2023 Ball State Cardinals football team

The 2023 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by eighth-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.[1][2] They finished the season 4–8 and 3–5 in conference play[3]

2023 Ball State Cardinals football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKevin Lynch (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorTyler Stockton (5th season)
Home stadiumScheumann Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$ 71  113 
Ohio 62  103 
Bowling Green 53  76 
Buffalo 35  39 
Akron 17  210 
Kent State 08  111 
West Division
Toledo xy 80  113 
Northern Illinois 53  76 
Eastern Michigan 44  67 
Central Michigan 35  57 
Ball State 35  48 
Western Michigan 35  48 
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish fifth in the West.[4]

East
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Ohio63 (9)
2Miami52 (2)
3Buffalo51 (1)
4Bowling Green35
5Akron26
6Kent State19
West
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Toledo66 (11)
2Eastern Michigan55 (1)
3Northern Illinois38
4Central Michigan37
5Ball State27
6Western Michigan23
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
RankTeamVotes
1Toledo7
2Ohio4
3Buffalo1

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 212:00 p.m.at Kentucky*SECNL 14–4458,286
September 912:00 p.m.at No. 1 Georgia*SECNL 3–4592,746
September 162:00 p.m.Indiana State*ESPN+W 45–715,054
September 232:00 p.m.Georgia Southern*
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+L 3–4010,118
September 303:30 p.m.at Western MichiganESPN+L 24–4221,880
October 73:30 p.m.at Eastern MichiganESPN+L 10–2418,696
October 142:00 p.m.Toledo
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+L 6–137,675
October 213:30 p.m.Central Michigan
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+W 24–1715,171
November 17:30 p.m.at Bowling GreenESPN2L 21–246,091
November 77:00 p.m.at Northern IllinoisCBSSNW 20–176,282
November 182:00 p.m.Kent State
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+W 34–38,554
November 2512:00 p.m.Miami (OH)
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN (Red Bird Rivalry)
CBSSNL 15–178,054
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5][6]

Game summaries

at Kentucky

Game One – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Ball State707014
Kentucky32014744

at Kroger FieldLexington, KY

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 58,286
  • TV: SEC Network
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:17) UK – Alex Raynor 41-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 1:43; Kentucky 3–0)
  • (1:35) BALL – Layne Hatcher 2-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 7:05; Ball State 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (11:31) UK – Ray Davis 2-yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:58; Kentucky 10–7)
  • (6:58) UK – Jalen Geiger 0-yard fumble return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 17–7)
  • (1:08) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:10; Kentucky 20–7)
  • (0:00) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 26 yards, 0:31; Kentucky 23–7)
Third quarter
  • (6:43) UK – Dane Key 5-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 2:37; Kentucky 30–7)
  • (0:42) BALL – Ty Robinson 5-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:01; Kentucky 30–14)
  • (0:28) UK – Barion Brown 99-yard kickoff return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 37–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (0:06) UK – Ray Davis 30 yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:16; Kentucky 44–14)
StatisticsBALLUK
First downs1817
Total yards71–29551–354
Rushing yards41–7220–113
Passing yards223241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–30–018–31–1
Time of possession38:1621:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza15/21, 165 yards, TD
RushingMarquez Cooper15 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingTy Robinson5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
RushingRay Davis14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDane Key5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia

Game Two – Ball State Cardinals (0–1) at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (1–0) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Ball State00033
No. 1 Georgia03114045

at Sanford StadiumAthens, Georgia

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 92,756
  • Referee: Jason McArthur
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color) and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Game information
First quarter

no scoring

Second quarter
  • (14:32) UGA – Mekhi Mews 69-yard punt return (Peyton Woodring kick) (Georgia 7–0)
  • (10:16) UGA – Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint 7-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 2:25; Georgia 14–0)
  • (8:45) UGA – Dillon Bell 21-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 30 yards, 0:51; Georgia 21–0)
  • (1:49) UGA – Peyton Woodring 35-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:28; Georgia 24–0)
  • (0:37) UGA – Kendall Milton 1-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:04; Georgia 31–0)
Third quarter
  • (6:27) UGA – Cash Jones 27-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:14; Georgia 38-0)
  • (0:46) UGA – Roderick Robinson II 12-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:21; Georgia 45–0)
Fourth quarter
  • (9:05) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 55 yards, 6:41; Georgia 45–3)
StatisticsBALLUGA
First downs1322
Total yards65–22461–386
Rushing yards28–7728–99
Passing yards147287
Passing: Comp–Att–Int18–37–324–33–1
Time of possession31:2828:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingLayne Hatcher10/16, 82 yards
RushingCharlie Spegal4 carries, 32 yards
ReceivingAhmad Edwards4 receptions, 47 yards
GeorgiaPassingCarson Beck23/30, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingRoderick Robinson II6 carries, 38 yards, TD
ReceivingArian Smith2 receptions, 50 yards

