# 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team

The 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by sixth-year head coach Mike Neu and played their home games at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. They competed as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Western Illinois* | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 31–21 | 13,149 |
| September 11 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Penn State* | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | FS1 | L 13–44 | 105,323 |
| September 18 | 4:00 p.m. | at Wyoming* | War Memorial StadiumLaramie, WY | Stadium | L 12–45 | 23,467 |
| September 25 | 2:00 p.m. | Toledo | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN+ | L 12–22 | 14,902 |
| October 2 | 5:00 p.m. | Army* | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 28–16 | 13,713 |
| October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at Western Michigan | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI | ESPNU | W 45–20 | 11,403 |
| October 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan | Rynearson StadiumYpsilanti, MI | ESPN+ | W 38–31 | 15,258 |
| October 23 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami (OH) | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN (Red Bird Rivalry) | ESPN+ | L 17–24 | 15,703 |
| November 2 | 7:00 p.m. | at Akron | InfoCision StadiumAkron, OH | CBSSN | W 31–25 | 7,683 |
| November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL (Bronze Stalk Trophy) | ESPN2 | L 29–30 | 7,894 |
| November 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Central Michigan | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPNU | L 17–37 | 5,602 |
| November 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Buffalo | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 20–3 | 6,112 |
| December 25 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Georgia State* | Cramton BowlMontgomery, AL (Camellia Bowl) | ESPN | L 20–51 | 7,345 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## Game summaries
### Western Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Western Illinois | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • Ball State | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BSU –31.0 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Western Illinois | Ball State |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 437 | 404 |
| Rushing yards | 70 | 216 |
| Passing yards | 367 | 188 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:02 | 28:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Illinois | Passing | Connor Sampson | 30/43, 367 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Illinois | Rushing | Myles Wanza | 8 carries, 37 yards |
| Western Illinois | Receiving | Dennis Houston | 12 receptions, 237 yards, 2 TDs |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 17/28, 188 yards, 2 TDs |
| Ball State | Rushing | Will Jones | 18 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Justin Hall | 8 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs |

### At No. 11 Penn State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ball State | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| • No. 11 Penn State | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 44 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| PSU –22.5 | 58.0 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Penn State |
| First downs | 20 | 32 |
| Total yards | 295 | 493 |
| Rushing yards | 69 | 240 |
| Passing yards | 226 | 253 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:51 | 34:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 25/39, 176 yards, 2 INTs |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 7 carries, 18 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 4 receptions, 42 yards |
| Penn State | Passing | Sean Clifford | 21/29, 230 yards, 1 TD |
| Penn State | Rushing | Noah Cain | 20 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Penn State | Receiving | Jahan Dotson | 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |

### At Wyoming

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ball State | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| • Wyoming | 10 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WYO –6.5 | 53.0 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Wyoming |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 260 | 378 |
| Rushing yards | 118 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 142 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:11 | 29:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | John Paddock | 13/20, 82 yards, 1 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 10 receptions, 92 yards |
| Wyoming | Passing | Sean Chambers | 14/23, 201 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Xazavian Valladay | 14 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Receiving | Isaiah Neyor | 4 receptions, 84 yards |

### Toledo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Toledo | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
| Ball State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TOL –4.5 | 56.5 |
| Statistics | Toledo | Ball State |
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 444 | 312 |
| Rushing yards | 272 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:03 | 26:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Carter Bradley | 10/18, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Dequan Finn | 12 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Receiving | Devin Maddox | 2 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 21/35, 190 yards |
| Ball State | Rushing | Justin Hall | 5 carries, 64 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Justin Hall | 7 receptions, 97 yards |

### Army

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Army | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| • Ball State | 21 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARMY –10.0 | 47.0 |
| Statistics | Army | Ball State |
| First downs | 18 | 12 |
| Total yards | 279 | 269 |
| Rushing yards | 213 | 36 |
| Passing yards | 66 | 233 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:03 | 26:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Army | Passing | Jemel Jones | 5/11, 66 yards, 1 INT |
| Army | Rushing | Tyhier Tyler | 24 carries, 63 yards, 2 TDs |
| Army | Receiving | Isaiah Alston | 2 receptions, 36 yards |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 17/28, 233 yards, 2 TDs |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 8 carries, 17 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Yo'Heinz Tyler | 5 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |

