(BALL STATE SI)
MUNCIE, Ind. -- While the Ball State football team only recently put the finishing touches on one of its finest seasons ever, the road for the Cardinals' MAC championship defense in 2021 is taking form. Ball State's conference opponents have been set for the 2021 season, though dates for those league games are yet to be determined. The Cardinals will play West Division foes Central Michigan and Toledo at home while going on the road in the division to face Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. In cross-divisional matchups, Ball State will host Buffalo in a rematch of the 2020 MAC Championship Game and Miami in the annual Redbird Rivalry Game while traveling to face Akron. The Cardinals were originally slated to play both Buffalo and Akron in the 2020 regular season before the schedule was trimmed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ball State's non-conference schedule for next season is already set. The Cardinals will host Western Illinois in the opener Thursday, Sept. 2 and then travel to play Sept. 11 at Penn State and Sept. 18 at Wyoming. BSU's final non-conference game is Oct. 2 at home against Army. The Cardinals had a banner season in 2020, finishing 7-1 overall, winning the program's first MAC championship since 1996 by defeating No. 23 Buffalo and claiming the first bowl victory in school history by beating No. 19 San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl. Ball State finished the year ranked No. 23 in both the AP Top 25 and the Amway Coaches Poll, marking the first year-end ranking in either poll in program history. The Cardinals are set to return 20 starters from that team. 2021 Non-conference Opponents (dates set) Western Illinois (Sept. 2) at Penn State (Saturday, Sept. 11) at Wyoming (Saturday, Sept. 18) Army (Saturday, Oct. 2) 2021 Home MAC Opponents (dates not set) Central Michigan Toledo Buffalo Miami 2021 Road MAC Opponents (dates not set) Eastern Michigan Northern Illinois Western Michigan Akron
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