Ball State Cardinals News

Tyler Mizzell - Not named starting quarterback Mizzell will not be Ball State's starting quarterback for Week 1, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports.

Impact Ball State's starting quarterback is Keldric Luster, who Mizzell competed against for QB1 opportunities this spring and summer. So, at least for now, his student-athlete career is still likely to be statless come Week 1. As part of Wake Forest, Mizzell did not log any counting stats.

21 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Keldric Luster - Named starting quarterback Luster will be Ball State's starting quarterback at Ohio State on Sept. 5, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports.

Impact Since the spring, Luster had been competing against Tyler Mizzell to determine Ball State's starting quarterback moving forward. The former has won out, and he brings a limited amount of top-level experience from SMU and Texas State, so there are not many in-game stats to get a read on his overall potential. However, if Luster can maintain an adequate level of consistency in 2026, this year would mark his breakout season in Division I football.

22 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, FOX Sports' RJ Young ranked every single FBS team — all 138 of 'em.

6 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

2026 College Football Rankings: Oregon Or Notre Dame At No. 1 In Preseason Top 25?

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt released his preseason college football top 25 rankings.

AUGUST 10 • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Football Rankings: Oregon Or Notre Dame At No. 1 In Preseason Top 25?

Corey Thompson Jr. - Spotted at practice Thompson (undisclosed) was spotted participating in Ball State's fall camp, per Amber Pietz of The Star Press.

Impact Thompson missed the final few spring practices and Ball State's spring showcase, but he appears to have fully recovered from his undisclosed injury. The transfer wideout is healthy for fall practices, giving him a chance to compete at his best and earn a role in the Cardinals' passing attack. Thompson missed the entire 2025 season due to injury after transferring to Utah State, but across two seasons at UNLV, he hauled in eight receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

TJ Horton - Participating in fall camp Horton (undisclosed) was seen participating in fall camp in full uniform, per Amber Pietz of The Star Press.

Impact Horton has returned to the practice field after dealing with an undisclosed injury during the spring that forced him to sit out Ball State's spring showcase. The running back is looking to lead the backfield this season after Qua Ashley entered the transfer portal. Horton will compete against Jalen Bonds and Kansas transfer Johnny Thompson during fall camp. He may have an upper hand over his competition since he served as the primary backup last season, rushing for 180 yards on 60 attempts. However, he will still need to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff to earn the starting job.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Kentucky taps Pete Nochta as football GM after Pat Biondo's sudden exit

Kentucky promoted Pete Nochta to general manager of the Wildcats’ football team Wednesday, a day after Pat Biondo announced his departure only months after being hired

JULY 29 • Associated Press

Tom Moore, 87, returns to alma mater to serve as offensive adviser to Iowa's Kirk Ferentz

Longtime NFL and college assistant Tom Moore, who will turn 88 during the upcoming college football season, will join the Iowa staff as senior consultant to the head coach and offe...

MAY 13 • Associated Press

Who's Playing Where? A Cheat Sheet On College Sports Realignment

Here's a rundown of college sports conference realignment over the past 30 years.

MAY 8 • FOX SPORTS

Who's Playing Where? A Cheat Sheet On College Sports Realignment

Grade the draft pick: Jaguars continue investment in offense with CJ Williams I've given up trying to understand what James Gladstone's plan for the defense was, so I've become way more intrigued with how the Jacksonvi...

APRIL 25 • BLACKANDTEAL.COM

Corey Thompson Jr. - Sits out end of spring ball Thompson (undisclosed) missed the final few practices and the spring showcase, per The Star Press.

Impact Ball State signed Thompson out of the portal from UNLV, hoping the former Runnin' Rebel could immediately boost its receiver corps. His injury is a setback, but the wideout will look to return to action in fall camp.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Isaiah Thacker - Drawing praise in spring Thacker is reportedly drawing praise in spring ball from both his coaches and his quarterbacks, The Star Press reports.

Impact Thacker caught three passes for 29 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore at Bal State, but he appears primed to take a major leap. The 5-foot-11 receiver appears to be primed for a full-time starting role for the first time in his career.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Keldric Luster - In position battle Luster and Tyler Mizzell are competing to be Ball State's starting quarterback, TheStarPress.com reports.

Impact After three years with limited opportunities between SMU and Texas State, Luster may be on the verge of logging his most statistically productive season in 2026. That will depend on how Luster does against Mizzell as both quarterbacks compete to be starting quarterback, an honor that should allow more in-game opportunities for either under center.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Mizzell - Battling Luster for QB1 gig Mizzell is in a competition with Keldric Luster for Ball State's starting quarterback gig, The Star Press reports.

