The Cardinals get their second taste of conference play when they take on a Broncos team fresh off a BYE week.
The Ball State Cardinals (1-3, 0-1 MAC) and Western Michigan Broncos (1-3, 0-0 MAC) are set to play one another for an opportunity to turn their respective seasons around.
It’s a must-win game at this point for two teams which have had extremely similar paths to their respective records. Both teams hail a single win over an FCS competitor, and both teams can point to two blowout losses and a one-possession loss in a winnable game.
They’re two programs in parallel, though the circumstances are different; Mike Neu is in his ninth year at the helm in Muncie, while Lance Taylor enters his second season in charge of the Broncos.
Let’s get right into what should be an interesting contest in Indiana:
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana
- Viewing options: The game will be available exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Curt Dudley (play-by-play) and Brian Barlow (color) will provide the commentary.
- Radio options: For Ball State, Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Chris Radican (color) will provide commentary on WMUN-AM 1340. Robin Hook (play-by-play) and John Creek (color) will provide the WMU call for Jack 106.5 FM.
- Gambling considerations: Western Michigan is a nine-point favorite on Community and Family Day, with an over/under of 56.5, per DraftKings.
- All-time series: WMU leads the all-time series at 28-22, with the Broncos winners of the last two matchups. Anthony Sambucci was an impact player in 2023’s 42-24 win for WMU, notching three touchdowns on five catches.
Getting to know the Broncos
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The Broncos are coming off a one-possession loss to Marshall on the road, where a late WMU rally went to bunk when Hayden Wolff overthrew Malique Dieudonne in the endzone on fourth down.
The result dropped WMU to a 1-4 record, and they’re hoping to find their winning ways again when they take the field against Ball State.
This team is certainly built on establishing the run. WMU is 55th in the country with 178 yards per game over four games, with junior transfer back Jaden Nixon leading the way. Nixon, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, has 54 carries for 360 yards and three touchdowns, and has also hauled in 552 all-purpose yards. Zahir Abdus-Salaam has shouldered the load in relief as well, with 43 carries for 180 yards and four touchdowns. 2023’s Freshman of the Year Jalen Buckley has been out the last three games due to injury.
The aforementioned Wolff (50-of-81, 643 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions) has steadied the quarterback position, but results are still fairly murky with WMU sitting at 119th of 133 eligible passing offenses. Anthony Sambucci is back in the fold after his three-score game last season, currently leading the Broncos in receptions (13), yards (254), and touchdowns (1) on the season. Tight end Blake Bosma (eight catches, 103 yards, touchdown) is the other serious receiving threat, with Nixon and Abdus-Salaam contributing in the screen game.
Defense has been an issue for the Broncos, something which was especially apparent in their game against a Bethune-Cookman team which hadn’t scored a touchdown in their three contests prior. The Broncos sit at 117th in the NCAA in total defense, allowing 18 touchdowns and 436.5 yards per game, with no interceptions and just two fumbles recovered in four games.
Minnesota transfer linebacker Donald Willis has been the talisman on defense, holding the team lead in total tackles (34), solo tackles (19) and assisted tackles (15), while being joint-first in tackles-for-loss (3.5) and forced fumbles (1) and second in pass break-ups (three.)
Bilhal Kone has also been a revelation at defensive back, with 26 total tackles and a team-leading four pass break-ups. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Mason Nelson has gotten things done in the backfield, picking up 3.5 TFLs and a sack on nine total tackles, with fellow DLs Corey Walker and Isaiah Green each collecting two sacks.
Special teams have been anything but, with two kickoff return touchdowns allowed on the season and an average of 28.6 yards per return. They’re also 3-of-5 on field goals, with kickoff specialist Luka Zurak taking over placekicking duties early after an injury to Palmer Domschke (0-1.) Ryan Milmore is a bright spot, third-best in the MAC with a 41.3 net punt yards per game average.
Getting to know the Cardinals
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The Ball State Cardinals are coming off another crushing road loss, this time a 63-7 pasting at the hands of James Madison, and hope the confines of home field will be a lot friendlier to them after three-straight contests on the road.
If there is any hope of getting some positive momentum to make all the offseason work worth it, picking up a conference win at home would certainly be the way to do it.
The overall statistics certainly don’t favor the Cardinals, however, as they’re one of the worst teams in the country in both total offense (307.8 yards, 11 touchdowns, 117th in NCAA) and total defense (525.8 yards allowed, 27 opposing TDs, 132nd in NCAA.)
There’s some positives to be had on offense at least. In games against peer institutions, they’re 1-1, with both games coming down to the wire in the fourth quarter, so they can certainly keep up in a shootout if need be.
Redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza (96-of-140 for 826 yards, eight touchdowns, five interceptions) has cemented the role of starting quarterback, but does cede snaps to last year’s starter Kiael Kelly (1-of-3 passing, 13 rushes for 36 yards) in obvious run situations. Cam Pickett has emerged as the team’s leading outside receiver (22 receptions for 158 yards), but it’s tight end Tanner Koziol who has led the receiving attack with 29 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Qian Magwood (12 receptions, 121 yards) and Malcom Gillie (10 receptions, 119 yards) have each hauled in two touchdowns on the year.
The dynamo which makes the offense go, however, is Eastern Kentucky transfer back Braedon Sloan. Through four games, Sloan has toted the rock 59 times for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while also sitting third in receiving with 14 catches for 111 yards and a receiving score.
The defense, as mentioned, has been extremely shaky at best and an active detriment at its worst. As a unit, they have had awful luck causing havoc, with just five sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries in four games. They’ve allowed an average of 49 points per game coming into this contest as well, with their best defensive output coming against Missouri State (34 points allowed.)
Keionte Newson, last year’s leading tackler for Ball State after a conversion from safety to linebacker, is once again atop the tackle charts in an effort to buoy an otherwise anemic defense. He sits at 18 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss, two pass break-ups and a QB hurry.
DD Snyder’s availability at the safety spot will be in question after missing last week’s game. In three games so far, he has 14 tackles, a half-TFL and a pass breakup. Myles Norwood, a fellow defensive back, is second on the tackle charts (14) and leads the team with three pass break-ups.
Brandon Berger and Sam Feeney are two intriguing linebackers to keep an eye on. Berger leads the team with three TFLs and three sacks on 11 tackles, while Feeney— a true freshman— has broken out the last two weeks, with a punt block and return vs. Central Michigan and two solo sacks against James Madison. He could see more playing time in packages or as part of the regular rotation if he keeps this performances up.
Special teams have been decent for Ball State. Jackson Courville’s status is still week-to-week with an early injury. Carson Holmer has performed in his absence at placekicker, goign 2-of-2 vs. CMU and making all his extra points. BSU is a top-five punting unit in the MAC, with Brian Cooey averaging 42.8 yards per boot on 19 tries.
Prognosticating this game is difficult. These are two teams who are very similar to one another and both need the win in a bad way.
A win here could instill some confidence in the direction of the program for either side. A loss could be a tipping point into regression— especially for a Ball State team that would tentatively start 0-2 in conference play with a loss.
WMU has won the last two games, however, and Ball State has not proven to be a reliable program to this point. BSU’s defense is not a unit which punishes mistakes, so as long as WMU stays on schedule offensively, they should be fine thanks to the talent gap between the two squads.
For Ball State to take a win, they’ll need to force some quick drives and ensure the Broncos do not reach the redzone on defense (BSU is 0-fer on stops inside their own 20). On offense, they’ll sit on the ball and be efficient down the field without being conservative.