As Ball State Sports are in action across as many as 18 teams this spring, each week Sports Link will highlight five Cardinals you need to know.

After a season filled with success and triumph, the Ball State football team has plans to give it another shot in 2021 and #RunItBack.

After the 7-1 finish, Ball State’s first MAC Championship in over 20 years, and the program’s first ever bowl victory, expectations are now jet-fueled.

A dominant first quarter was just about all Ball State needed on New Year’s Eve, as it took down No. 19 San Jose State, 34-13.

Ball State head coach Mike Neu instilled in his team long ago that just making it to Detroit was not good enough. He wanted his team to go in Friday night and finish the job that had been in the works for the previous 12 months.

There’s been no larger game for the Ball State Cardinals than tonight’s MAC Championship. With dueling five-game win streaks, the Cardinals have a shot at their first MAC title since 1996.

Friday’s meeting at Ford Field will be the 12th all-time meeting between the two schools. The Cardinals own a 9-2 lead, but are 0-1 on a neutral field — 2008 in Detroit.

Ball State clinched the MAC West Division title with its fifth straight victory and will play in the MAC Championship game Friday.