2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Ball State Cardinals at Liberty Flames

The Ball State Cardinals (1-1) and Liberty Flames (1-1) look to maintain their momentum from wins against FCS programs last week and start a winning streak as they head into the bulk of their season.

It's hard to believe the Flames have only been in FBS since 2018, but they approach their eighth year in Division I and hold a 5-3 record all-time against MAC teams– including a 3-0 record in home contests, the most recent of which was in 2023 against Bowling Green.

Ball State, meanwhile, looks to avenge a 2010 loss to then-FCS Liberty at Scheumann Stadium.

What should we expect to see on Saturday?

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia
• TV options: The game will stream exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing.
• Ball State radio: Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Chris Radican (color) will provide the Ball State call for WMUN-AM 1340.
• Gambling Considerations: Liberty is a 15-point favorite, with an over/under set around 49.0-49.5 by book, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: Liberty leads the series all-time, 1-0. They upset Ball State 27-23 in 2010 as an FCS program in that contest. They have not played as FBS peers.

Liberty Outlook

The Flames have struggled to put teams away recently, with their last six games coming down to one possession– with a 1-5 record in those contests. They finally snapped the streak last week against FCS Gardner-Webb, needing a fourth-quarter score to sneak by after trialing for most of the second half.

Liberty is in Year 4 under Jamey Chadwell after he brought Coastal Carolina into national relevance in the early 2020s. The Flames won 13 games and the CUSA title in 2023, claiming a New Year's Six spot, but the team's performance has declined since, sitting on an overall record of 26-14 through last week.

The offense lost all four of the best running backs and two of their top three passcatchers in the offseason, and will be dependent on transfers in all those spots, while their starting QB, Ethan Vasko, had to fight for his job in camp, losing out to Wake Forest transfer Deshawn Purdie, who's on his third team in three seasons.

Purdie has posted 353 yards and two touchdowns on 52.2 percent passing, while the halfback transfer pair of Kam Davis (Florida State) and Peyton Jones (Duke) has carried the rushing load with 118 and 101 yards respectively. Through two games, the unit only has one rushing score, run in by tertiary back Jaylon Coleman.

Purdie ceded parts of the second half to backup QB Jaylen Henderson last week, so it is possible we could see a change at how the position is utilized this week.

Indiana transfer Makai Jackson is the main receiving threat by some measure, with over a third of the team's passing production with 142 yards and two touchdowns.

The defense has looked decent, giving up an average of 297 yards and 21.5 points to opponents thus far. If there's one stat where they've shown up well, it's in the redzone; opponents to this point have visited the "red area" six times and have only score a touchdown twice and scored points of any kind only five times. Add to that three turnovers, and that's an impressive identity to hang your hat on.

Brenton Williams is the defense's main disruptor, with 2.5 touchdowns and 1.5 sacks on the year along the line. Jiquavious Marshall was key in his season debut, collecting seven tackles and four pass break-ups from the cornerback spot.

Special teams are okay, going 3-of-3 on field goal attempts and averaging 42.5 yards per punt.

Ball State Outlook

The Cardinals got to let loose against an FCS opponent last weekend after opening the season getting mauled by Ohio State, with 10 different receivers catching at least one pass while also fielding a 100+ yard rusher for the first time since 2005, in what turned into the largest win in the Mike Uremovich era.

It wasn't a perfect effort, with QB Keldrick Luster throwing an interception on the very first play of the game and the Cardinals as a unit getting 11 penalties called for nearly 100 yards– something which drew Uremovich's ire in post-game availability– but they persevered and delivered for the home crowd.

This Ball State team, even in just two games, has shown promise in spurts. Luster has been especially impressive, as the Texas State transfer delivered the ball at an 84 percent rate vs. Stony Brook for 256 yards and three touchdowns. His unique size (six-foot-one, 250 lbs.) and speed poses a matchup problem at the QB position, allowing him to pass or run.

Luster's arm and legs have matched up well with halfback TJ Horton, who ran for 125 yards and a touchdown last week. Horton and backup back Jalen Bonds have been hard to bring down, collecting 8.6 and 9.6 yards per carry respectively. The passcatchers are still resolving themselves, with four receivers catching at least six passes apiece to tie for second on the team (Horton is first at seven, but has only two yards.) Florida Atlantic transfer Jabari Smith put up career best numbers last week, with six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, and looks to stack another good perforamce here. Jamarion McDougle sits second in receiving right behind at 68 yards on five catches.

There's still a lot to learn about the defense, since their overall numbers are quashed by their pasting against Ohio State. Individually, there's plenty of talent. Layton Starks burst onto the scene last week with 2.5 TFLs and a sack on the afternoon to go with seven total tackles, while Kamron Chamble notched two interceptions to aid the Cardinal effort. Purdue transfer Sterling Smith and linebacker Kaleb Stewart each lead the defense with 10 tackles.

We'd be remiss not to mention special teams. Brady Boehm, initially signed as a punter, has taken to placekicker like a fish to water, nailing all three of his attempts– including a 50 yarder– after never kicking in his career prior to this season. Cole Stambaugh is also a Top 10 punter in the nation, averaging 45.4 net yards per game, including three punts of 50+ yards and three inside-the-20.

Game Outlook

Liberty is almost a three-possession favorite, which is a little baffling considering how much of a slide the Flames have been on of late. The line feels more like an indictment of Ball State than an endorsement of Liberty at the moment.

Of course, Ball State has still yet to prove themselves against FBS competition in 2026 (while Liberty held up admirably against Sun Belt foe James Madison) and went 4-8 in a down season in the MAC.

The intrigue in this game will be if Ball State can batten down the hatches in the run game and finish off drives with touchdowns, as opposed to field goals. The Cards have shown potential there, but it has been primarily on explosives. Sustaining possession will be key to victory for BSU.

Liberty has problems of their own, but if there is one thing they do have, it's sheer talent, with dozens of former Power program transfers and all-CUSA contributors. They'll be ready to go in an environment like this.

It just might be another one-possession sweat in Lynchburg.