MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State welcomes Northern Illinois to Scheumann Stadium on Saturday for the 17th rendition of the Bronze Stalk rivalry game, as part of the Cardinals' 97th homecoming contest. Saturday's homecoming tilt is sponsored by Community Hospital of Anderson.
** Established in 2008, the Battle for the Bronze Stalk is the youngest rivalry game in the Mid-American Conference, but it hit full stride two years ago when Ball State won a doubleovertime thriller in Muncie, 44-38. In what was the third-largest comeback in Ball State history, the Huskies led 21-0 before the Cardinals got on the board before halftime.