How Ball State football won its conference title and reached the Arizona Bowl

MUNCIE, Ind. — After a tumultuous offseason, and preseason for that matter, Ball State football captured a Mid-American Conference title and reached a bowl game for the first time since the 2013 season.

BSU (6-1) recovered from a season-opening loss to win six-straight games. It swept its MAC West Division opponents, and clinched a conference championship with a win against previously-undefeated Buffalo. The Cardinals are set to compete in the Arizona Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 31, against San Jose State.

Here's how Ball State reached this point:

Week one

BSU's "Detroit or Bust" season didn't get off to the start head coach Mike Neu and his players wanted it to, as they lost 38-31 in a rivalry matchup on the road against Miami (Ohio). It meant an 0-1 start to the season, but Ball State wasn't deterred.

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football’s season opening defeat at Miami (Ohio)

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Week two

The Cardinals' home opener ended with the team's first victory of the season, a 38-31 win against Eastern Michigan. It was BSU's first win in a single-score game since it topped EMU last season.

►RELATED:Ball State plays Eastern Michigan at home

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football’s win at home against Eastern Michigan

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Week three

Ball State won back-to-back games, thanks to a 31-25 victory against Northern Illinois. It proved to be a sign, like last year, that the Cardinals were a team that could contend for a conference championship.

►RELATED:Ball State football plays Northern Illinois

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football's home win against Northern Illinois

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Week four

BSU extended its winning streak to three games with a 27-24 victory against Toledo. It meant, just like a season ago, that the Cardinals would sweep its first three MAC West Division games.

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football’s road win against Toledo

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Week five

Ball State won its fourth-straight game with a 45-20 victory against Central Michigan. With the win, the Cardinals avenged a close defeat at home last season.

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football's road win against Central Michigan

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Week six

BSU picked up a fifth straight win with a 30-27 victory against Western Michigan. Not only did the Cardinals get some payback for 2019, when WMU beat them, but they captured the MAC West Division title.

►RELATED:Ball State faces off against Western Michigan at Scheumann

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football's MAC West Division victory against Western Michigan

►RELATED:BSU football entered its season with a 'Detroit or Bust' mindset, and now it's earned its place in the MAC championship game

Championship week

Ball State's trip to Detroit ended with a conference championship, as it won 38-28 against Buffalo. The Cardinals defeated a team that had topped them in 2008 in BSU's last trip to the conference title game.

►RELATED:Takeaways from Ball State football’s MAC title victory against Buffalo

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More headlines

Of course, more occurred this season than just those final scores for Ball State. Here were some other storylines that played out before and over the course of the campaign:

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►RELATED:It’s Christmas in September for Ball State football as BSU reacts to being able to play

►RELATED:Some Ball State football players face choice of returning in 2021 or going pro

►RELATED:BSU football’s Drew Plitt opens up about his career, what may come next

►RELATED:Ball State football's Keionté Newson could be a star for Cardinals

►RELATED:Does Ball State have the MAC’s top cornerback duo? BSU believes it does, and then some

►RELATED:Why coach Tyler Stockton could turn around BSU football's defense

►RELATED:Is Yo’Heinz Tyler BSU football’s next Riley Miller? Right now, Yo’Heinz is just trying to be himself

►RELATED:As BSU football's Caleb Huntley and Jaylen Turner navigate being new dads, they aren’t doing it alone

►RELATED:Justin Hall could become BSU football’s all-time leader in career receptions

►RELATED:Inside BSU football’s facility during a season filled with success

►RELATED:Rundown: BSU football’s Brandon Martin headlines All-MAC honorees as co-defensive player of the year

►RELATED:As BSU football prepares to play in its 1st MAC title game since 2008, former Cardinals reflect on their championship game appearance

►RELATED:Ball State football announces 2021 recruiting class signees during early signing period

►RELATED:Ball State football accepts bowl invitation to face San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl

►RELATED:‘Obviously ecstatic’: Breaking down Ball State football’s 2021 recruiting class

Jordan Guskey covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high schools at the Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5813, jmguskey@muncie.gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.