Ball State Cardinals football. Navigate to the next page. Go to the search for The Ball State Cardinals football team is a collegiate football program that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The team is based in Muncie, Indiana, and plays its home games at New Ballpark Stadium in nearby West Towne Mall. The team was founded in 1891 as a member of the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC). They have played in the MAC ever since with the exception of 1943 when they were members of the World War II-era GI Bill College Football League. In 1945, they joined what would become known as the Mid-American Conference (MAC), but left after one season to join the Midwestern Intercollegiate Athletic Association before returning to the MAC in 1946. They have won or shared 11 conference titles during their time in the MAC, most recently in 2016. The Cardinals have also made five appearances in the FCS playoffs, most recently in 2018 when they lost 21-14 to North Dakota State in the first round. The team has produced several professional players including running back Eric Metcalf, who played eight seasons in the NFL from 1995 to 2002. He is the all-time leading rusher at Ball State with 2,934 yards.