Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008

The ball is in Ball State's hands

The Cardinals' agenda is to beat Buffalo and decide if they want to play Boise State in a bowl game on the blue turf.

By BY CHADD CRIPE

Two days before one of the biggest games in Ball State's football history, the Cardinals are expected to decide whether they want a shot at arguably the biggest game in school history.

Negotiations to stage a "Battle of Unbeatens" between No. 9 Boise State (12-0) and No. 12 Ball State (12-0) in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 30 at Bronco Stadium have boiled down to one simple question:

Is Ball State willing to play the Broncos on the blue?

The Cardinals likely will make their decision Wednesday - a decision that comes while they prepare for Friday's Mid-American Conference championship game against Buffalo (7-5). The Cardinals are trying to win their first MAC title since 1996 and keep alive dreams of a top 10 ranking.

Beating the Broncos would seal that ranking, but the Cardinals would face a stiff challenge. The Broncos are 64-2 at home the past 10 seasons and proven performers in big games; the Cardinals are 0-4 in bowl games, including a 52-30 loss to Rutgers last season in the International Bowl.

The deal to bring the Cardinals to Boise requires the approval of the MAC, Motor City Bowl (Ball State's expected destination) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (whose team would be moved out of Boise). All seem willing to make a deal.

Boise State and Ball State are two of four undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (No. 1 Alabama and No. 6 Utah are the others). Their clash likely would be the fifth-best matchup of the bowl season, based on the Bowl Championship Series rankings.

"If there is a chance to match ranked teams, we should explore that," MAC commissioner Rick Chryst said. " All of us should explore ways to create matchups like this."

The Broncos' backup plan is a date with No. 11 TCU (10-2) in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23 in San Diego - which also would be the fifth-best matchup of the bowl season but wouldn't generate as much revenue for the WAC. The Humanitarian Bowl's backup plan likely is Nevada (7-5) of the WAC against Maryland (7-5) of the ACC.

The involvement of so many parties necessitates a quick decision from the Cardinals. Any deal would be pending Ball State winning Friday - it is favored by 15 points - and Boise State not receiving a BCS invitation Sunday.

If Ball State goes to the Motor City Bowl, the best opponent it could hope for is Notre Dame (6-6).

Motor City Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman, who would have liked to bring Boise State to Detroit, won't stand in the way of the game being played in Boise. Chryst's main reservation about the game was a desire to protect his bowl partners.

"I think it's a great idea," Hoffman said. "It would be an awesome game if it can be put together. If it's what's best for Ball State and what's best for the Mid-American Conference, then we'll be supportive of it."

The ACC is taking a similar approach. The league will involve the teams likely to land in Boise in the decision-making process if the Humanitarian Bowl strikes a deal. Maryland, Wake Forest (7-5) and Miami (7-5) are the H-Bowl favorites.

"We'd be open-minded to it," said Michael Kelly, the ACC's associate commissioner for football operations. "We couldn't commit to it until we know what the specifics and options are."