# List of Ball State Cardinals football seasons

The following is a list of Ball State Cardinals football seasons for the football team that has represented Ball State University in NCAA competition.

## Seasons

| Year | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches$^#$ | AP$^°$ |
| Independent (1924–c. 1949) ||||||||
| 1924 | Paul "Billy" Williams | 1–3 | | | | | |
| 1925 | Paul "Billy" Williams | 2–5 | | | | | |
| 1926 | Norman G. Wann | 5–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1927 | Norman G. Wann | 5–2–1 | | | | | |
| 1928 | Paul B. Parker | 3–2–2 | | | | | |
| 1929 | Paul B. Parker | 0–5 | | | | | |
| 1930 | Lawrence McPhee | 6–1 | | | | | |
| 1931 | Lawrence McPhee | 2–6 | | | | | |
| 1932 | Lawrence McPhee | 4–4 | | | | | |
| 1933 | Lawrence McPhee | 1–6–1 | | | | | |
| 1934 | Lawrence McPhee | 2–6 | | | | | |
| 1935 | John Magnabosco | 3–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1936 | John Magnabosco | 3–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1937 | John Magnabosco | 5–2–1 | | | | | |
| 1938 | John Magnabosco | 6–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1939 | John Magnabosco | 6–2 | | | | | |
| 1940 | John Magnabosco | 3–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1941 | John Magnabosco | 3–2–2 | | | | | |
| 1942 | John Magnabosco | 6–2 | | | | | |
| 1943 | No games | –– | | | | | |
| 1944 | John Magnabosco | 2–2 | | | | | |
| 1945 | John Magnabosco | 4–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1946 | John Magnabosco | 3–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1947 | John Magnabosco | 5–1–2 | | | | | |
| 1948 | John Magnabosco | 6–2 | | | | | |
| 1949 | John Magnabosco | 8–0 | | | | | |
| Indiana Collegiate Conference (1950–c. 1969) ||||||||
| 1950 | John Magnabosco | 2–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1951 | John Magnabosco | 0–6–1 | | | | | |
| 1952 | John Magnabosco | 3–5–1 | | | | | |
| 1953 | George Serdula | 5–2–1 | | | | | |
| 1954 | George Serdula | 6–2 | | | | | |
| 1955 | George Serdula | 3–5 | | | | | |
| 1956 | Jim Freeman | 4–4 | | | | | |
| 1957 | Jim Freeman | 2–5–1 | | | | | |
| 1958 | Jim Freeman | 6–2 | | | | | |
| 1959 | Jim Freeman | 1–7 | | | | | |
| 1960 | Jim Freeman | 3–5 | | | | | |
| 1961 | Jim Freeman | 2–5–1 | | | | | |
| 1962 | Ray Louthen | 4–3–1 | | | | | |
| 1963 | Ray Louthen | 5–3 | | | | | |
| 1964 | Ray Louthen | 5–3 | | | | | |
| 1965 | Ray Louthen | 9–0–1 | | | | | |
| 1966 | Ray Louthen | 7–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1967 | Ray Louthen | 7–3 | | | | | |
| 1968 | Wave Myers | 5–4 | | | | | |
| 1969 | Wave Myers | 5–5 | | | | | |
| Conference of Midwestern Universities (1970–c. 1971) ||||||||
| 1970 | Wave Myers | 5–5 | | | | | |
| 1971 | Dave McClain | 4–5–1 | | | | | |
| Independent (c. 1972–c. 1974) ||||||||
| 1972 | Dave McClain | 5–4–1 | | | | | |
| 1973 | Dave McClain | 5–5–1 | | | | | |
| 1974 | Dave McClain | 6–4 | | | | | |
| Mid-American Conference (c. 1975–present) ||||||||
| 1975 | Dave McClain | 9–2 | 4–2 | | | | |
| 1976 | Dave McClain | 8–3 | 4–1 | | | | |
| 1977 | Dave McClain | 9–2 | 5–1 | | | | |
| 1978 | Dwight Wallace | 10–1 | 8–0 | | | | |
| 1979 | Dwight Wallace | 6–5 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1980 | Dwight Wallace | 6–5 | 5–4 | | | | |
| 1981 | Dwight Wallace | 4–7 | 2–6 | | | | |
| 1982 | Dwight Wallace | 5–6 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1983 | Dwight Wallace | 6–5 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1984 | Dwight Wallace | 3–8 | 3–5 | | | | |
| 1985 | Paul Schudel | 4–7 | 3–6 | | | | |
| 1986 | Paul Schudel | 6–5 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1987 | Paul Schudel | 4–7 | 3–5 | | | | |
| 1988 | Paul Schudel | 8–3 | 5–3 | | | | |
| 1989 | Paul Schudel | 7–3–2 | 6–1 | | | | |
| 1990 | Paul Schudel | 7–4 | 5–3 | | | | |
| 1991 | Paul Schudel | 6–5 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1992 | Paul Schudel | 5–6 | 5–4 | | | | |
| 1993 | Paul Schudel | 8–3–1 | 7–0–1 | | | | |
| 1994 | Paul Schudel | 5–5–1 | 5–3–1 | | | | |
| 1995 | Bill Lynch | 7–4 | 6–2 | | | | |
| 1996 | Bill Lynch | 8–4 | 7–1 | | | | |
| 1997 | Bill Lynch | 5–6 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 1998 | Bill Lynch | 1–10 | 1–7 | | | | |
| 1999 | Bill Lynch | 0–11 | 0–8 | | | | |
| 2000 | Bill Lynch | 5–6 | 4–3 | | | | |
| 2001 | Bill Lynch | 5–6 | 4–3 | | | | |
| 2002 | Bill Lynch | 6–6 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 2003 | Brady Hoke | 4–8 | 3–5 | | | | |
| 2004 | Brady Hoke | 2–9 | 2–6 | | | | |
| 2005 | Brady Hoke | 4–7 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 2006 | Brady Hoke | 5–7 | 5–3 | | | | |
| 2007 | Brady Hoke | 7–6 | 5–2 | | | | |
| 2008 | Stan Parrish | 12–2 | 8–0 | | | | |
| 2009 | Stan Parrish | 2–10 | 2–6 | | | | |
| 2010 | Stan Parrish | 4–8 | 3–5 | | | | |
| 2011 | Pete Lembo | 6–6 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 2012 | Pete Lembo | 9–4 | 6–2 | | | | |
| 2013 | Pete Lembo | 10–3 | 7–1 | | | | |
| 2014 | Pete Lembo | 5–7 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 2015 | Pete Lembo | 3–9 | 2–6 | | | | |
| 2016 | Mike Neu | 4–8 | 1–7 | | | | |
| 2017 | Mike Neu | 2–10 | 0–8 | | | | |
| 2018 | Mike Neu | 4–8 | 3–5 | | | | |
| 2019 | Mike Neu | 5–7 | 4–4 | | | | |
| 2020 | Mike Neu | 7–1 | 5–1 | 1st | W Arizona | 23 | 23 |
| 2021 | Mike Neu | 6–7 | 4-4 | 4th | L Camellia | | |
| 2022 | Mike Neu | 5–7 | 3-5 | 4th | | | |
| 2023 | Mike Neu | 4–8 | 3-5 | 4th | | | |
| Total: | Total: | | | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||||
| $^†$Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. $^#$Rankings from final Coaches Poll. ||||||||