# Ball State Cardinals

Mid-American · Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN
Head coach: Mike Uremovich · year 2 · 4-8 career over 2 seasons, all at BALL
Offense: Multiple · Defense: 3-4

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#55 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 3.5 (over priced -118)
- Returning starter games: 29%
- Schedule difficulty: 98th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 29% | 19/65 | 5/13 |
| Offensive line | 63% | 32/51 | 4/8 |
| Defensive front | 0% | 0/78 | 6/18 |
| Secondary | 38% | 21/55 | 5/14 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Chris Hood (OL), Tristan Cook (OL), Willizhuan Yates (DB), Cole Mosier (OL), Ameir Glenn (DT)
- Key departures (with destination): Nathan Voorhis (DE), Kiael Kelly (QB), Joedrick Lewis (DB), Eric McClain (CB) – UNM, Adam Dolan (OL)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Jabari Smith Jr. (WR) – FAU, Johnny Thompson Jr. (RB) – KU, Jared Badie (OLB) – SDSU, Stu Smith (DB) – PUR, Anthony Pinnace (DB) – MSU

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Elisha Durham, Corey Thompson Jr., DJ Young
- WR-Z: Donovan Hamilton, Isaiah Thacker, Jamarion McDougle
- WR-SL: Jabari Smith Jr., CJ Nelson, Derion Talbert
- LT: Chris Hood, Brady Barrowman
- LG: Zach Bandy
- C: Maxwell Wentz, Jackson Ruess
- RG: Cole Mosier, Grant Haworth
- RT: Tristan Cook, Luke Dalton
- TE: Tate Hoover, Sean Ward, Alex Scherle
- QB: Tyler Mizzell, Keldric Luster
- RB: TJ Horton, Jalen Bonds, Johnny Thompson Jr.

### Defense

- DE: Austin Stief, Maverick Gracio, Ben Marsh
- NT: Kendrick Gilbert, Khristian Zachary, Keilan Smith
- DT: Ameir Glenn, Ka'Shawn Thomas, Spencer Vaka
- RUSH: Jared Badie, Layton Starks, Justin Thomas, Sam Feeney
- WLB: Cincear Lewis, Kaleb Stewart, Lucas Szymborski
- MLB: Gavin Forsha, Mikeah Webster
- LCB: Willizhuan Yates, Jordan Suggs
- SS: Derek Fields, Deondre Shepherd, Cole Earlewine
- FS: Sterling Smith, Tobi Adewoyin
- RCB: Cedric Franklin II
- NB: Chris Jackson, Avery Stuart

### Special Teams

- PT: Cole Stumbaugh, Brody Boehm
- PK: Carson Holmer, Brody Boehm
- KO: Carson Holmer, Brody Boehm
- LS: Caden Britton, Coby Tripp
- H: Cole Stumbaugh
- KR: TJ Horton

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Ohio State | Away | BTN | BALL +50.5 |
| 2 | Stony Brook Seawolves (FCS) | Home | ESPN+ | – |
| 3 | Liberty | Away | ESPN+ | – |
| 4 | Kent State | Away | – | – |
| 5 | Toledo | Home | – | – |
| 6 | Northwestern | Away | – | – |
| 7 | Bowling Green | Away | – | – |
| 8 | Sacramento State | Home | – | – |
| 10 | UMass | Away | – | – |
| 11 | Buffalo | Home | – | – |
| 12 | Ohio | Away | – | – |
| 13 | Central Michigan | Home | – | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/ball-state
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.