Ball State vs. Indiana State

Ball State and Indiana State have 21 meetings on file, the first in 1975; Ball State leads the series 14–⁠7 in the games on file. Over the last 10 meetings it’s Ball State 8–⁠2. The winner takes home the Blue Key Victory Bell, played for since 1940. Ball State has held it since the 2023 game. Share

Scheduled 2028 at Ball State. As the programs’ Wikipedia articles list them (CC BY-SA).

Ball State wins: 14
Indiana State wins: 7
Ties: 0
Earliest on file: 1975
Longest streak: 6 Ball State
Current streak: 1 Ball State
Last 10 meetings: Ball State 8–⁠2
Most recent: 2023

The series at a glance

Every meeting by decade, colored by the winner
	’0	’1	’2	’3	’4	’5	’6	’7	’8	’9	W–L
1970s											4–⁠1
1980s											5–⁠5
1990s											2–⁠0
2000s											2–⁠0
2010s											0–⁠1
2020s											1–⁠0

Average margin: 14.6 points; 10 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
At Ball State: 8–⁠2 Ball State’s record at home
At Indiana State: 3–⁠2 Indiana State’s record at home
Neutral sites: 4–⁠2 Ball State first
Shutouts: 3

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

Blue Key Victory Bell

Played for since: 1940
Held by: Ball State since the 2023 game
Games for it on file: 21 Indiana State 7, Ball State 14

Who holds it comes from the games on file: the winner of the latest regular-season meeting since 1940 (bowl rematches aren’t played for it); a tie leaves it with the holder (the usual rule; the article doesn’t say). From Wikipedia’s list of rivalry games and the rivalry’s article (CC BY-SA). More on the Blue Key Victory Bell.

Games that tell the story

Ball State’s biggest win1990: Ball State 42, Indiana State 0by 42 points
Indiana State’s biggest win1984: Indiana State 34, Ball State 6by 28 points
Upset2014: Indiana State 27, Ball State 20Indiana State had a 10% chance, by our ratings before kickoff

Coach against coach

Years	Ball State	Series	Indiana State
1975–⁠1977	Dave McClain	3–⁠0	Tom Harp

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from Ball State’s side (McClain 3–⁠0 against Harp). A season split between coaches goes to the one credited with the game.

Both programs through the years

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Every game

Sep 16, 2023	Ball State 45, Indiana State 7	at Ball State
Sep 13, 2014	Indiana State 27, Ball State 20	at Ball State
Aug 28, 2003	Ball State 31, Indiana State 7	at Ball State
Sep 14, 2002	Ball State 23, Indiana State 21	at Ball State
Sep 28, 1991	Ball State 14, Indiana State 10	at Indiana State
Oct 27, 1990	Ball State 42, Indiana State 0	at Ball State
Oct 26, 1989	Ball State 34, Indiana State 27	Neutral site
Nov 17, 1988	Ball State 24, Indiana State 10	Neutral site
Nov 21, 1987	Indiana State 24, Ball State 23	Neutral site
Oct 4, 1986	Ball State 16, Indiana State 3	Neutral site
Nov 9, 1985	Ball State 29, Indiana State 27	Neutral site
Oct 6, 1984	Indiana State 34, Ball State 6	Neutral site
Oct 8, 1983	Indiana State 35, Ball State 14	at Indiana State
Sep 25, 1982	Indiana State 17, Ball State 0	at Ball State
Oct 10, 1981	Indiana State 31, Ball State 7	at Indiana State
Nov 22, 1980	Ball State 28, Indiana State 21	at Ball State
Oct 6, 1979	Indiana State 18, Ball State 13	at Indiana State
Oct 7, 1978	Ball State 7, Indiana State 0	at Ball State
Nov 5, 1977	Ball State 42, Indiana State 18	at Indiana State
Nov 6, 1976	Ball State 24, Indiana State 9	at Ball State
Oct 4, 1975	Ball State 20, Indiana State 16	at Ball State

Every game is listed as played on the field.