The 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by sixth-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.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
Western Illinois
Statistics Western IllinoisBall State First downs 17 18 Total yards 437 404 Rushing yards 70 216 Passing yards 367 188 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:02 28:58
Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Connor Sampson 30/43, 367 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Myles Wanza 8 carries, 37 yards Receiving Dennis Houston 12 receptions, 237 yards, 2 TDs Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 17/28, 188 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Will Jones 18 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD Receiving Justin Hall 8 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs
At No. 11 Penn State
Statistics Ball StatePenn State First downs 20 32 Total yards 295 493 Rushing yards 69 240 Passing yards 226 253 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 25:51 34:09
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 25/39, 176 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Carson Steele 7 carries, 18 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayshon Jackson 4 receptions, 42 yards Penn State Passing Sean Clifford 21/29, 230 yards, 1 TD Rushing Noah Cain 20 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jahan Dotson 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
At Wyoming
Statistics Ball StateWyoming First downs 19 19 Total yards 260 378 Rushing yards 118 177 Passing yards 142 201 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:11 29:49
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing John Paddock 13/20, 82 yards, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayshon Jackson 10 receptions, 92 yards Wyoming Passing Sean Chambers 14/23, 201 yards, 1 TD Rushing Xazavian Valladay 14 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isaiah Neyor 4 receptions, 84 yards
Toledo
Statistics ToledoBall State First downs 19 17 Total yards 444 312 Rushing yards 272 122 Passing yards 172 190 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:03 26:57
Team Category Player Statistics Toledo Passing Carter Bradley 10/18, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Dequan Finn 12 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD Receiving Devin Maddox 2 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 21/35, 190 yards Rushing Justin Hall 5 carries, 64 yards Receiving Justin Hall 7 receptions, 97 yards
Army
Statistics ArmyBall State First downs 18 12 Total yards 279 269 Rushing yards 213 36 Passing yards 66 233 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 33:03 26:57
Team Category Player Statistics Army Passing Jemel Jones 5/11, 66 yards, 1 INT Rushing Tyhier Tyler 24 carries, 63 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Isaiah Alston 2 receptions, 36 yards Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 17/28, 233 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Carson Steele 8 carries, 17 yards, 1 TD Receiving Yo'Heinz Tyler 5 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
At Western Michigan
Statistics Ball StateWestern Michigan First downs 18 23 Total yards 361 376 Rushing yards 51 119 Passing yards 310 257 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 23:37 36:23
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 15/25, 310 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Carson Steele 10 carries, 41 yards Receiving Yo'Heinz Tyler 5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 19/33, 257 yards, 2 INTs Rushing La'Darius Jefferson 21 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD Receiving Skyy Moore 7 receptions, 81 yards
At Eastern Michigan
Statistics Ball StateEastern Michigan First downs 29 27 Total yards 433 385 Rushing yards 200 46 Passing yards 233 339 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 32:43 27:17
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 27/35, 207 yards, 1 TD Rushing Carson Steele 18 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD Receiving Justin Hall 10 receptions, 58 yards Eastern Michigan Passing Ben Bryant 35/48, 331 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Jawon Hamilton 8 carries, 40 yards Receiving Dylan Drummond 7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
Miami (Ohio)
Statistics MiamiBall State First downs 18 20 Total yards 360 327 Rushing yards 126 100 Passing yards 234 227 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:32 25:28
Team Category Player Statistics Miami Passing Brett Gabbert 20/24, 207 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyre Shelton 14 carries, 46 yards Receiving Jack Sorenson 8 receptions, 138 yards Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 22/34, 227 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 11 carries, 49 yards Receiving Jayshon Jackson 9 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
At Akron
Statistics Ball StateAkron First downs 25 20 Total yards 425 458 Rushing yards 240 127 Passing yards 185 331 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:54 30:06
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 18/31, 185 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Carson Steele 27 carries, 154 yards Receiving Justin Hall 8 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD Akron Passing Zach Gibson 24/31, 331 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jonzell Norrils 17 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD Receiving Michael Mathison 8 receptions, 154 yards, 1 TD
At Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
Statistics Ball StateNorthern Illinois First downs 17 26 Total yards 372 475 Rushing yards 246 211 Passing yards 126 264 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 23:16 36:44
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD Rushing Carson Steele 21 carries, 109 yards Receiving Jalen McGaughy 1 reception, 45 yards Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jay Ducker 24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 8 receptions, 108 yards
Central Michigan
Statistics Central MichiganBall State First downs 26 18 Total yards 567 329 Rushing yards 285 159 Passing yards 282 170 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayshon Jackson 6 receptions, 61 yards
Buffalo
Statistics BuffaloBall State First downs 22 13 Total yards 336 230 Rushing yards 148 54 Passing yards 188 176 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 29:40 30:20
Team Category Player Statistics Buffalo Passing Matt Myers 18/39, 188 yards, 4 INTs Rushing Matt Myers 16 carries, 78 yards Receiving Ron Cook Jr. 4 receptions, 56 yards Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 19/31, 176 yards, 1 TD Rushing Carson Steele 25 carries, 45 yards Receiving Jayshon Jackson 9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Georgia State (Camellia Bowl)
Statistics Georgia StateBall State First downs 21 22 Total yards 464 367 Rushing yards 259 74 Passing yards 205 293 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:46 33:14
Team Category Player Statistics Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 15/19, 203 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Darren Grainger 11 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving Aubry Payne 8 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 27/46, 293 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 15 carries, 62 yards Receiving Jayshon Jackson 12 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TD
References