When last these two teams met in Detroit, it was the upstart Buffalo which upset the ranked and undefeated Ball State’s hopes and dreams, with a dominant defensive performance in a 42-24 battle back in 2008.
It took 12 years, and a five-game winning streak to even qualify for the opportunity, but the Ball State Cardinals (6-1) completed their 12-year revenge arc on the #23 Buffalo Bulls (5-1) to secure the program’s first MAC championship since 1996 on Friday night, winning by a final score of 38-28.
The game started off at a torrid pace, with Buffalo’s Ron Cook blazing past defenders on the opening kickoff for 28 yards to set the tempo, a return which could have well gone for a touchdown were it not for Cook getting his feet tangled up along the sideline.