Ball State football tops Sac State for homecoming victory | Instant takeaways

For the first time since 2023, Ball State football is enjoying a winning streak. The Cardinals secured a 34-17 homecoming victory over Sacramento State on Saturday, October 24. This marked the team's first consecutive wins since November 2023 when they claimed back-to-back wins against Northern Illinois and Kent State. Under head coach Mike Uremovich, Ball State now stands at 6-2 at home, coming into their week off with a two-game winning streak. Here are three takeaways from the game:

1. Keldric Luster performed exceptionally well, going 14-of-27 passing for 234 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, along with 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. His two touchdown passes were the longest of his career, with one of them being 65 yards to Isaiah Thacker and the other 55 yards to Jamarion McDougle.

2. Ball State's defense, while solid, still showed vulnerabilities. They held Sac State to 233 total yards, with the run defense being particularly strong by limiting the Hornets to just 46 rushing yards on 24 attempts. The defense managed two sacks, including a notable strip-sack by linebacker Kaleb Stewart that led to a fumble recovered by defensive end Ben Marsh.

However, the defense struggled through the air, allowing a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jace Wilson and a long touchdown drive with several open receivers due to a pass interference penalty by the Cardinals.

3. Ball State's offense relied heavily on a versatile run game, finishing with 174 total rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Freshman Jalen Bonds led the way with 77 yards on 17 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, while secondary back TJ Horton finished with 32 yards on eight carries and added two more scores. This three-headed rushing attack bolstered the Cardinals' ground game against the Hornets.