Buffalo Bulls at Ball State Cardinals
· NCAA - Football
Ball State bowl eligible after 20-3 victory over Buffalo
It's just the third time in program history that the Cardinals (6-6, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) have qualified for a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. Ball State and Buffalo met for the MAC championship last season — a game the Cardinals won 38-28.
Ball State set the tone early when Malcolm Lee picked off Matt Myers on the Bulls' first series, giving the Cardinals the ball on Buffalo's 42-yard line. Eleven plays later Plitt scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-0 lead. Buffalo's next possession also ended in disaster when Hassan Littles blocked a punt by Jackson Baltar and Brandon Berger recovered, giving Ball State a first-and-goal at the 6. Plitt connected with Jayshon Jackson for a 7-yard score on third down and the Cardinals never looked back.
Plitt completed 19 of 31 passes for 176 yards. Jackson finished with nine catches for 103 yards.
Myers was 18-of-39 passing for 188 yards with four interceptions for Buffalo (4-8, 2-6). He led the Bulls with 78 yards on 16 rushes.
Buffalo outgained the Cardinals 336 yards to 230, but couldn't overcome four turnovers.
----
How To Watch
How can I watch Buffalo Bulls vs. Ball State Cardinals?
- TV Channel: Bulls at Cardinals 2021 College Football, week 13, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Scoring Summary
 |
TD | 1st Period 4:44 | Drew Plitt 1 Yd Run (Jake Chanove Kick) |
|
TD | 1st Period 2:22 | Jayshon Jackson 7 Yd pass from Drew Plitt (Jake Chanove Kick) |
 |
FG | 2nd Period 11:43 | Alex McNulty 38 Yd Field Goal |
|
FG | 2nd Period 0:36 | Jacob Lewis 35 Yd Field Goal |
|
FG | 3rd Period 4:12 | Jacob Lewis 48 Yd Field Goal |
Statistics
 BUFF |
 BALL |
|
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1st Downs | 13 |
| 9-18 | 3rd down efficiency | 6-17 |
| 1-1 | 4th down efficiency | 2-2 |
| 336 | Total Yards | 230 |
| 188 | Passing | 176 |
| 18/39 | Comp/Att | 19/31 |
| 4.8 | Yards per pass | 5.7 |
| 148 | Rushing | 54 |
| 40 | Rushing Attempts | 34 |
| 3.7 | Yards per rush | 1.6 |
| 4-30 | Penalties | 6-45 |
| 4 | Turnovers | 0 |
| 0 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 4 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
| 29:40 | Possession | 30:20 |
Game Information
Location: Muncie, IN
Attendance: 6,112 · Capacity:
College Football News
Lane Kiffin: 'This will be an exciting season for Ole Miss'
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin offers his season outlook as the team moves forward with a new quarterback.
Lt. General (Ret.) Rich Clark: 2025 season will be spectacular
CFP Executive Director Clark joins The Paul Finebaum Show to break down the 2025 CFP format and discuss what's ahead following the commissioners' joint decision on 2026.
Kiffin on Saban: 'It's malpractice for him to not be coaching'
Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin joins The Paul Finebaum Show and floats the idea of getting Nick Saban back into coaching where Kiffin says his former boss belongs.
Clark Lea speaks belief in Vandy making it to the CFP
Lea joins The Paul Finebaum Show to explain why the Commodores are ready to win in November and make a push to compete in the College Football Playoff.
Diego Pavia cites Bama win for pushing Vanderbilt forward
Pavia says last year's upset victory over the then-No. 1 Crimson Tide has had a positive ripple effect on the Commodores' up-and-coming football program.