Ball State University Athletics
Wednesday, November 4
Amherst, MA
7 p.m.
Ball State University
at
Massachusetts
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
November 02, 2026 | Football
| Ball State (3-5, 2-2 MAC) at UMass (4-4, 1-3 MAC) | |
|---|---|
| Game 9 - at UMass | Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET Live Stats | ESPNU |
| Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network | Radio Pre- and Postgame: 6:00 p.m. ET on WMUN 92.5 FM/1340 AM Game Broadcast: 7:00 p.m. ET on WLBC 104.1 FM WMUN Listen Live | WLBC Listen Live |
| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | UMass | MAC | Media Center |
| Ball State Ticket Information | 2026 Season Tickets | #MACtion vs. Buffalo (Nov. 1 at 7 or 7:30 p.m.) | Parking | Game Promotion |
| Social Media | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Facebook |
| TOGETHER - A Ball State Sports Link Documentary Series | Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 |
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Riding the momentum of a two-game win streak for the first time in the Mike Uremovich Era, Ball State prepares for next week's #MACtion calendar to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Massachusetts.
The Cardinals try to win their third straight game -- all in the MAC and two straight on the road -- following last week's 34-17 homecoming dismantling of Sacramento State. The scene for this week's is McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, where the Cardinals fell 26-10 in 1984, and 24-10 in 2014. Wednesday's game is the first contest between the Cardinals and Minutemen since UMass returned to the Mid-American Conference as a full-time member in 2025-26. Previously, UMass was an affiliate member in football only from 2012-15.
With four regular season games remaining, the Cardinals remain in the hunt for bowl contention and an outside opportunity for an appearance in the MAC Championship Game. The Cardinals are one win from matching last year's win total, and two from another year of improvement under Mike Uremovich.
Ball State enters this week's game following a win over Sacramento State that featured milestone achievements on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals took the lead for good late in the first half (13-10), then stretched it before halftime (20-10), then coasted in the second half.
For the second straight week, QB Keldric Luster produced more than 300 yards in total offense, rushing for 68 and throwing for 234 on 14-of-27 passing. He vaulted the Cardinals into the lead with 65- and 55-yard touchdown passes before halftime.
In all four games in October, Ball State generated over 360 yards in total offense. It was the first time since 2022 that a Ball State team has produced 360+ in four consecutive weeks. Ball State averages 395.5 yards of total offense over its last four games.
Perhaps most impressively, the Cardinals' defense and special teams combined to keep Sac State shacked within its own territory for nearly 60 minutes. Sac State's average starting position was its own 20-yard line and the Hornets never began a drive beyond their own 25. The Hornets crossed midfield only three times and just once in the second half. Sac State totaled just 54 rushing yards.
WHAT A WIN MEANS:
-- Ball State will win a third straight game for the first time since besting Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Connecticut in 2022. The last time the Cardinals won three consecutive MAC games was in their MAC title season of 2020.
-- The Cardinals win consecutive road games for the first time since getting past Central Michigan and Kent State in 2022.
-- Ball State will move above .500 in the MAC, after at least five games, for the first time since beating Kent State on Nov. 1, 2022. That win put the Cardinals at 3-2, the same as a win at UMass would do on Nov. 4.
BY THE NUMBERS:
4 -- Cole Stumbaugh placed all four punts inside Sac State's 20-yard line and finished with a career-best 51.8-yard punting average.
26 -- Season-high 26 first downs vs. Sac State, and three straight weeks with at least 22 first downs -- for the first time since 2022.
337 -- With 370, 360, 435 & 417 yards in total offense in consecutive weeks, Ball State has raised its average to 337.5 yards of offense per game.
997 -- Wednesday is Game #997 in Ball State football annals. The regular season closes vs. CMU, in the 1000th game in program history.
INSIDE THE SERIES:
-- Ball State faces the Minutemen for the first time since UMass re-joined the Mid-American Conference as a full member in 2025.
-- UMass previously competed as a member of the MAC from 2012-15 before spending nine seasons as a football independent. The two programs split their series during that span, 1-1. The programs have exchanged wins since the series began at Massachusetts in 1984, with the all-time series tied at 2-2.
-- While the overall series is tied, the Cardinals and the Minutemen are both unblemished against each other on their respective home fields.
-- Ball State was victorious in the most recent meeting on Halloween in 2015, winning 20-10, the closest winning margin in the four games played.
-- The Cardinals also own the largest margin of victory in the series, besting UMass 44-17 at home in 1988 (Sept. 17).
Players Mentioned
QB
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