Stony Brook's Jeremiah Coney broke a 66-yard run against Ball State, and CJ Hester added a 45-yarder. The Cardinals won 41-17, but those two carries showed how quickly an opponent could cross the field. Preparing for Liberty, Mike Uremovich emphasized motion, misdirection, play-action and option concepts in Ball State's game-week preview. His defenders need to follow their assignments through that movement and finish the tackle when they reach the runner.
Ball State visits Liberty on Saturday, September 19, at 4 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Fan Watch gives the Cardinals a 1.9% chance to win. An upset would be an enormous result. Ball State is still seeking its first road victory under Uremovich. With no outside result carrying enough benefit to recommend, this week's attention can stay on that pursuit. The interactive guide has the forecast, with the model explained in the methodology.
Ball State has found several players who can reach the quarterback. Against Stony Brook, Kaleb Stewart, Layton Starks, Ka'Shawn Thomas and Ben Marsh each received a half-sack, accounting for the team's two sacks. Nathan Voorhis departed after recording 12 sacks in 2025. Sharing that responsibility gives the Cardinals several contributors to build around, although two sacks alone cannot establish that the lost production has been replaced. Against Liberty, cheer the pressure while watching whether the defenders also keep their rushing assignments covered.
Liberty has backs who can punish a missed responsibility. Peyton Jones, Kam Davis and Jaylon Coleman combined for 185 yards on 26 carries against Gardner-Webb. The passing game was less settled. Deshawn Purdie completed six of 17 passes and took four sacks before Jaylen Henderson replaced him at the start of the fourth quarter. Henderson completed two of four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. That game does not establish who starts Saturday, but Ball State has reason to pursue pressure when Liberty must throw. Stopping the run first would help create those opportunities.
Keldric Luster, who transferred from Texas State in the spring and entered the season as QB1, completed 27 of 32 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns against Stony Brook. After four consecutive losing seasons, Ball State needs more than one big game from its new quarterback. Liberty is Luster's next chance to show he can keep this offense moving.
Ball State scored three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns against Stony Brook, but also allowed four sacks. The Cardinals committed 11 penalties for 99 yards; holding erased a 64-yard Luster touchdown run. Those are separate ways to waste productive offense. Give Luster time to throw, get lined up correctly and let the gains count. A defense trying to keep a heavy favorite within reach needs its offense to preserve the possessions it earns.
MAC play begins at Kent State next week. At Liberty, watch the defender who stays with his responsibility while the backfield moves around him, then closes without allowing the runner past. A sack is worth celebrating. So is making Liberty earn its next first down over several plays.