OXFORD, Ohio — Ever since Rich Maloney returned to Ball State in 2013, the Cardinals have been atop the Mid-American Conference.
They've finished no worse than fifth in the league and have been a top-three team in six of the eight complete seasons since then. But, despite the on field success year in and year out, championships have largely eluded Ball State.
The Cardinals won the MAC regular season title in 2014. Since then, they finished second in the league four times (2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021). Each time, less than three games separated them from the regular season title.