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
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach	Mike Neu (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Kevin Lynch (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Tyler Stockton (5th season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Scheumann Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$		7	–	1					11	–	3
Ohio		6	–	2					10	–	3
Bowling Green		5	–	3					7	–	6
Buffalo		3	–	5					3	–	9
Akron		1	–	7					2	–	10
Kent State		0	–	8					1	–	11
West Division
Toledo xy		8	–	0					11	–	3
Northern Illinois		5	–	3					7	–	6
Eastern Michigan		4	–	4					6	–	7
Central Michigan		3	–	5					5	–	7
Ball State		3	–	5					4	–	8
Western Michigan		3	–	5					4	–	8
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 finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Ohio	63 (9)
2	Miami	52 (2)
3	Buffalo	51 (1)
4	Bowling Green	35
5	Akron	26
6	Kent State	19

West
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Toledo	66 (11)
2	Eastern Michigan	55 (1)
3	Northern Illinois	38
4	Central Michigan	37
5	Ball State	27
6	Western Michigan	23

Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Rank	Team	Votes
1	Toledo	7
2	Ohio	4
3	Buffalo	1

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	12:00 p.m.	at Kentucky*	Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	L 14–44	58,286
September 9	12:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Georgia*	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	SECN	L 3–45	92,746
September 16	2:00 p.m.	Indiana State*	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN (Blue Key Victory Bell)	ESPN+	W 45–7	15,054
September 23	2:00 p.m.	Georgia Southern*	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	L 3–40	10,118
September 30	3:30 p.m.	at Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	L 24–42	21,880
October 7	3:30 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	L 10–24	18,696
October 14	2:00 p.m.	Toledo	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	L 6–13	7,675
October 21	3:30 p.m.	Central Michigan	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 24–17	15,171
November 1	7:30 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN2	L 21–24	6,091
November 7	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL (Bronze Stalk Trophy)	CBSSN	W 20–17	6,282
November 18	2:00 p.m.	Kent State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 34–3	8,554
November 25	12:00 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN (Red Bird Rivalry)	CBSSN	L 15–17	8,054
*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

See also: 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State	7	0	7	0	14
Kentucky	3	20	14	7	44

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)

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

at Kroger Field • Lexington, KY

• Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: -
• Game attendance: 58,286
• TV: SEC Network

Statistics	BALL	UK
First downs	18	17
Total yards	71–295	51–354
Rushing yards	41–72	20–113
Passing yards	223	241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–30–0	18–31–1
Time of possession	38:16	21:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	15/21, 165 yards, TD
	Rushing	Marquez Cooper	15 carries, 33 yards
	Receiving	Ty Robinson	5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Kentucky	Passing	Devin Leary	18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Ray Davis	14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Dane Key	5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia

See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State	0	0	0	3	3
No. 1 Georgia	0	31	14	0	45

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)

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

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, 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)

Statistics	BALL	UGA
First downs	13	22
Total yards	65–224	61–386
Rushing yards	28–77	28–99
Passing yards	147	287
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–37–3	24–33–1
Time of possession	31:28	28:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Layne Hatcher	10/16, 82 yards
	Rushing	Charlie Spegal	4 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Ahmad Edwards	4 receptions, 47 yards
Georgia	Passing	Carson Beck	23/30, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Roderick Robinson II	6 carries, 38 yards, TD
	Receiving	Arian Smith	2 receptions, 50 yards

Indiana State

See also: 2023 Indiana State Sycamores football team and Blue Key Victory Bell

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Indiana State	0	0	7	0	7
Ball State	0	10	7	28	45

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)

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

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN

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

Statistics	ISU	BALL
First downs	12	26
Total yards	53–261	66–425
Rushing yards	32–104	42–288
Passing yards	157	137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9–21–1	18–24–0
Time of possession	26:59	33:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Indiana State	Passing	Elijah Owens	9/21, 157 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Tee Hodge	9 carries, 46 yards
	Receiving	Harry Van Dyne	3 receptions, 80 yards
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	17/22, 137 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Marquez Cooper	22 carries, 177 yards, TD
	Receiving	Tanner Koziol	7 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Georgia Southern

See also: 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Georgia Southern	14	9	10	7	40
Ball State	0	0	0	3	3

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)

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

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN

• Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: -
• Game attendance: 10,118
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	GASO	BALL
First downs	25	10
Total yards	77–530	55–197
Rushing yards	27–167	28–37
Passing yards	363	160
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	36–50–0	14–29–2
Time of possession	30:41	29:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Southern	Passing	Davis Brin	34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	OJ Arnold	9 carries, 90 yards
	Receiving	Khaleb Hood	7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Marquez Cooper	9 carries, 16 yards
	Receiving	Rico Barfield	2 receptions, 50 yards

at Western Michigan

See also: 2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State	3	7	7	7	24
Western Michigan	7	21	7	7	42

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)

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

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

• Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: -
• Game attendance: 21,880
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	BALL	WMU
First downs	19	26
Total yards	63–364	75–461
Rushing yards	26–48	36–133
Passing yards	316	328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	26–37–0	24–39–0
Time of possession	29:37	30:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Layne Hatcher	26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Marquez Cooper	15 carries, 82 yards
	Receiving	Qian Magwood	9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Western Michigan	Passing	Treyson Bourguet	24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Zahir Abdus-Salaam	8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Anthony Sambucci	5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD

at Eastern Michigan

See also: 2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Toledo

See also: 2023 Toledo Rockets football team

Central Michigan

See also: 2023 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

at Bowling Green

See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State	0	7	7	7	21
Bowling Green	7	7	0	10	24

Game information

First quarter (07:43) BGSU – Harold Fannin Jr. 23-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 31 yards, 1:20; Bowling Green 7-0) Second quarter (14:06) BSU – Kiael Kelly 6-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 17 plays, 74 yards, 8:27; Tied 7-7) (04:40) BGSU – Terion Stewart 54-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 54 yards, :20; Bowling Green 14-7) Third quarter (05:04) BSU – Marquez Cooper 5-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 8:03; Tied 14-14) Fourth quarter (13:20) BGSU – Ta'ron Keith 10-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive:12 plays, 75 yards, 5:43; Bowling Green 21-14) (09:07) BSU – Kiael Kelly 44-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 4:13; Tied 21-21) (03:14) BGSU – Alan Anaya 22-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 39 yards, 5:43; Bowling Green 24-21)

Game Nine – Ball State Cardinals (2–6) at Bowling Green Falcons (4–4) – Game summary

at Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH

• Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C) • Wind: SW 7 mph (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 6,091
• Referee: Matt Packowski
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Mike Corey, Rocky Boiman

Statistics	Ball State	Bowling Green
First downs	16	13
Plays–yards	283	281
Rushes–yards	49–217-3	34–104
Passing yards	66	177
Passing: comp–att–int	9–19–0	15-23-0
Time of possession	33:34	26:26

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Kiael Kelly	9/19, 66 yards
	Rushing	Marquez Cooper/Kiael Kelly	25 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD/ 25 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDS
	Receiving	Ahmad Edwards	3 receptions, 25 yards
Bowling Green	Passing	Connor Bazelak	13/21, 128 yards, 2 TDS
	Rushing	Terion Stewart	15 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Harold Fannin Jr.	5 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD

at Northern Illinois

See also: 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Kent State

See also: 2023 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Miami (OH)

See also: 2023 Miami RedHawks football team

References

1. "Scheumann Stadium". Ball State Athletics.
2. "Mike Neu". Sports Reference.
3. "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
4. "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
5. "2023 Ball State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
6. "Ball State Cardinals Schedule 2023". ESPN.