GAME 3 PREVIEW: Ball State has question marks all over the place that Miami can try to exploit

CaneSport is taking a deeper dive inside Miami’s games this season, and today we have your breakdown of Game 3 vs. Ball State:

MIAMI VS. BALL STATE, SAT. SEPT. 14, MIAMI GARDENS, FLA., 3:30 PM, ACCN

GAME PREVIEWS: FLORIDA … FLORIDA A&M

OVERVIEW

A MAC team, Ball State finished last season 4-8 (including a blowout 40-3 loss to Georgia Southern, as an example of the woes) and just isn’t anywhere near Miami’s level. The team had a lot of offensive issues a year ago but a good defense … however, the defensive side of the ball loses almost all of its starters from 2023. With a lot of personnel gone you’d almost call this a rebuilding year … but with just four wins last year there doesn’t seem like there will be much forward momentum to be made in 2024. Coach Mike Neu is on the hot seat after suffering seven losing seasons in his eight years on the job (37-56 record). Also of note is this is the first time these programs will face each other.

THE PERSONNEL

Ball State used multiple QBs last year and only one returns that played significant reps – that’s Kadin Semonza (50-82 passing, 480 yards, 3 TDs, 5 INTs). Semonza may start, but this also could be Marshall transfer Chase Harrison’s team when the season kicks off … but he was a bench-warmer with the Thundering Herd. Gone is primary QB Kiael Kelly, who had 577 passing yards and 724 rush yards. The passing offense was woeful a year ago, ranking No. 125 in the nation with just 136.6 passing yards per game. It may not be much better this time around. The run game, which ranked 52nd, will miss top back Marquez Cooper (1,043 yards, 4 TDs), and perhaps Eastern Kentucky transfer Braedon Sloan can make an impact – he had 765 yards and 10 TDs on 143 attempts last year. No receiver had more than 358 yards – that was Qian Magwood, who returns this season. The team hopes that former Colorado WR transfer Ty Robinson can help resuscitate the offense, but he was a career backup there and missed most of last year injured. On the other side of the ball the defense was solid a year ago, ranking No. 17 in the nation with 315.8 total yards allowed per game. But Ball State loses a lot of personnel including Sidney Houston (team high 17 TFL, 8 sacks), Cole Pearce (78 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks) and Jordan Riley (61 tackles, 8 PBU). The top returner is LB Keonte Newson, who had a team-high 81 tackles with 6.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks. The secondary was hot-and-cold, ranking 58th in the nation in team passing efficiency defense and 33 ^rd in passing yards allowed. Sophomore Jordan Coleman (1 INT) and Thailand Baldwin (30 tackles, 5 PBU) will return, joined by Cincinnati graduate transfer George Udo as players the team hopes step up.

QUESTION MARK AREAS MIAMI CAN EXPLOIT

There are a lot. This is an offense that averaged just 18.5 points per game last year and may not be much better this time around with only four starters back. Along with losing the team’s top QB and RB from last year, standout tight end Tanner Koziol (second on team with 34 catches for 295 yards and three TDs) transferred to Louisville. The O line that was decent last year could also have issues after losing two starters, including All-MAC LT Corey Stewart transferring to Purdue. On defense all four starting linemen are gone, so there are going to be some question marks. And the secondary only had five INTs (two from graduating senior Tyler Potts). Of note is the team has new coordinators on both sides of the ball – Jared Elliott on offense and Jeff Knowles on defense. So Miami shouldn’t have too much difficulty putting up points and stopping Ball State’s attack, with the latter probably one of the easier tasks for the coming season given the Cardinals’ offensive woes.

GAME DIFFICULTY RATING FOR MIAMI

Coming off an easy game against FCS opponent Florida A&M, this isn’t even that much of a step up as the Canes out-talent Ball State by a wide margin all over the field. Miami should be able to run up the score against the Cardinals, and our game difficulty rating, with 10 representing Miami’s most difficult game vs. FSU and 1 the easiest vs. Florida A&M, would be a 1.5.

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