Ball State is turning to Keldric Luster to help provide the sort of spark it badly needs as it heads into a season opener against Ohio State in Ohio Stadium.
That is the basic challenge for Mike Uremovich's second-year team. Ball State went 4-8 last season, finished 134th in total offense and now walks into one of the toughest possible opening tests in the country.
Why Luster matters
The quarterback transfer from Texas Tech is being relied on to give the Cardinals a better chance to compete after a difficult offensive year. Ball State was able to hang around in some games last season, going 3-1 in contests decided by eight points or fewer, but it also suffered four defeats by 31 points or more.
That split tells the story of an uneven team. When Ball State was close, it could stay in games. When things got away from it, the damage was heavy. That is why the quarterback position matters so much now.
A difficult first test
Ohio State brings a very different level of challenge, especially at home in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes have not lost a season opener since 1999, when they fell 23-12 to Miami in the Kickoff Classic in New Jersey.
For Ball State, the setting only adds to the difficulty. It is not just opening against Ohio State; it is doing so in a stadium and atmosphere built for pressure.
That leaves Luster with a simple but demanding task. Ball State does not need him to do everything, but it does need him to steady the offense and give the Cardinals a better rhythm than they had a year ago.
The larger question is whether this is the start of real progress or simply the first major reminder of how far Ball State still has to go. Against Ohio State, the answer will begin to take shape immediately.
