect the football.

An upset would immediately become one of Uremovich’s biggest victories at Ball State.

Difficulty level: Very high

October 10: at Northwestern

Ball State steps out of conference play for a Big Ten road game against Northwestern.

This is the Cardinals’ third and final FBS nonconference road matchup.

Northwestern represents a much more realistic upset opportunity than Ohio State, but Ball State will still face the depth and resources of a Big Ten program.

The Wildcats should possess advantages along both lines of scrimmage.

For Ball State, the matchup provides an opportunity to test how much progress the offense has made since the Ohio State opener.

The Cardinals need explosive plays from their skill-position players. Producing long scoring drives against a Power Four defense could be difficult.

The schedule position is also interesting.

Ball State will already have played Kent State and Toledo in MAC competition and travels to Bowling Green the following week.

The Cardinals cannot allow a nonconference loss to affect their focus on the games that determine their MAC standing.

Difficulty level: High

October 17: at Bowling Green

The trip to Bowling Green is another critical conference opportunity.

Bowling Green was picked ninth in the preseason MAC poll, only two positions ahead of Ball State. The Falcons received 59 points compared with Ball State’s 34.

That makes this one of the most realistic conference road victories available.

It is also Ball State’s fourth road game during a five-game stretch.

The Cardinals will have traveled to Kent State, Northwestern and Bowling Green with only the Toledo home game breaking up the road schedule.

Depth and fatigue could become factors.

Bowling Green should view Ball State in much the same way: as a game it needs to win if it hopes to outperform preseason expectations.

That could create a close, physical matchup.

Turnovers and special teams may decide it.

Difficulty level: Moderate to high

October 24: Sacramento State

Ball State finally returns home for Homecoming against Sacramento State.

The Hornets enter their first season as an FBS football program and were selected 12th in the MAC preseason poll, one position behind Ball State.

This is one of the games the Cardinals absolutely need to win.

Sacramento State will have talent and motivation as it begins its FBS transition, but playing in Muncie should provide Ball State with a major advantage.

The matchup also arrives after a difficult stretch that includes Toledo, Northwestern and Bowling Green.

Homecoming provides an opportunity for the Cardinals to reset before November MACtion.

The offensive line should be able to establish the running game, while the defense must prevent Sacramento State from generating confidence through early explosive plays.

If Ball State is going to exceed its preseason expectations, this is the kind of home game it must control.

Difficulty level: Moderate

November 4: at Massachusetts

Ball State begins November MACtion with a Wednesday night road game at Massachusetts.

The Minutemen were selected 13th and last in the preseason MAC poll with 25 points. Ball State finished two positions ahead.

On paper, this is Ball State’s most favorable conference road matchup.

The problem is that the Cardinals were winless on the road last season.

Until Ball State proves it can consistently win away from Scheumann Stadium, no road game should be considered easy.

The schedule does provide additional preparation time. Ball State will have 11 days between Sacramento State and Massachusetts.

That should allow the coaching staff to recover physically and prepare for the transition into midweek football.

A bowl push probably requires Ball State to win this game.

Difficulty level: Moderate

November 11: Buffalo

Ball State returns home six days later to face Buffalo.

The Bulls were selected sixth in the MAC preseason coaches poll with 81 points, significantly ahead of the Cardinals.

This may be one of Ball State’s toughest home games.

Buffalo should bring a physical roster capable of challenging the Cardinals at the line of scrimmage.

The short turnaround from Massachusetts creates another concern.

Ball State will have less than a week to recover from a road game before facing a team projected in the upper half of the conference.

Scheumann Stadium needs to provide an advantage.

If the Cardinals enter November still pursuing bowl eligibility, this could become one of the season’s most important games.

Difficulty level: High

November 17: at Ohio

Ball State travels to Athens for one of its most difficult MAC games.

Ohio was selected fourth in the preseason coaches poll with 107 points and has won 40 games over the previous four seasons.

There is one major reason Ball State should have confidence.

The Cardinals defeated Ohio 20-14 in Muncie last season.

That was Ball State’s best victory of the 2025 campaign.

