Adjusting to playing on the weekdays instead of Saturdays can be an adjustment to some, but for head coach Mike Neu and the Cardinals, it's all about sticking to the routine.
"Obviously, we transition to midweek football. The game is played on a different night and a different time, but for us, we just focus on our normal process that we have and prepare all week long. The attitude and the mindset of the guys have been great."
And after eight straight weeks of games, the bye could not have come at a better time as Ball State begins its final couple of months on the gridiron in the 2021 campaign.
"As we think about the final stretch of the season, I think to be able to take a step back is big," Neu added. "A lot of guys have been playing banged up and delivered some really gritty performances. I'm proud of a lot of our guys for that because they've been taping it up or sucking it up trying to get themselves to the end of the week and make sure they're as healthy as they can be for the game.
"It does come at a good time. Any time you can get one is a good time, but certainly after you've played eight games and transition into what would be the final stretch of the season and all the midweek games now. We definitely took advantage of that."
The Cardinals have won three of their last four midweek games played, all of which came during their run to the 2020 Mid-American Conference title in addition to the first bowl win in program history.
The game will be carried on 104.1 WLBC, online at BallStateSports.com and on the Varsity Network app with the Ball State Radio Network trio of Joel Godett, Vinny Palazetti and Jack McMullen breaking down the action. The game will also be available on CBS Sports Network with Jason Horowitz and Ross Tucker on the call.
Inside the Series: Akron
Ball State and Akron are set to square off for the 25th time in series history Tuesday night inside InfoCision Stadium. It is the first #MACtion game for both teams this season. The Zips have won the last two duels, once in Muncie in 2016 and once in Akron in 2017. However, the Cardinals had won five consecutive matchups prior to that from 2005-14. Ball State holds a 6-5 advantage in the series history as the road team. Tuesday night's affair is set to be the first midweek #MACtion between the cross-divisional squads.
Coach Neu on Akron and its time of possession…
"We've played some similar types of opponents in Army and Western Michigan when you talk about time of possession. It still comes down to us making sure that we sustain drives and we do our part that way when we have the ball. We've got to make sure that we're taking it down the field, we're putting the ball in the end zone and putting points on the board. On the flipside of that defensively, it doesn't really change what our process or formula is. You always want to stop the run. We saw a different deal with Army utilizing the whole play clock. Then we saw a team in Western Michigan that lines up in no-huddle, gets to the line of scrimmage quickly, but then they scan and look to the sideline to get the call, and that ends up eating up the whole play clock. Time of possession is a little bit different in terms of what style of offense they play."
Fast Starts … Like, Really Fast
Over two of the last four games, Ball State has been up 7-0 before some fans have reached their seats. Against Army, WR Justin Hall returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in just 12 seconds. At Western Michigan, QB Drew Plitt connected with WR Jalen McGaughy for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage that took only 11 seconds.
Ball State is one of just three teams to score on its first offensive play multiple times this season, joining Hawai'i and Michigan State. In addition, the Cardinals have scored on their opening drive in each of the last five games, which includes four touchdowns and a field goal.
First to 30
Since 2015, midweek #MACtion has had a good indicator in determining a winner. Over the last six years, the first team to score 30 points is 74-4 in league games played between Tuesday-Thursday, good for a 94.9 win percentage. In that span, there have only been 23 games (out of 101) that a game has not had a team that has not scored at least 30 points.
Hall Purpose
Eight weeks into the 2021 season, fifth-year WR Justin Hall is averaging 137.0 all-purpose yards per game, good for 18th-most in the country and first in the Mid-American Conference. Hall is third in the country in average all-purpose yards among players who have logged at least one yard through rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return only to Trestan Ebner (Baylor) and Jayden Reed (Michigan State).
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November 02, 2021 at 05:47AM
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Fresh off bye week, Ball State heads to Akron for midweek matchup - Ball State University Athletics - BallStateSports.com
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