How did Ball State pull off the 28-16 upset over unbeaten Army?

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports Welcome back, Ball State.

The Cardinals entered the season with a MAC championship and Arizona Bowl trophy in hand, riding a 7-game win streak which only trailed Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M at the time. Preseason AP Poll votes piled up as nearly the entire team decided to run it back with the hopes of returning to Detroit for a conference championship and returning to the poll for a coveted ranking.

Unfortunately, the first four games all ended in ugly fashion for the reigning MAC champs. Ball State crept past an FCS team in Western Illinois in the opening week before proceeding to drop each of its next three games all by double-digits. No light seemed to be…