Last December will forever be a storied run in Ball State Cardinals history. A MAC Championship Game victory over an undefeated, ranked Buffalo team was followed up by an Arizona Bowl victory over an undefeated, ranked San Jose State team. Ball State finished ranked No. 23 for its first final AP Poll ranking in program history. The Cardinals entered 2021 on a 7-game win streak — only trailing Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M for the longest in the country.
With 20 returning starters, Ball State seemed poised to do it again and the Cardinals received six preseason AP votes, becoming the first MAC team to receive any since 2016 Toledo.