The Battle for the Bronze Stalk is back!
IT’S BRONZE STALK WEEK! The Northern Illinois Huskies and Ball State Cardinals fight it out for the corniest trophy in college football.
Both teams will be looking to get back on track and bounce back from close losses. The Huskies (4-3, 1-2 MAC) fell in a low-scoring contest against the Toledo Rockets where, once again, their defense was amazing but the Huskies offense was…anemic. The Cardinals (2-5, 1-2 MAC) were tied with SEC-foe Vanderbilt entering the fourth quarter but ended up falling 24-14 to the Commodores.
The all-time series is razor thin, with the Huskies holding a slim 25-24-2 record over the Cardinals in the previous 51 meetings. If Ball State wins, it will be the first time the series has been tied since 2014.
Game Notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana
- Network: ESPN+
- Gambling considerations: NIU (-11), with an over/under of 48.5.
- All-time series: NIU leads the all-time series, 25-24-2, but the Cardinals have won the previous two meetings.
- Last meeting: Ball State 20, NIU 17 on November 7, 2023
Getting to Know the Huskies
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
The Huskies’ offense has moved the ball somewhat well and actually out-gained their opponents in all seven games this season. However, they have barely been able to get any points on the board, averaging just 23.4 points per game (101st in the FBS) and, that number is even worse against teams in the top division. Against FBS schools, NIU is netting just 18.3 points per game, as nearly ONE THIRD of NIU’s points came in that opening week win over Western Illinois (54 of 164, 32.9%).
But they have been in every game thanks to the third best defense in the NCAA. They are allowing just 258.1 yards per game, with only Texas and Ohio State allowing fewer yards per game than the Huskies. Their rush defense ranks 13th in the nation, allowing 101.6 yards per game, while their passing defense is eighth overall, giving up 156.6 yards per game. And they are the #1 team in the nation on third down defense. Their foes are converting just 19.5% of their attempts.
It is unclear if quarterback Ethan Hampton will be back under center after missing last week with an injury, or if Josh Holst will get his second career start. Holst, who has seen action is four games now, is 34/63 passing (54%) and has 316 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He is also a runner and has 25 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Hampton, more of a pocket passer, is completing 57.4% of his throws and has 932 yards and eight touchdowns to four interceptions.
Maybe it is time to play transfer Jalen Macon? Macon, who was a starter before at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, has only seen action in week one but, in his career, he has passed for 1010 yards and four scores with a 62.2% completion rate. He can also use his legs and has rushed for 196 yards and a TD on 60 carries.
Injuries have not helped the Huskies either, as running back Antario Brown has been limited the last two weeks and wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph finally got back into the game last week as well after missing a pair of games.
Brown now trails Gavin Williams as the team’s leading rusher, with Williams having 487 yards to Brown’s 454. However, Brown does have a pair of rushing TDs while Williams has just one score.
On defense, Devonte O’Malley and Roy Williams have been putting together great seasons up front. The linemen are tied – along with Nevaeh Sanders – with 4.5 sacks each with O’Malley also having the team lead in pass break ups, batting down four passes.
Getting to Know the Cardinals
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
Ball State, like the Huskies, have struggled to find points. They are averaging just 25.1 points per game (t-86th) and a mere 105.6 rushing yards per game (119th in the FBS). They do have 14 passing touchdowns on the season and are averaging 223.3 yards per game through the air but, it has not lead to many points.
But, unlike the Huskies, the real problem has been their defense. The Cardinals are giving up 42.9 points and 492.1 yards per game, both of which are fourth worst in the NCAA (130th of 133). The 310.9 passing yards per game is dead last in the FBS, seven yards worse than the next team, and the 181.3 rushing yards allowed is ranked 112th.
Freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza’s 1538 passing yards ranks third in the MAC and his 13 touchdowns is tied atop the MAC leaderboard with Toledo’s Tucker Gleason. However, he has also thrown seven interceptions and been sacked a massive 19 times losing a total of 121 yards.
Tight end Tanner Koziol has been a massive threat. His 502 receiving yards ranks fifth in the MAC and he also has team-highs in receptions (55) and touchdowns (4). He now has 1170 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career.
Braedon Sloan, Ball State’s main running back, sits just under Antario Brown in yardage for seventh place in the MAC, gaining 451 yards and scoring four times on his 106 carries. He is also a big target in their passing attack, as he third in receptions (23) and yards (270) for the Cardinals.
On defense Keionte Newson and Brandon Berger have been a bright spots for BSU. The linebackers have combined for 63 stops, with Newson having a team-leading 41 tackles. He also has three TFL, three pass break ups, and a trio of quarterback hurries. Berger leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5), sacks (5), and QB Hurries (6) and also has a pass break up.
Prediction
NIU goes the way of their running game. If they can break big plays and keep the ball moving, they will win. If the defense forces them to pass, they will lose.
Ball State’s defense has been quite porous but more effective against the run than the pass. But will it be enough to stop Williams and Brown? Their offense might be able to move the ball on this defense some but, with how good this Huskie defense is playing this year, and how poor the BSU offensive line has been…it might be a real long day for Semonza.
Huskies should end their two game skid to the Cardinals and pull this one out. But don’t even think about betting the over. Most likely another low scoring game.
NIU 17
Ball State 10