BOWLING GREEN — The head coach of the upcoming team on Bowling Green State University’s football schedule might have changed, but that doesn’t mean the Falcons have to prepare differently too.
BGSU coach Scot Loeffler is expecting Ball State, which is less than 20 points from being in first place in the Mid-American Conference, to be ready to go on Saturday afternoon in Muncie, Ind.
“We can’t control who’s the head coach and who’s not, but what we can control is our preparation and our actions. We’re really challenging the guys to make this the best week of practice we’ve ever had,” Loeffler said during Monday’s news conference at the Sebo Athletic Center. “We had a great Monday today, I thought the guys were locked in, and I think they understand that we’re playing a really good team.
“This team could very easily be playing for a shot at this thing. It’s fascinating when you look at these scores and who they’ve played. Some of these ball clubs that are on here that they’ve played and played close is a compliment to them.”
BGSU (6-4, 5-1 MAC), which is in the midst of one of its best stretches in six years under Loeffler, will be going up against a Ball State team (3-7, 2-4) that parted ways with nine-year head coach Mike Neu on Saturday. Offensive line coach Colin Johnson will be the Cardinals’ interim coach for their final two games of the season.
Noon start times for college football has seemed to be a hot topic for some fans recently, so we're wondering...
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Do you like when your college football team plays at noon?
Neu compiled a 40-63 record at Ball State, including a 7-1 mark and MAC championship in 2020. The move came after Ball State’s 51-48 overtime loss to Buffalo on Tuesday in which the Cardinals blew a 45-31 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for Mike. I thought he did a great job there, and unfortunately, they made a decision to change,” Loeffler said. “But he’s one of the winningest coaches there and he’s done a great job. Just shows you how fragile winning and losing is; it’s one or two plays.
“So this is a really good football team that we’re playing. We’re going to have to be on point, it’s really dangerous. I think they’re really good on offense, they score a ton of points. Their defense has improved, they’re aggressive on special teams, and I know Colin Johnson will do a great job in Mike’s presence.”
BGSU has played in a lot of close football games this season. Each of its four losses are by 10 points or fewer, and the Falcons have two victories by 10 points or fewer.
That pales in comparison to what Ball State has gone through in 2024.
The Cardinals’ four MAC losses are by a combined 15 points, including setbacks to league title contenders Western Michigan (45-42) and Miami (27-21) along with Buffalo. Ball State is 3-5 in games decided by 10 points or fewer, with a quality win over Northern Illinois (25-23).
Ball State gave BGSU a battle last season, but a 52-yard field goal attempt by the Cardinals as time expired was off the mark, giving the Falcons a 24-21 victory at Doyt Perry Stadium.
“We’ve just got to keep our heads on straight,” BGSU senior defensive lineman Dontrez Brown said. “We know it’s going to be a challenge, so just knowing that this is a dangerous team and going in confident, but being aware they are a dangerous team.”
The biggest factor that could come into play for the Falcons on Saturday is confidence. BGSU has won four straight games by an average of 16 points per outing and has come out victorious in five of its past six contests overall to move into a tie for first in the MAC with Ohio and Miami.
“I think these past few games, that’s exactly what we’ve felt is confidence. We want to make a run at the MAC championship and win it, and the beautiful thing about it is, the BG community is behind us,” BGSU senior wide receiver Malcolm Johnson, Jr., said. “It’s bigger than just our team. We’re doing it for the fans, the people that show up each and every day, the students, and that’s the amazing thing about it.
“We just feel so good to win. We have a lot of seniors, so this would mean the world to win it for our seniors. It’s a beautiful feeling.”
First Published November 18, 2024, 10:42 p.m.
