MAC matchup features UMass squaring off against Ball State

Ball State (3-5) at UMass (4-4), Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. EST.

Opening Line: UMass by 3.5. Against the spread: UMass 4-4, Ball State 5-3.

How to watch: ESPNU

Key stats

UMass Offense

Overall: 334.6 yards per game (115th in FBS)

Passing: 187.9 yards per game (112th)

Rushing: 146.8 yards per game (85th)

Scoring: 26.5 points per game (83rd)

UMass Defense

Overall: 324.1 yards per game (36th in FBS)

Passing: 181.9 yards per game (29th)

Rushing: 142.3 yards per game (70th)

Scoring: 21.1 points per game (42nd)

Ball State Offense

Overall: 337.5 yards per game (110th in FBS)

Passing: 196.3 yards per game (102nd)

Rushing: 141.3 yards per game (90th)

Scoring: 22 points per game (108th)

Ball State Defense

Overall: 422.9 yards per game (126th in FBS)

Passing: 239.8 yards per game (106th)

Rushing: 183.1 yards per game (114th)

Scoring: 35.3 points per game (131st)

UMass ranks 126th in third down percentage, converting 32% of the time. Ball State ranks 119th on defense, holding its opponents to 43.3%.

Ball State ranks 105th in the FBS with a -4 turnover margin, compared to UMass' 11th-ranked +7 margin.

Ball State ranks 118th in the FBS with 70.6 penalty yards per game.

Ball State is 122nd in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 92.9% of trips. UMass' red zone offense ranks 24th, scoring on 91.3% of red zone opportunities.

Team leaders

UMass

Passing: William Watson III, 1,025 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 69.6 completion percentage

Rushing: Elijah Faulkner, 376 yards on 89 carries, 1 TD

Receiving: T.Y. Harding, 327 yards on 28 catches, 2 TDs

Ball State

Passing: Keldric Luster, 1,300 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs, 63.0 completion percentage

Rushing: T.J. Horton, 426 yards on 68 carries, 9 TDs

Receiving: Donovan Hamilton, 310 yards on 25 catches, 1 TD

Last game

UMass fell 35-16 to UConn on Oct. 23. Watson led UMass with 205 yards on 22-of-38 passing (57.9%) for one touchdown and no interceptions. Faulkner had 15 rushing yards on six carries, adding two receptions for nine yards. Joseph Griffin Jr. had four receptions for 77 yards.

Ball State won 34-17 over Sacramento State on Oct. 24. Luster led Ball State with 234 yards on 14-of-27 passing (51.9%) for two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 10 times for 68 yards and one rushing touchdown. Jalen Bonds carried the ball 17 times for 77 yards. Isaiah Thacker put up 65 yards on one catch with one touchdown.

Next game

UMass plays at Toledo on Nov. 11. Ball State hosts Buffalo on Nov. 11.