Repeating it will be much more difficult.

Ohio has built one of the MAC’s strongest home-field advantages and enters 2026 riding a long winning streak at Peden Stadium.

Ball State must replicate the defensive formula that worked last season: prevent explosive plays, keep the score low and create an opportunity to win during the fourth quarter.

Offensively, the Cardinals cannot waste possessions.

This will be Ball State’s third game in 13 days.

Depth and recovery will be crucial.

Difficulty level: Very high

November 28: Central Michigan

Ball State closes the regular season against Central Michigan at Scheumann Stadium.

The Chippewas were picked fifth in the preseason MAC poll with 101 points, placing them well above Ball State’s 11th-place projection.

The schedule gives Ball State an important advantage.

The Cardinals will have 11 days after playing Ohio before facing Central Michigan.

That recovery period could be extremely valuable after three consecutive midweek games.

The matchup may also carry bowl implications.

If Ball State enters at 5-6, this becomes a postseason elimination game. Even at 4-7, a victory would provide momentum and demonstrate measurable improvement.

Central Michigan’s physical style will challenge Ball State’s offensive line.

The Cardinals need to establish the running game and prevent the Chippewas from controlling possession.

Ending the season with a home victory would provide an important building block entering Uremovich’s third year.

Difficulty level: High

Toughest Game: at Ohio State

There is no debate about Ball State’s most difficult opponent.

Ohio State enters the season ranked No. 1 nationally, and the Cardinals must play inside Ohio Stadium.

Current betting markets have the Buckeyes favored by approximately 50 points.

The result should have little impact on how Ball State’s season is evaluated.

The Cardinals need to compete, avoid injuries and use the experience to prepare for the rest of the schedule.

Toughest Conference Game: at Ohio

Toledo was picked one position higher than Ohio, but Ball State gets the Rockets at home.

The Bobcats must be played in Athens.

Ohio was picked fourth in the MAC and should once again contend for the conference championship.

Ball State defeated Ohio last season, which gives the Cardinals reason for confidence.

Winning at Peden Stadium is a significantly more difficult challenge.

Toughest Home Game: Toledo

Toledo is the highest-ranked MAC opponent Ball State faces during the regular season.

The Rockets were selected third in the preseason conference poll and defeated the Cardinals by 29 points last year.

Ball State’s strong home performance last season gives it some upset potential.

Still, this is the most difficult game at Scheumann Stadium.

Biggest Trap Game: Sacramento State

Calling Sacramento State a trap game may seem unusual because Ball State was picked only one position ahead of the Hornets.

The danger comes from expectations.

Sacramento State is new to the FBS level, making it easy to view the Hornets as an automatic victory.

They are not.

Ball State needs this game for bowl positioning and cannot allow Homecoming distractions or Sacramento State’s preseason ranking to create complacency.

Biggest Swing Game: at Kent State

The conference opener at Kent State could immediately change the direction of Ball State’s season.

Kent State is projected ahead of the Cardinals but not so far ahead that an upset would be surprising.

Ball State also defeated the Golden Flashes last season.

Winning in Kent would end the Cardinals’ road problems and provide immediate confidence entering the Toledo game.

Losing would place additional pressure on the Bowling Green, Sacramento State and Massachusetts matchups.

Most Important Stretch

Ball State’s season will likely be determined during the five conference games surrounding the end of October and beginning of November:

• October 17: at Bowling Green
• October 24: Sacramento State
• November 4: at Massachusetts
• November 11: Buffalo
• November 17: at Ohio

Bowling Green, Sacramento State and Massachusetts were all picked ninth or lower in the MAC preseason poll. Those are the games Ball State needs to win.

Buffalo and Ohio are considerably more difficult.

A 3-2 record during this stretch would put Ball State in position to finish with four or five victories and potentially remain in the bowl conversation entering the finale.

Going 1-4 or 2-3 would likely result in another losing season.

Schedule Advantages

The greatest advantage is avoiding Western Michigan and Miami.

Those were the top two teams in the MAC preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan received nine first-place votes and Miami received the other four.

