FBS-CFB Game Preview: Ball State Cardinals (0-1) vs. Auburn Tigers (1-0)

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Venue & Kickoff

Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT

Broadcast: ESPNU

Capacity: 87,451

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Clear skies, warm evening

Temperature: ~82°F at kickoff

Wind: Light, 4–6 mph

Precipitation: 0%

Impact: Ideal football weather; no environmental advantage

Injury Report

Auburn

No major injuries reported after Week 1 win over Baylor

Ball State

No significant injuries reported after Week 1 loss to Purdue

Team Records & Recent Form

Auburn: QB Jackson Arnold rushed for 137 yds & 2 TDs in debut; defense allowed 419 pass yds but forced key stops.

Ball State: QB Kiael Kelly led team in passing (87 yds) and rushing (63 yds) vs. Purdue; defense allowed 340 pass yds.

Key Player Matchups

QB Jackson Arnold (AUB) vs. LB Joey Stemler (BSU)

Arnold: 11/17, 108 yds; 16 rushes, 137 yds, 2 TD

Stemler: 5 tackles in opener

RB Damari Alston (AUB) vs. DL Alfred Chea (BSU)

Alston: 16 carries, 84 yds, 1 TD

Chea: 4 tackles vs. Purdue

WR Cam Coleman (AUB) vs. CB Eric McClain (BSU)

Coleman: 1 rec, 23 yds in opener; breakout candidate

McClain: 1 tackle vs. Purdue

QB Kiael Kelly (BSU) vs. AUB Front Seven

Kelly: 10/16, 87 yds; 22 rushes, 63 yds

Auburn DL Keldric Faulk: 4 tackles, 1 sack

Series History

All-Time: Auburn leads 3–0

Last Meeting: Auburn 54–30 (2009)

Aggregate Score: Auburn 147 – Ball State 33

Betting Trends

Auburn: 1–0 ATS in 2025; OVER hit in opener

Ball State: 0–1 ATS in 2025; UNDER hit in opener

Auburn 3–0 SU all-time vs. Ball State, all wins by 24+ points

Ball State 0–13 SU vs. current SEC teams

Game Odds

Ball State Cardinals         52.5

Auburn Tigers                   – 42.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025