The Ball State Cardinals and Central Michigan Chippewas square off in a critical MAC showdown on September 21, 2024, at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Both teams enter the game with a lot to prove, having experienced ups and downs in their early-season schedules. Ball State, coached by Mike Neu, started the season with a thrilling 42-34 win over Missouri State, where quarterback Kadin Semonza threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns. However, the Cardinals were humbled in their next game, a 62-0 drubbing by Miami (FL), which exposed significant gaps in their defense and offensive consistency. Central Michigan, under head coach Jim McElwain, has also had a roller-coaster start.

After a commanding 66-10 win over Central Connecticut State, the Chippewas faced a harsh reality check against Florida International, losing 52-16. They followed this up with a 30-9 loss to Illinois, where the offense struggled to find any rhythm. Quarterback Joey Labas will need to lead a more efficient offense to exploit the vulnerabilities in Ball State’s defense. Both teams have struggled with turnovers and third-down conversions, making this game likely to come down to who can execute better in key situations. For Ball State, containing Central Michigan’s rushing attack and improving their offensive consistency will be key. Central Michigan will need to capitalize on Ball State’s defensive weaknesses while shoring up their own defense to prevent big plays. The outcome will likely hinge on which team can impose its game plan more effectively and avoid costly mistakes.