Ball State does not play either program during the regular season.

That dramatically improves the conference schedule.

The Cardinals also host Sacramento State, which was picked 12th, and get Toledo at Scheumann Stadium rather than traveling to one of the MAC’s most difficult road venues.

The schedule provides useful recovery periods late in the season as well.

Ball State has 11 days between Sacramento State and Massachusetts and another 11 days between Ohio and Central Michigan.

Those breaks should help a roster that must navigate several midweek MAC games.

Schedule Concerns

The biggest concern is the road schedule.

Ball State went 0-7 away from Scheumann Stadium in 2025.

The Cardinals now face seven road games again in 2026.

Three of their four nonconference games are away from home: Ohio State, Liberty and Northwestern.

Ball State also travels to Kent State, Bowling Green, Massachusetts and Ohio during MAC play.

The Cardinals have only five home contests.

That puts enormous importance on Stony Brook, Sacramento State, Buffalo and Central Michigan because Ball State will likely enter as an underdog against Toledo.

There is also no traditional Saturday bye during the first two months.

The Cardinals play eight consecutive Saturdays from September 5 through October 24 before receiving the extended break ahead of the Massachusetts game.

For a team incorporating 58 new players, roster depth will be tested.

Ball State 2026 Schedule Grade: C

Ball State’s schedule contains both important advantages and major structural challenges.

Avoiding Western Michigan and Miami is extremely helpful.

The Cardinals also receive several manageable MAC opponents, including Sacramento State and Massachusetts.

The problem is location.

Only five games will be played at Scheumann Stadium, while seven are on the road.

That is especially troubling after Ball State went 0-7 away from Muncie last season.

Ohio State is essentially a scheduled loss on paper, while Liberty and Northwestern create two additional challenging nonconference road games.

The conference schedule is manageable enough to produce improvement, but the Cardinals must win away from home.

Until they do, projecting more than four or five victories becomes difficult.

Ball State 2026 Record Prediction: 4-8

Ball State should be a better football team in Uremovich’s second season.

Whether the record improves significantly is less certain.

Stony Brook should provide the Cardinals with their best nonconference victory opportunity.

Sacramento State and Massachusetts are the two MAC opponents picked below Ball State in the preseason coaches poll. Bowling Green and Kent State are additional winnable games, while Buffalo and Central Michigan become important home opportunities.

Ohio State, Liberty, Toledo, Northwestern and Ohio appear to be the five most difficult games.

The most reasonable projection is 4-8 overall and 3-5 in MAC competition, matching Ball State’s 2025 record.

Five victories are attainable if the Cardinals solve their road problems.

Six wins and a bowl appearance would represent an outstanding second season for Uremovich, but Ball State would need the quarterback position to develop quickly and the rebuilt defense to make significant progress.

The offense cannot again average fewer than 16 points per game and expect to win six games.

Four victories remain the safest projection.

Ball State Cardinals 2026 Season Prop Bets

The following betting angles are based on Ball State’s current season-win market and the structure of its schedule. Sportsbook prices and market availability can change.

Prop Bet #1: Ball State Over 3.5 Regular-Season Wins

Ball State’s listed 2026 season win total is 3.5, with the latest comprehensive market table showing a slight lean toward the over.

Four victories are realistic.

Stony Brook provides one strong opportunity.

Sacramento State and Massachusetts were the only MAC teams picked below Ball State, while Kent State and Bowling Green were projected only a few positions higher.

The Cardinals also get Buffalo and Central Michigan at home.

Ball State does not need to upset Ohio State, Liberty, Toledo or Ohio to reach four victories.

The concern is the seven-game road schedule, but Uremovich’s deeper roster should create at least modest improvement.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Ball State Over 3.5 Regular-Season Wins

• Several Winnable MAC Games
• Deeper 2026 Roster
• Four-Win Projection

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Prop Bet #2: Ball State to Defeat Sacramento State

The October 24 Homecoming game is one Ball State needs to win.

Sacramento State was picked 12th in the MAC preseason poll, immediately behind Ball State.

The Cardinals also possess the home-field advantage.

