The Ball State Cardinals roll into Auburn following a 31-0 loss at Purdue. The Boilermakers won one game last season. In the age of the transfer portal, Purdue could have a completely different team from last season’s atrocious attempt at a football roster, but I doubt it’s ’31-0 over a good Ball State team’ different.
What I’m saying is Purdue is very likely not very good at all and they beat Ball State 31-0 last week. Got it?
I remember the year when Ball State went 12-0. It was 2008. They lost to Tulsa in their bowl game. Tulsa’s offensive coordinator was Gus Malzahn. So yeah, they have had some good years. But they went 3-9 last year and lost to very likely bad Purdue this year. So let’s just say they aren’t very good.
What does that mean for Auburn after coming off a nice road win at Baylor last weekend where the world was awakened to the fact that Jackson Arnold has legs but turned that into questions about his arms?
It means Auburn is playing a team they should likely have little trouble with and therefore can use the game to show that Jackson Arnold has arms as well. Any kinks on the offensive side should be worked out. Receivers can be happy with more targets.
As for running back, it does sound like Damari Alston will be out. He came out of the Baylor game with a shoulder injury. I don’t know that it’s that serious, and it’s likely that he’s being held out for precaution because he likely won’t be needed against Ball State or South Alabama.
That’s fine. Jeremiah Cobb can handle it. Durell Robinson can handle it. Omar and Alvin might even get a few touches.
On the other side of the ball, the Auburn defense needs to treat the game as tackling practice. Of course, like most outmatched teams that come into Jordan-Hare, the Cardinals will run some quick stuff. The quarterback will get rid of the ball in less than a second. That’s fine. Just pretend you’re tackling Barry Sanders and grab, pinch, twist, goose, and grab hard enough to leave no doubt.
I’d expect another kick return for touchdown. Pleasant can fly. He can fly faster than a Cardinal. Ok, that was dumb.
Despite the level of opponent, it’s the first home game, it’s not Labor Day weekend, it’s a night game, there’s excitement from a road win, there’s a new big screen, there are tons of recruits in town, and fans are fully in football mode.
It’s going to be awesome.
Ball State should offer Auburn plenty of chances to right some wrongs, to turn the playbook pages, to show off all the new shiny bells and whistles in the stadium, and to easily go 2-0.
Jackson Arnold will throw two bomb touchdowns and run for one. We might see another quarterback just because. The defense will have two picks. Pleasant will house another. It will be a fun, easy night in Jordan-Hare Stadium to kickoff the remainder of a potentially special season.
Auburn 45, Ball State 10
