It was a slow start for the Ball State Cardinals (1-2), finding themselves in a 0-0 tie at the end of the first quarter, but they would wind up victorious over FCS rival Indiana State (0-3) at the end of 60 minutes, winning back the Blue Key Victory Bell by a final score of 45-7.
It was a true rock right to start the game, as both teams circled around one another like boxers finding tendencies. All four first-quarter possessions between the Cardinals and Sycamores wound up ending in punts, with neither team finding paydirt until early in the second frame.