### At Western Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ball State | 7 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 45 |
| Western Michigan | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WMU –12.5 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Western Michigan |
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 361 | 376 |
| Rushing yards | 51 | 119 |
| Passing yards | 310 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 23:37 | 36:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 15/25, 310 yards, 4 TDs |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 10 carries, 41 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Yo'Heinz Tyler | 5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs |
| Western Michigan | Passing | Kaleb Eleby | 19/33, 257 yards, 2 INTs |
| Western Michigan | Rushing | La'Darius Jefferson | 21 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Michigan | Receiving | Skyy Moore | 7 receptions, 81 yards |

### At Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ball State | 14 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| Eastern Michigan | 0 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BALL –1.0 | 55.5 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Eastern Michigan |
| First downs | 29 | 27 |
| Total yards | 433 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 200 | 46 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 339 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:43 | 27:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 27/35, 207 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 18 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Justin Hall | 10 receptions, 58 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | Ben Bryant | 35/48, 331 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing | Jawon Hamilton | 8 carries, 40 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving | Dylan Drummond | 7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD |

### Miami (Ohio)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Miami (OH) | 10 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 24 |
| Ball State | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BALL –3.5 | 53.0 |
| Statistics | Miami | Ball State |
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total yards | 360 | 327 |
| Rushing yards | 126 | 100 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 227 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:32 | 25:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miami | Passing | Brett Gabbert | 20/24, 207 yards, 2 TDs |
| Miami | Rushing | Tyre Shelton | 14 carries, 46 yards |
| Miami | Receiving | Jack Sorenson | 8 receptions, 138 yards |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 22/34, 227 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 11 carries, 49 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 9 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD |

### At Akron

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ball State | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Akron | 3 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BALL –20.0 | 58.0 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Akron |
| First downs | 25 | 20 |
| Total yards | 425 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 240 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 185 | 331 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:54 | 30:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 18/31, 185 yards, 3 TDs |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 27 carries, 154 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Justin Hall | 8 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Akron | Passing | Zach Gibson | 24/31, 331 yards, 2 TDs |
| Akron | Rushing | Jonzell Norrils | 17 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Akron | Receiving | Michael Mathison | 8 receptions, 154 yards, 1 TD |

### At Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ball State | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 29 |
| • Northern Illinois | 0 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BALL –3.0 | 59.0 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Northern Illinois |
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 372 | 475 |
| Rushing yards | 246 | 211 |
| Passing yards | 126 | 264 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 21 carries, 109 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jalen McGaughy | 1 reception, 45 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Northern Illinois | Rushing | Jay Ducker | 24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD |
| Northern Illinois | Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 8 receptions, 108 yards |

### Central Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 37 |
| Ball State | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –2.5 | 57.0 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Ball State |
| First downs | 26 | 18 |
| Total yards | 567 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 285 | 159 |
| Passing yards | 282 | 170 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 6 receptions, 61 yards |

### Buffalo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffalo | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Ball State | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BALL –6.0 | 59.5 |
| Statistics | Buffalo | Ball State |
| First downs | 22 | 13 |
| Total yards | 336 | 230 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 54 |
| Passing yards | 188 | 176 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:40 | 30:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Buffalo | Passing | Matt Myers | 18/39, 188 yards, 4 INTs |
| Buffalo | Rushing | Matt Myers | 16 carries, 78 yards |
| Buffalo | Receiving | Ron Cook Jr. | 4 receptions, 56 yards |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 19/31, 176 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 25 carries, 45 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Georgia State (Camellia Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Georgia State | 14 | 6 | 28 | 3 | 51 |
| Ball State | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GAST –4.5 | 50.0 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Ball State |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 464 | 367 |
| Rushing yards | 259 | 74 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 293 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:46 | 33:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Darren Grainger | 15/19, 203 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Darren Grainger | 11 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Aubry Payne | 8 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 27/46, 293 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 15 carries, 62 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 12 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TD |