Indiana vs Ball State: An In-State Match-Up That Has Grown into a Competitive Rivalry
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Ball State has won 3-of-4 against IU. Image: Cam Koenig Hoosier Huddle
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Saturday will mark just the ninth meeting on a football field between Indiana and Ball State. Believe it or not, Indiana and Ball State didn’t play each other in a football game until 1997. IU football played over 100 seasons of football before finally having a battle with Ball State. The in-state rivalry is just 21 years old, and the two teams will play twice more after 2018, once at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019 and again in Bloomington in 2020, to complete a three-game series. Although they hold the series lead, things have certainly not been in the Hoosiers’ favor as of late. Let’s take a look at the brief history of this rivalry.
Former Hoosier head coach Cam Cameron’s first season with the Indiana Hoosiers only yielded two wins. One of those two wins was a 33-6 beatdown against Ball State. Coincidentally, the Cardinals coach at the time was eventual IU coach Bill Lynch. Two years later, Ball State football was in shambles. Indiana began their season with a 21-9 victory over the Cardinals. IU legend Antwaan Randle El threw for two touchdowns and ran for one more. Ball State would not win a single game in 1999, finishing the year with an 0-11 record.
Seven years later, Indiana traveled to Muncie for the first time to face the Cardinals. With Terry Hoeppner as head coach and IU football seemingly on the rise, the Hoosiers found themselves in a hole on September 8th, 2006. Indiana inserted Kellen Lewis at quarterback when they were trailing 23-7. With over 300 yards of total offense, Lewis led the Hoosiers to a comeback win with a final score of 24-23. The following year, former BSU coach Bill Lynch took over for the late Terry Hoeppner. After a 5-1 start in 2007, the Hoosiers lost three straight games before their meeting with Ball State. Powered once again by quarterback Kellen Lewis, Indiana cruised to a 38-20 victory, earning themselves bowl eligibility and securing IU’s first season over .500 since 1994.
After four straight victories, things got sour for the Hoosiers. The matchup with Ball State in 2008 was one to forget. The Cardinals dominated the Hoosiers 42-20 in Bloomington. At the time, this was Ball State’s first victory over a BCS school and head coach Brady Hoke referred to the victory as one of biggest in program history. Three years later, Kevin Wilson debuted as IU’s head coach in a game against Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indiana was embarrassed with a 27-20 loss in a season where the Hoosiers finished with a 1-11 record. The following season, Wilson led the Hoosiers to a more respectable 4-8 record, but they still couldn’t topple Ball State. The Cardinals notched another victory in Bloomington, beating IU 41-39.
When IU and Ball State renewed the series in 2016, Tom Allen was in his first year as the Hoosiers’ defensive coordinator. The Hoosiers jumped out to a 30-3 lead behind three touchdowns from Richard Lagow and over 100 yards from Devine Redding. Ball State’s comeback attempt fell short as IU won 30-20. The matchup between Indiana and Ball State this season will be interesting. As Hoosier Huddle has mentioned, this year’s Ball State team is vastly improved from last season.
For some of the in-state players, this game holds a little extra meaning. Indiana veteran defensive lineman, Jacob Robinson described the rivalry: “I think it means a lot. I think we are the in-state school; that’s our mindset and that’s what our mindset should be.” Robinson gave credit to the Cardinals as well. “Those guys are great players, for sure, and they have a great team right now,” Robinson said. Last week, despite being 35-point underdogs, Ball State only lost to Notre Dame in South Bend by one score (24-16). The Cardinals performance caught the Hoosiers’ attention. Robinson told Hoosier Huddle, “They had a great game last week with Notre Dame. They’ve got a great quarterback in Riley (Neal). Their backs are powerful and elusive guys who have some speed as well.”
Robinson expressed a confident mindset, but IU certainly isn’t overlooking the game against Ball State. “It’ll definitely be a good game and we just need to come out and play as hard as we’ve been the last two weeks,” Robinson explained. Through two games, the Cardinals have proven they won’t be easy to beat. Robinson described what makes Ball State different this year, “I think the biggest thing for them is speed. Riley has done a great job up there he’s a guy I respect a lot.”
Return specialist and wide receiver J-Shun Harris III also chimed in on the importance of facing an in-state foe. “It’s big time, man. To everyone on our team, it’s the biggest game we have and that’s because it’s the next game.” Harris explained how the Hoosiers are focused and prepared, “We never overlook an opponent. We always respect opponents and we’re going to prepare tough and hard each week.”
As Indiana natives, Harris and Robinson understand the importance of asserting dominance against Ball State this Saturday. Although they will be enemies for 60 minutes, Harris (and others) have known some Ball State players for a while. “I’m real cool with one of their receivers Devin Reece. We talked to each other before the season and told each other good luck.” Harris also acknowledged the speed on this year’s Cardinal team. “They definitely have some fast gunners and they have a pretty good punter,” he said.
Harris and Robinson understand the necessity to improve week after week in order to sustain season-long success. Robinson spoke of the progression IU’s defense was able to make from the game against FIU to the win over Virginia. “Week one wasn’t our best week. We know that. We came out last week (against Virginia) with a mindset of attacking and getting better and I think that carried over to the game.” Harris described what Indiana will have to do in order to improve their special teams play. “Being aggressive but patient at the same time. When an opportunity presents itself, we have to take full advantage.” Regarding the Cardinals defense. “They’re definitely pretty big. Everybody’s bigger than me for the most part,” Harris said with a laugh.
Indiana currently leads the all-time series against Ball State five wins to three. However, Ball State has beaten the Hoosiers three out of the last four meetings. After a victory in 2016, Indiana needs to take care of business at home to right the ship. Indiana will have their work cut out for them but relying on their talent and discipline should propel the Hoosiers to a 3-0 start to the season.