Indiana State

Game Three – Indiana State Sycamores (0–2) at Ball State Cardinals (0–2) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Indiana State00707
Ball State01072845

at Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 15,054
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter
  • (12:13) BALL – Rico Barfield 16-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 5:20; Ball State 7–0)
  • (1:34) BALL – Jackson Courville 23-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:24; Ball State 10–0)
Third quarter
  • (6:45) BALL – Rico Barfield 24-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:24; Ball State 17–0)
  • (5:48) ISU – Dakota Caton 49-yard pass from Elijah Owens (Stephen Ruiz kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:50: Ball State 17–7)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:12) BALL – Marquez Cooper 11-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive:13 plays, 75 yards, 7:29; Ball State 24–7)
  • (11:32) BALL – Tanner Koziol 8-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 23 yards, 0:54: Ball State 31–7)
  • (9:20) BALL – Keionte Newson 66-yard fumble return (Jackson Courville kick) (Ball State 38–7)
  • (3:13) BALL – Charlie Spegal 1-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:49; Ball State 45–7)
StatisticsISUBALL
First downs1226
Total yards53–26166–425
Rushing yards32–10442–288
Passing yards157137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–21–118–24–0
Time of possession26:5933:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Indiana StatePassingElijah Owens9/21, 157 yards, TD, INT
RushingTee Hodge9 carries, 46 yards
ReceivingHarry Van Dyne3 receptions, 80 yards
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza17/22, 137 yards, 2 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper22 carries, 177 yards, TD
ReceivingTanner Koziol7 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Georgia Southern

Game Four – Georgia Southern Eagles (2–1) at Ball State Cardinals (1–2) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Georgia Southern14910740
Ball State00033

at Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 10,118
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:51) GASO – Evan Lester Jr. 1-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards, 3:04; Georgia Southern 7–0)
  • (8:47) GASO – Keaton Upshaw 9-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:30; Georgia Southern 14–0)
Second quarter
  • (12:37) GASO – Michael Lantz 41-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards, 1:37; Georgia Southern 17–0)
  • (6:36) GASO – Michael Lantz 26-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:18; Georgia Southern 20–0)
  • (0:00) GASO – Michael Lantz 37-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 57 yards, 0:43; Georgia Southern 23–0)
Third quarter
  • (8:47) GASO – Khaleb Hood 21-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 56 yards, 1:10; Georgia Southern 30–0)
  • (1:03) GASO – Michael Lantz 35-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 28 yards, 2:11; Georgia Southern 33–0)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:42) GASO – Anthony Queeley 8-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:06; Georgia Southern 40–0)
  • (7:15) BALL – Jackson Courville 23-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 6:27; Georgia Southern 40–3)
StatisticsGASOBALL
First downs2510
Total yards77–53055–197
Rushing yards27–16728–37
Passing yards363160
Passing: Comp–Att–Int36–50–014–29–2
Time of possession30:4129:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingDavis Brin34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD
RushingOJ Arnold9 carries, 90 yards
ReceivingKhaleb Hood7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT
RushingMarquez Cooper9 carries, 16 yards
ReceivingRico Barfield2 receptions, 50 yards

at Western Michigan

Game Five – Ball State Cardinals (1–3) at Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Ball State377724
Western Michigan7217742

at Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI

  • Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 21,880
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
  • (8:37) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:25; Ball State 3–0)
  • (5:06) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 18-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:31; Western Michigan 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (13:06) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 1-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 3:57; Western Michigan 14–3)
  • (7:50) WMU – Jalen Buckley 12-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:29; Western Michigan 21–3)
  • (5:04) BALL – Maximus Webster 2-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:45; Western Michigan 21–10)
  • (0:01) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 2-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 1:27; Western Michigan 28–10)
Third quarter
  • (11:52) BALL – Qian Magwood 32-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Western Michigan 28–17)
  • (10:14) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 31-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–17)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:15) BALL – Ahmad Edwards 57-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–24)
  • (8:53) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 2-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 3:22; Western Michigan 42–24)
StatisticsBALLWMU
First downs1926
Total yards63–36475–461
Rushing yards26–4836–133
Passing yards316328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int26–37–024–39–0
Time of possession29:3730:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingLayne Hatcher26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper15 carries, 82 yards
ReceivingQian Magwood9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Western MichiganPassingTreyson Bourguet24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD
RushingZahir Abdus-Salaam8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAnthony Sambucci5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD

References