Big Ten Matchups
Northwestern vs Ball State
Next meeting · 2026 season
| Date | Week | Fixture | Venue | TV | Status | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-10 | 6 | Ryan Field | BTN | UPCOMING | Game page |
Who wins Northwestern vs Ball State?
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Head-to-head on record
| Team | Wins | Series |
|---|---|---|
 Northwestern Wildcats | 1 | Northwestern leads |
 Ball State Cardinals | 0 |
Meetings since 2015: 1. Source: CollegeFootballData game log.
The series in numbers
1-0 Regular season
1-0 Last 1
24-19 Avg score
1 Longest Northwestern win run
Biggest Northwestern win 24-19 in 2015, a 5-point margin.
Every Northwestern vs Ball State meeting
| Season | Result | Site | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Northwestern win | Evanston | 24-19 |
Scores from the Northwestern perspective. Source: CollegeFootballData game log, since 2015.
Matchup stats
Last five games
Completed results from CollegeFootballData via the CFB Data Hub
Northwestern Wildcats lead the series since 2015, 1-0. Here is the series on record and how to watch when Northwestern and Ball State meet.
How to watch Northwestern vs Ball State
When Northwestern and Ball State are scheduled, here is how to find the game.
- National TV National windows are set by Set weekly by the conference TV partners (ESPN, ABC, FOX, FS1).
- Streaming ESPN+ and the FOX Sports app stream the national windows.
- Radio Listen on the Northwestern radio network.
- Confirm kickoff Kickoff and the exact channel are set by the networks before game week. Check the match center for the Northwestern vs Ball State time and line.
The live time, line and how-to-watch details land on the match center and how to watch pages once the game is scheduled.
The Northwestern this season
Follow Northwestern in the title race on the Big Ten standings, and model the finish with the title race calculator. For the conference series that define the year, see the Big Ten rivalry pages, or browse every Big Ten matchup.
About the author and reviewer
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Conference Newsroom · Independent Big Ten coverage since 2026
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Every stat and historical claim on data pages is checked against official box scores and the live feed before publication.
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Northwestern vs Ball State: the essentials
Northwestern Wildcats vs Ball State Cardinals is a non-conference matchup that sets the Big Ten against the Mid-American (Group of 6). Northwestern Wildcats lead the series since 2015, 1-0. Across 1 meeting on record the series is one-sided so far, and whenever the two programs are scheduled this page carries the Northwestern vs Ball State head-to-head record, the matchup numbers for both sides, and how to watch on TV and streaming. It sits alongside the Northwestern Wildcats team hub, the Big Ten this week round-up and the live conference standings. For Ball State against the whole conference, see Ball State vs the Big Ten.
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Frequently asked questions
When does Northwestern play Ball State next?
The next meeting is Saturday, October 10 at 12:30 PM ET, at Ryan Field. It is Week 6 of the 2026 season. Follow the live score and box score on the game page.
What is the all-time record between Northwestern and Ball State?
Northwestern Wildcats lead the series since 2015, 1-0. The two programs have met 1 time on record.
How can I watch Northwestern vs Ball State?
The next meeting is Saturday, October 10 at 12:30 PM ET, at Ryan Field. It airs on BTN.
Are Northwestern and Ball State in the same conference?
No. Northwestern plays in the Big Ten. Ball State plays in the Mid-American (Group of 6). This is a non-conference game.