1974 Ball State Cardinals football team

1974 Ball State Cardinals football
Conference	Independent
Record	6–4
Head coach	Dave McClain (4th season)
Home stadium	Ball State Stadium

1974 NCAA Division I independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 Notre Dame			–					10	–	2	–	0
No. 7 Penn State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Temple			–					8	–	2	–	0
Boston College			–					8	–	3	–	0
Utah State			–					8	–	3	–	0
No. 19 Houston			–					8	–	3	–	1
Rutgers			–					7	–	3	–	1
Cincinnati			–					7	–	4	–	0
Memphis State			–					7	–	4	–	0
Pittsburgh			–					7	–	4	–	0
Georgia Tech			–					6	–	5	–	0
Hawaii			–					6	–	5	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss			–					6	–	5	–	0
Tampa			–					6	–	5	–	0
Holy Cross			–					5	–	5	–	1
Tulane			–					5	–	6	–	0
Colgate			–					4	–	6	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					4	–	7	–	0
Navy			–					4	–	7	–	0
South Carolina			–					4	–	7	–	0
Virginia Tech			–					4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia			–					4	–	7	–	0
Army			–					3	–	8	–	0
Dayton			–					3	–	8	–	0
Villanova			–					3	–	8	–	0
Air Force			–					2	–	9	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					2	–	9	–	0
Syracuse			–					2	–	9	–	0
Florida State			–					1	–	10	–	0
Marshall			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In its fourth season under head coach Dave McClain, the team compiled a 6–4 record.^[1] The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.

Running back Dave Blake rushed for 1,125 yards. Rick Clark set a Ball State record with 643 receiving yards. Quarterback Eric Scott set a Ball State career record with a .54187 pass completion percentage.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	Central Michigan	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	L 17–24	11,318	[3]
September 21	at Butler	Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN	W 45–0	8,538	[4]
September 28	Akron	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	L 21–26	15,219
October 5	at Indiana State	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN (Blue Key Victory Bell)	L 22–31	11,061	[5]
October 12	Richmond	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	W 38–23	14,351	[6]
October 19	Youngstown State	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	W 21–14	13,419
October 26	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	L 9–17	6,000	[7][8]
November 2	at Middle Tennessee	Horace Jones Field Murfreesboro, TN	W 43–14	3.800
November 9	Northern Illinois	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN (rivalry)	W 31–21	10,127	[9]
November 16	at Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 18–7	2,500	[2]
Homecoming

^[10]

References

1. "2007 Ball State Football Media Guide". Ball State University. 2007. p. 97. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
2. "Cardinals Close Season, Trim Redbirds, 18-7". The Muncie Star. November 17, 1974. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Chips Down Ball State on Freshman's 3 TDs". The Muncie Star. September 15, 1974. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Harry Rinier (September 22, 1974). "Ball State Strikes Quickly To Tame Bulldogs". The Muncie Star. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
5. Ron LeMasters (October 6, 1974). "Ball State Beaten by Sycamores, 31-22". The Muncie Star. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
6. Ron LeMasters (October 13, 1974). "Sub Rick Scott Hurls 5 TDs for Card Upset". The Muncie Star. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Hurons Sock Error-Prone Cardinals". The Muncie Star. October 27, 1974. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Hurons Nip Ball State, 17-9". Detroit Free Press. October 27, 1974. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
9. Bob Barnet (November 10, 1974). "Blake Breaks 1000-Yard Mark as Cardinals Outclass Huskies". The Muncie Star. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 3, 2022.