THIS WEEK'S GAME: Northeastern at Ball State, Aug. 28 -- There's more anticipation for Ball State football among its fan base this year than there has been in the past 12 years. The Cardinals start the season with two straight home games for only the third time in the past 23 years. An easy non-conference schedule should give Ball State an opportunity to post a great record, and it all starts with an opening game against an overmatched Football Championship Series opponent.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Nate Davis -- The junior already holds nine school records, and many more are expected to fall this season. If Davis equals or exceeds last year's numbers (3,667 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions), he could decide to opt for the NFL Draft a year early

WR Dante Love -- The senior had his breakout season last year by catching 100 passes for 1,398 yards (one shy of the school record). At 5-foot-10, he's small, and he doesn't have sprinter's speed, but Love is particularly adept at finding the open seams in the secondary.

DE Brandon Crawford -- The former Marine, who is 32 years old, spent the past two seasons re-acclimating himself to football after taking 12 years off between high school and college. Now, offenses have to account for him in their game plans. Crawford is a key player in Ball State's front seven as it focuses on being better against the run.

ROSTER REPORT

--Trey Buice reclaimed a starting CB position after losing his spot last year. He beat out senior Trey Lewis, who has started 34 of the past 36 games. Buice was the nickel corner last year, and Lewis will fill that role this year. With Buice, Lewis and B.J. Hill, the Cardinals believe they have one of the top corner rotations in the Mid-American Conference.

--Ian McGarvey will begin the season as the starting PK after beating out Jake Hogue. Hogue, who has a stronger leg, will handle kickoffs. McGarvey showed more consistency in camp this year, an edge he had on Hogue last year after supplanting Hogue in the final four games.

--TB MiQuale Lewis says he has fully recovered from a torn ACL last September that caused him to miss the final nine games of the season. Lewis ran for 447 yards in the Cardinals' first four games last year before being hurt, including 169 against Navy and 122 against Nebraska.

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