Impact Mizzell began his career at Wake Forest, but entered the transfer portal after not seeing any action across two seasons in Winston-Salem. He landed at Ball State, and is now competing with Keldric Luster for the QB1 gig. The latter is more experienced, having spent two seasons at SMU and one year at Texas State. Still, with just 37 career passing yards to Luster's name, this battle should be wide open.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

TJ Horton - Banged up this spring Horton (undisclosed) didn't play in Ball State's spring showcase, per The Star Press.

Impact Horton has spent two seasons at Ball State and is expected to be a top back in 2026. However, he's dealing with an undisclosed injury that held him out of the Cardinals' spring game, and it's unclear what his status is ahead of fall camp.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

TJ Horton - Partaking in spring ball Horton (undisclosed) is participating in Ball State's spring practice period, per the program's official X account.

Impact Horton missed the final game of Ball State's 2025 season after rushing for 180 yards and three touchdowns on 60 carries. Now, he's healthy once again, and he'll look to increase his role in the Cardinals' backfield this fall.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Corey Thompson Jr. - Joining Ball State Thompson has committed to Ball State, he announced via X.

Impact Thompson missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign due to a shoulder injury following a two-year career with UNLV. The 5-foot-10 wide receiver will now make the switch to the MAC conference, where he'll have two years of eligibility remaining.

FEBRUARY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Johnny Thompson Jr. - Lands at Ball State Thompson will transfer to Ball State, per his personal X account.

Impact Thompson spent three years at Kansas, and was a minor participant in the offense the last two seasons. In 2025, he notched 19 carries for 75 yards before missing the final seven games of the season. He should have two years of eligibility remaining at Ball State.

JANUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Raiders show their cards on Fernando Mendoza before picking No. 1 The Las Vegas Raiders have sent everyone who matters to Hard Rock Stadium to see Fernando Mendoza for themselves as Indiana takes on Miami f...

JANUARY 20 • JUSTBLOGBABY.COM

Jabari Smith Jr. - Commits to Ball State Smith has committed to play for Ball State for the 2026 season, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Smith will join the Cardinals following two seasons with Florida Atlantic. The 5-foot-10 receiver caught 15 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns across 11 games for the Owls in 2025. He will retain two years of eligibility with Ball State moving forward.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Keldric Luster - Finds new home Luster has committed to Ball State, 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Ball State will be Luster's third school, as he started his career at SMU, then spent the 2025 season at Texas State. Now, he may have an opportunity to see consistent playing time with Ball State. Luster has attempted just 12 passes across three college seasons, and he's accumulated 76 rushing yards during that time.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

No. 1 Indiana keeps defensive coordinator Bryant Haines with new contract, AP source says

No. 1 Indiana is keeping defensive coordinator Bryant Haines after he agreed to a new contract that will make him one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the nation, according...

DECEMBER 13, 2025 • Associated Press

Georgia cancels series with Louisville and NC State ahead of SEC's 2026 schedule release

Georgia says Louisville has agreed to cancel a home-and-home series starting in 2026 ahead of the Southeastern Conference announcing next year’s college football schedules on Thurs...

DECEMBER 10, 2025 • Associated Press

Eric Weatherly - First touchdown of season in loss Weatherly recorded three receptions (on five targets) for 54 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-24 defeat to Miami (OH).

Impact Weatherly logged his best game of the season in the loss to the RedHawks, which was aided mostly by a 35-yard touchdown pass in garbage time. The redshirt junior pass catcher was primed for a big season this spring, but he ended the year with a 29-238-1 receiving line. He'll have one year of eligibility remaining to use with the Cardinals next season.

NOVEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Qua Ashley - Salvages game with receiving score Ashley logged 11 carries for 22 yards and hauled in his only target for two yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-24 defeat to Miami (OH).

Impact Ashley was shut down on the ground in the loss to the RedHawks, but he was able to salvage an otherwise measly performance with a receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 5-foot-10 running back will close out his redshirt junior campaign with 118 rushing attempts for 547 yards and four touchdowns, along with 21 receptions for 107 yards and two scores. He'll now have one year of eligibility remaining, and likely not much competition for the Cardinals' RB1 spot once again in the 2026 campaign.

NOVEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

2026 College Football Rankings: Oregon Or Notre Dame At No. 1 In Preseason Top 25?

Kentucky taps Pete Nochta as football GM after Pat Biondo's sudden exit

Tom Moore, 87, returns to alma mater to serve as offensive adviser to Iowa's Kirk Ferentz

Who's Playing Where? A Cheat Sheet On College Sports Realignment

No. 1 Indiana keeps defensive coordinator Bryant Haines with new contract, AP source says

Georgia cancels series with Louisville and NC State ahead of SEC's 2026 schedule release