Ball State picked last in MAC West preseason football media poll

CLEVELAND — Just one year after it was picked to finish first in the Mid-American Conference football preseason media poll, Ball State finds itself with a much different outlook heading into the 2022 season.

The Cardinals were picked to finish last in the MAC West Division in the preseason poll, released Tuesday ahead of the MAC football kickoff. Ball State finished only in front of Akron (28 points) in overall points with 42.

This comes after a season in which saw Ball State appeared in its second straight bowl game and finished with a 6-7 overall (4-4 MAC) overall record after a lopsided, 51-20, defeat in the Camellia Bowl to Georgia State. Head coach Mike Neu, who enters his seventh season at the helm, returns just 11 starters from the 2021 season (six on offense, five on defense).

More:Looking at Ball State football's future schedules, which includes games against Indiana, Purdue

In the West, reigning conference champion Northern Illinois (122 points, 11 first-place votes) was picked to finish first ahead of Toledo (120 points, nine first-place votes) and Central Michigan (112 points, four first-place votes).

The East has much less discrepancy with Miami (139 points, 20 first-place votes) selected as the runaway favorite, with Kent State (116 points, three first-place votes) behind. Bowling Green also received a first-place vote.

Four different teams were selected to win the league, with Northern Illinois leading the way with nine votes to win the championship. Toledo (six votes), Miami (five votes) and Central Michigan (four votes) were also picked to win the league title.

2022 MAC football preseason media poll

East Division (first place votes)

1. Miami (20) — 139 points

2. Kent State (3) — 116 points

3. Buffalo — 78 points

4. Ohio — 72 points

5. Bowling Green (1) — 71 points

6. Akron — 28 points

West Division (first place votes)

1. Northern Illinois (11) — 122 points

2. Toledo (9) — 120 points

3. Central Michigan (4) — 112 points

4. Western Michigan — 56 points

5. Eastern Michigan — 52 points

6. Ball State — 42 points

MAC football champion votes

Northern Illinois (9), Toledo (6), Miami (5), Central Michigan (4)

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Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school sports for The Star Press. Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State football picked to finish last in MAC West preseason poll