Know Your Opponent: Ball State Cardinals
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Image: Ball State Sports
Written by Nathan Comp
Head Coach: Mike Neu
Overall: 10-26 4th Year
Bowl Appearances at BSU: 0
2018 Record: 4-8 (3-5, MAC West)
Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 4 (0-4)
Mascot: Charlie Cardinal
Colors: Cardinal and White
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 10
Heisman Winners: 0
2019 Record: 0-0
RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS (2018)
Passing Drew Plitt (2018: 85-131, 64.9 Comp %, 1008 Passing Yards, 6 TDs, 8 INTs)
Rushing Malik Dunner (2018: 66 attempts, 305 yards, 4.6 avg, 4 TDs)
Receiving Riley Miller (2018: 61 receptions, 878 yards, 7 TDs)
Tackles Ray Wilborn (2018: 83 TKLs, 3.0 Sacks, 2 INTs, 2 Forced Fumbles)
BSU’s Questions To Answer
1. Can Drew Plitt fill Riley Neal’s shoes?
Riley Neal, the Cardinals’ primary quarterback when healthy the past four years, decided to move to the SEC’s Vanderbilt for his final season of eligibility as a graduate transfer. Replacing him will be Drew Plitt. Plitt saw action in a couple games last season and seemed to have similar numbers when Neal went down with injuries. Though not as much of a running threat, Plitt showed to be a bit more capable at throwing the short hitch and screen passes that frequent the Ball State offense, highlighted by his 21-26 and 3 TD performance against Western Michigan last November. If he can improve his passing down the field and stay healthy, he should be a solid replacement. Fortunately for Plitt, almost his entire offensive line and receivers room returns to make his job a bit easier.
2. Can the BSU defense, specifically its defensive line, slow Indiana’s rushing attack?
Arguably Indiana’s deepest position group coming into this season is the running back room. Stevie Scott, Ronnie Walker, and Cole Gest return while prized recruit Sampson James joins the room. Arguably Ball State’s weakest position group in 2018 was their defensive line. A system designed on bringing pressure to opposing quarterbacks, the Cardinals did the exact opposite. Much of this problem can be blamed on their 3-4 system that lacks a complete nose tackle with the ability to disrupt a quarterback’s timing and clog running holes. If Indiana’s running backs are able to get to the second level of the Cardinal defense and force their linebackers to make all the tackles, it could be a long day for Ball State.
3. Who replaces James Gilbert’s production at tailback?
The Cardinals couldn’t have it so easy that only their star quarterback would decide to transfer. Joining Neal in the graduate transfer game was James Gilbert, as he packed his bags from Muncie and decided to join the Kansas State Wildcats for his final year of eligibility. Left behind and tasked with replacing Gilbert will be Malik Dunner, Caleb Huntley, and DII graduate transfer Walter Fletcher. Dunner and Huntley both have experience in the system, whereas Fletcher will be seeing his first action with the Cardinals and DI football.