The 2026 Ball State Cardinals football schedule opens with a Week 1 trip to Ohio State and includes five home games at Scheumann Stadium. Ball State wraps the regular season at home against Central Michigan on November 28. Kickoff times and TV networks are still to be announced and will be posted here as the MAC and its broadcast partners confirm them.
Ball State Cardinals Football Overview
Ball State is in its second season under head coach Mike Uremovich, hired in December 2024 after leading Butler. Uremovich brings extensive MAC experience, including multiple stints at Northern Illinois.
The schedule front-loads two Big Ten road games at Ohio State and Northwestern, plus a trip to Liberty. Conference play features home dates with Toledo and Central Michigan and the in-state finale that closes the regular season.
Ball State 2026 Football Schedule
Here is the full 2026 Ball State Cardinals schedule. Home games are listed as “vs” and road games as “@”. Times and TV are marked TBD until announced.
| WK | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | @ Ohio State Buckeyes | TBD | TBD |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Stony Brook Seawolves | TBD | TBD |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | @ Liberty Flames | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | @ Kent State Golden Flashes | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | vs Toledo Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | @ Northwestern Wildcats | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | @ Bowling Green Falcons | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | vs Sacramento State Hornets | TBD | TBD |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 31 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 10 | Wed, Nov 4 | @ Massachusetts Minutemen | TBD | TBD |
| 11 | Wed, Nov 11 | vs Buffalo Bulls | TBD | TBD |
| 12 | Tue, Nov 17 | @ Ohio Bobcats | TBD | TBD |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | vs Central Michigan Chippewas | TBD | TBD |
More 2026 College Football Resources
Ball State 2026 Football FAQ
Who is Ball State’s head coach in 2026?
Mike Uremovich is in his second season leading Ball State in 2026. He was hired in December 2024 after a successful run as head coach at Butler.
How many home games does Ball State play in 2026?
Ball State plays five home games in 2026: Stony Brook, Toledo, Sacramento State, Buffalo, and the season finale against Central Michigan.
When is Ball State’s bye week in 2026?
Ball State’s bye week falls in Week 9, the weekend of October 31, 2026.
When will Ball State’s 2026 kickoff times and TV channels be announced?
Most MAC kickoff times and TV assignments are confirmed about 6 to 12 days before each game. This page and the printable PDF are updated as the MAC and its broadcast partners release them.
What is Ball State’s marquee 2026 game?
Ball State opens the season at Ohio State on September 5, the program’s biggest stage of the year before MAC play begins.
Official source: Ball State Cardinals Athletics.
