FBS-CFB Game Preview: Ohio Bobcats (3-2) vs. Ball State Cardinals (1-3)

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Time: 12:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)
Venue: Scheumann Stadium, 2800 W. Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN 47304
Capacity: 22,500

Weather Forecast (Muncie, IN)

Kickoff: 75°F, partly cloudy

End of Game: ~70°F, clear skies

Rain Chance: <5%

Wind: 5–8 mph

Impact: Excellent football weather, minimal effect on game play

Injury Report

Ohio Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 MAC):

CB Ronald Jackson Jr. – Questionable

DL Kaci Seegars – Questionable

WR Eian Pugh – Questionable

LB Jack Fries – Questionable

QB Jacob Winters – Questionable

Ball State Cardinals (1-3, 0-0 MAC):

DE Khristian Zachary – Questionable

LB Jahmad Harmon – Questionable

DL Micah Wing – Questionable

WR Caden Johnson – Questionable

Key Player Matchups

Quarterbacks:

Ohio: Parker Navarro – 1,078 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT, 66.1% comp; 321 rush yds, 3 TD

Ball State: Kiael Kelly – 472 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT, 64.8% comp; 170 rush yds, 1 TD

Running Backs:

Ohio: Sieh Bangura – 414 yds, 4 TD (4.9 YPC)

Ball State: Qua Ashley – 295 yds, 3 TD (5.7 YPC)

Receivers:

Ohio: Chase Hendricks – 29 rec, 481 yds, 4 TD

Ball State: Eric Weatherly – 9 rec, 100 yds

Defensive Leaders:

Ohio: Jay Crable – 4 sacks; Michael Molnar – 41 tackles

Ball State: Nate Voorhis – 3.5 sacks; Alfred Chea – 21 tackles

Recent Team Form

Ohio (3-2):

W 35-20 vs Bowling Green

W 52-35 vs Gardner-Webb

L 37-9 @ Ohio State

W 17-10 vs West Virginia

L 34-31 @ Rutgers

Ball State (1-3):

L 31-25 @ UConn

W 34-29 vs New Hampshire

L 42-3 @ Auburn

L 31-0 @ Purdue

Team Records

Ohio Bobcats: 3-2 overall, 1-0 MAC

Ball State Cardinals: 1-3 overall, 0-0 MAC

Series History

All-Time: Ball State leads 15–13

Current Streak: Ohio has won 5 straight (2015–2024)

Last Meeting (2024): Ohio 42, Ball State 21

At Muncie: Ball State leads 9–6

Betting Trends

Ohio: 4-1 ATS in 2025; 0-1 ATS as ≥14.5 pt favorite; 3 of 5 games OVER

Ball State: 3-1 ATS; 2-1 ATS as ≥14.5 pt underdog; 2 of 4 games OVER

Head-to-Head: Ohio 5-0 SU last 5 vs Ball State; 3 of last 5 OVER

Situational: Ohio 21-2 SU as favorite in last 23 games; Ball State 9-1 ATS in last 10 home games

Historical Betting Results

2024: Ohio 42, Ball State 21 (Ohio -17.5 covered, Over 51.5 hit)

2022: Ohio 32, Ball State 18 (Ohio -3.5 covered, Under 50 hit)

2019: Ohio 34, Ball State 21 (Ohio -7 covered, Over 54 hit)

2018: Ohio 52, Ball State 14 (Ohio -10 covered, Over 55 hit)

Projected Score: Ohio 31, Ball State 17

Game Odds

Ohio Bobcats                     – 14

Ball State Cardinals         51

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025