Ball State went 4-1 at Scheumann Stadium last season and should be motivated to maintain that success.

Sacramento State’s transition to the FBS level creates some uncertainty, but Ball State has more experience playing weekly MAC competition.

This may be the Cardinals’ best conference home victory opportunity.

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Ball State to Defeat Sacramento State

• Homecoming at Scheumann Stadium
• Sacramento State Picked 12th
• Strong 2025 Home Record

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Prop Bet #3: Ball State to Win at Least Three MAC Games

Ball State went 3-5 in conference play during Uremovich’s first season.

Repeating that total is attainable.

The Cardinals face Sacramento State and Massachusetts, the two teams selected below them in the preseason poll.

Kent State and Bowling Green are additional opportunities, while Buffalo and Central Michigan must come to Muncie.

Ball State also avoids Western Michigan and Miami.

The conference schedule is significantly more manageable than it could have been.

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Ball State to Win at Least Three MAC Games

• Avoids Western Michigan and Miami
• Two Lower-Ranked MAC Opponents
• Three Conference Wins in 2025

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Prop Bet #4: Ball State to Win at Least Three Home Games

Ball State was dramatically better at Scheumann Stadium than on the road last season.

The Cardinals finished 4-1 at home while going 0-7 away.

The 2026 home schedule includes Stony Brook, Toledo, Sacramento State, Buffalo and Central Michigan.

Toledo will be difficult.

The remaining four games provide legitimate opportunities.

Stony Brook should be the most favorable. Sacramento State was picked below Ball State, while Buffalo and Central Michigan are competitive conference matchups.

Winning three of five home games is a reasonable target.

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Ball State to Win at Least Three Home Games

• 4-1 at Home Last Season
• Stony Brook and Sacramento State
• Scheumann Stadium Advantage

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Conclusion

Ball State enters the 2026 football season looking for continued progress in Mike Uremovich’s second year rather than expecting an immediate MAC championship run.

The Cardinals improved from 3-9 to 4-8 last season and increased their conference win total from two to three.

The next step is clear.

Ball State has to learn how to win on the road.

The Cardinals were 4-1 at Scheumann Stadium but 0-7 away from Muncie last season. That imbalance is particularly concerning because the 2026 schedule contains seven road games and only five at home.

The schedule begins with an enormous challenge against preseason No. 1 Ohio State.

The Cardinals then return home to face Stony Brook before traveling to Liberty.

MAC play opens at Kent State, and that may be the first major indication of whether the program has truly improved. Ball State beat the Golden Flashes last season, but doing it on the road would carry much more significance.

The conference schedule contains some important advantages.

Ball State avoids preseason favorite Western Michigan and second-place Miami. The Cardinals also face both Sacramento State and Massachusetts, the only two programs selected below them in the preseason coaches poll.

The offense needs major improvement.

Scoring 15.8 points per game will not be enough. Luster and Mizzell will have an opportunity to transform the quarterback position, while the experienced offensive line led by Hood, Mosier and Cook provides an important foundation.

The defense must also become more consistent.

Ball State allowed nearly 30 points and more than 405 yards per game last season. Uremovich and his staff have responded by adding substantial transfer talent while maintaining several experienced pieces from last year’s defense.

The roster should be deeper.

The question is how quickly 58 newcomers can become a cohesive football team.

A 4-8 regular season and 3-5 MAC record is the most realistic projection.

Five victories would demonstrate meaningful progress.

Reaching six wins and becoming bowl eligible would represent one of the better turnaround stories in the conference.

For that to happen, Ball State must beat Stony Brook, protect Scheumann Stadium against Sacramento State and at least one of Buffalo or Central Michigan, and finally earn victories away from Muncie against teams such as Kent State, Bowling Green or Massachusetts.

The Cardinals are unlikely to contend with Ohio State or the top of the MAC immediately.

Their 2026 season will be determined by what happens against the teams closer to their own level.

Win those games, and Uremovich’s rebuild will continue moving forward.

Lose them, and Ball State could find itself stuck near the bottom of the MAC for another season.