Football. Whether it’s the drama between players, fierce rivalries, or high-stakes competition, this sport is more than a game—it’s a cultural phenomenon. While the NFL is definitely the focal point of the sport, college football has history and rivalries that make it just as interesting and easier for the average fan to get into than the big leagues.
Each city has its own collegiate team—whether Bloomington’s Hoosiers, Lafayette’s Purdue Boilermakers, or even Muncie’s Cardinals. Everyone has someone to root for—or against. What makes Muncie’s case interesting is the dramatic offseason overhaul. This transformation includes both offseason recruiting and the development and retention of current talent. They have much to look forward to, despite their tough schedule. Some might still disregard; however, the Cardinals can try to turn the tables and use that doubt to their advantage.
Red-shirt freshman Tight End Kam Anthony was interviewed about the tough upcoming schedule for the Ball State football program he stated.
“I love being an underdog,” Anthony said. “then proving them wrong.”
While college football does focus on the favorites and the legacy programs it also has a fondness for underdogs. One such moment was the recent upset when the Cardinals’ rivals, the Northern Illinois Huskies, defeated the powerhouse and ranked No. 12 nationally, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
In this case, however, with the start of the summer football camps and the arrival of their new seasoned head coach Mike Uremovich who, in three seasons at Butler led them to a streak of three consecutive winning seasons—their first such streak since 1987-1989, the Cardinals have high hopes coming into this 2025-2026 football season and are hoping to capitalize on this fresh season to silence their doubters and make a statement this year.
Battling through the scorching heat of training camp, Anthony and the Ball State squad has been working tirelessly to prove they’re a force to be reckoned with this season
“You guys will see—week one—we’ll have a really good defense.”
With extra preparation time and a chip on their shoulder, the Cardinals aim to capitalize on any overconfidence from Purdue and prove they can compete with the best of their conference—and the nation.