There's been a number of schools that have come to play Ball State at Scheumann Stadium, but none may be bigger than South Florida.
In the return of a home-and-home series that started last season, South Florida (2-1, 0-1 in the Big East) comes to town at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The team has had nine days to prepare for Ball State (2-1, 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference) after a home loss to Rutgers on Sept. 13. Coach Pete Lembo said he knows that will make the visitors more prepared Saturday.
"They're going to be fresh," Lembo said. "I'm sure that loss to Rutgers isn't sitting with them well."
South Florida's offense is a similar offense to one Ball State has already seen this season. Quarterback B.J. Daniels is another dual-threat at 6 feet, very similar to Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. Daniels is second on the team in rushing yards with 124, 18 yards behind leading rusher Demetris Murray.
The offense is also led by sophomore wide receiver Andre Davis, who has 21 receptions and two touchdowns after three games.
"They're two different teams," Ball State senior linebacker Tony Martin said. "One thing they do have in common is speed, so we shouldn't be surprised by that. They do different things but they're two very good teams so we have to play well."
The Cardinals have had the opportunity to prepare for the Bulls after having to defend Boyd. But the team also has game film from last year's 37-7 loss in Tampa, Fla.
Having film from those games has been beneficial to preparing for this week's game. But Lembo said he knows what he sees in film may not completely determine what happens on the field.
"At the end of the day, you're going to go in with a balanced approach, then try to gravitate by how the game plays out," he said. "Yes, it's going to be a lot of the same players but it's a different year and the game's here, not there."
Regardless of what Ball State sees in film, the defense knows the most important thing against South Florida will be to surround the ball because of the athletic ability the team has.
"We have to run to the ball," Martin said. "They have some speedy guys. We have to run and be physical with them."
Ball State also has to deal with some changes of its own on the defensive side of the ball. Lembo noted earlier in the week that sophomore safety J.C. Wade is likely to start, but the secondary could alternate as many as four players at the safety positions.
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