CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1977 Ball State

9–⁠2 (5–⁠1 Mid-American Conference), coached by Dave McClain.

Schedule and results

Ball State in 1977, game by game: won at Toledo 43–3; lost at Villanova 16–38; lost at Kent State 12–13; won vs. Central Michigan 28–12; won vs. Illinois State 27–16; won vs. Northern Illinois 31–6; won vs. Cal Poly-Pomona 66–10; won at App State 38–7; won at Indiana State 42–18; won at Western Michigan 29–25; won vs. Eastern Michigan 45–21+56−22Won 43–3 at Toledo+40ToledoLost 16–38 at Villanova-22VillanovaLost 12–13 at Kent State-1Kent StateWon 28–12 vs. Central Michigan+16Central MichiganWon 27–16 vs. Illinois State+11Illinois StateWon 31–6 vs. Northern Illinois+25Northern Illino…Won 66–10 vs. Cal Poly-Pomona+56Cal Poly-PomonaWon 38–7 at App State+31App StateWon 42–18 at Indiana State+24Indiana StateWon 29–25 at Western Michigan+4Western MichiganWon 45–21 vs. Eastern Michigan+24Eastern Michigan
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 10atToledoW 43–⁠357%
Sep 17atVillanovaL 16–⁠3858%
Sep 24atKent StateL 12–⁠1344%
Oct 1vsCentral MichiganW 28–⁠1253%
Oct 8vsIllinois StateW 27–⁠1684%
Oct 15vsNorthern IllinoisW 31–⁠691%
Oct 22vsCal Poly-PomonaW 66–⁠1090%
Oct 29atApp StateW 38–⁠768%
Nov 5atIndiana StateW 42–⁠1878%
Nov 12atWestern MichiganW 29–⁠2562%
Nov 19vsEastern MichiganW 45–⁠2181%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Eastern Michigan 45–⁠21; unranked in the final AP poll; 3rd in the Mid-American Conference.

In program history: The 2nd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 61 on file).

Led the nationDave Wilson: passer rating (164.2)

Record
9–⁠2
Conference
5–⁠1 3rd in Mid-American Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
377–⁠169
Coach
Dave McClain
Elo
1606 +90 this season
SP+ rating
10.7 No. 39 of 140; offense No. 24, defense No. 72
SRS
3.2 No. 60 of 145 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—

Drafted in 1978

The 1978 draft
Rd 4Maurice Harvey DBOakland Raiders

1977 Mid-American Conference standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Miami (OH)5–⁠010–⁠1
Central Michigan7–⁠110–⁠1
Ball State5–⁠19–⁠2
Eastern Michigan4–⁠38–⁠3
Bowling Green4–⁠35–⁠7
Kent State5–⁠46–⁠5
Western Michigan3–⁠54–⁠7
Northern Illinois2–⁠53–⁠8
Toledo2–⁠72–⁠9
Ohio0–⁠81–⁠10

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.