Suffering the biggest defeat in its Mid-American Conference history, Ball State has to question how it will bounce back after Saturday.
The road doesn't get any smoother for the Cardinals this weekend. After tangling with the MAC East leader, Miami, Ball State (3-4, 2-1 MAC) will welcome co-East Division leader Toledo (5-2, 3-0).
Head coach Brady Hoke said one purpose of his team's weekly meeting on Sunday evening is to put the latest game "to bed," but Linebacker Lorenzo Scott didn't want to wait until the next day to forget the 49-3 loss.
"It's a loss; it's past; it's done," Scott said Saturday. "Tomorrow we're going to come in and get ready for the next game. You've got to get over it. There's nothing from Miami that's going to help you against Toledo."
Forget it, maybe, but Hoke and his team will not pretend that the game never happened.
The quarterback position was reassessed after Andy Roesch's subpar return (1-of-10 passing with three interceptions) from his shoulder injury. Talmadge Hill, who has thrown for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, will start against Toledo.
The Cardinals anemic rushing attack reached a new low against the RedHawks and registered just 29 yards. Junior Scott Blair and sophomore Charles Wynn have combined for just 587 yards this season.
Hoke won't bench those two, but he said sophomore Larry Bostic, normally a receiver, may log more carries as a tailback in an attempt to use his speed. Bostic had two attempts -- one an end-around -- for 27 yards Saturday. He has 12 rushes for 28 yards on the season.
Hoke also left open the possibility of changes on the offensive line. The quintet of Joel Hofmann, Ryan Steele, Nick Tabacca, Mike Brown and Travis Barclay has started the last four games. The tentative two-deep for this week lists left tackle Hofmann and center Tabacca as the only two returning to same spot. Brown is at right tackle and Barclay at right guard. Jeff Ramsey, out since injuring his ankle in the second game of the season, is penciled in at left guard.
"We'll find out who's going to fight," Hoke said Monday of his offensive line in the upcoming practices. "We didn't fight back, and that's disappointing. (Miami) hit us in the mouth, and we didn't respond, and we lost our composure."
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