Ball State Football: After MAC title, what will Cardinals do for encore?

How will Ball State football fare in 2021?

This is a very favorable schedule for Ball State this season. Most of their tough conference games are at home and the biggest non-conference test will be a road trip to Penn State, but that at least is an early-season game.

• Game 1: Western Illinois (W) — This should be a comfortable victory to start the 2021 season for Ball State.
• Game 2: at Penn State (L) — Ball State is going to be a very good team, but a road game in Happy Valley vs Penn State is too much to ask of this team.
• Game 3: at Wyoming (L) — The Cowboys will have a tough defense for this high-scoring Ball State Team and I think they get the win at home.
• Game 4: Toledo (W) — This game could decide who wins the west division in 2021.
• Game 5: Army (W) — Army could present problems for this defense, but I think that Ball State can outscore the Black Knights.
• Game 6: at Western Michigan (L) — This is a tough game to forecast, but give me the Broncos at home to pull the upset.
• Game 7: at Eastern Michigan (W) — Give me Ball State in a fun shootout over the Eagles.
• Game 8: Miami (OH) (W) — Miami is looking to return to the MAC title game, but the Cardinals will get in their way here.
• Game 9: at Akron (W) — Ball State wins big here over the Zips on the road.
• Game 10: at Northern Illinois (W) — This is Ball State’s fourth road game in the last five games, but they will be too strong for the Huskies.
• Game 11: Central Michigan (W) — Another must-win for the Cardinals if they hope to win the west division.
• Game 12: Buffalo (W) — They could have a rematch a week later in the MAC title game, but the Cardinals win the first matchup.

Preciction: 9-3, 7-1 MAC

The schedule sets up nicely for Ball State. After a couple of tough non-conference road trips, Ball State gets Central Michigan, Toledo, and Buffalo all at home. That sets up well for another run at the conference title.