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College football: Predicting who finishes in last place of every conference

By Maitland Rutledge

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Mike Neu of the Ball State Cardinals is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Mike Neu of the Ball State Cardinals is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

MAC: Ball State

Ball State will be looking to return to success in the MAC after missing out on a bowl game the past four seasons.

Times are dark in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals have not made a bowl game since 2013 when Pete Lembo was in his third season. That year the team went 10-2 and finished second in the West Division before losing to Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. After two losing seasons, a change was made as Mike Neu took over. No huge turnaround happened right away and the team only won one MAC game in 2016. It got worse in 2017 as the team bottomed out, finishing 2-10 and winless in conference play. Ball State finished 10th in the conference in both total offense and defense.

Despite a respectable ground game led by freshman Caleb Huntley, who rushed for 1,003 yards, the Cardinal’s passing game struggled. Quarterback Jack Milas was ranked last in the conference in passing efficiency, throwing eight interceptions to only two touchdowns and accumulating just 970 yards through the air. Justin Hall led the MAC in receptions as a true freshman with 78, but only had three touchdowns. Fortunately, both Huntley and Hall will be back looking to make more strides.

As a sophomore linebacker Jacob White led the Cardinals in tackles with 72 while also racking up three sacks. Fellow linebacker Damon Singleton will also be returning for his senior year after picking up 49 tackles and a sack.

With young leaders returning from last year, the hope is that Ball State can continue to develop in Neu’s third season. The biggest question most have about this team is if new starting Riley Neal can turn around this passing game after being abysmal last year. In limited action, Neal threw for 659 yards, six touchdowns and only three interceptions in 2017.

Even with young talent returning, it is hard to imagine Ball State taking a serious leap in the standings this year. The Cardinals have two tough non-conference games against Notre Dame and Indiana along with six more bowl teams in their conference from last year. Another two-win season is certainly possible, but if it is the same tune as last year on both sides of the ball, a 1-11 year is not out of the question either.