What Is 2010 Ball State Cardinals football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 Ball State Cardinals football team finished with a 2–10 record, their worst since 2007, under head coach Pete Lembo in his first season. They played in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division and scored 236 total points.

Key Facts

Finished the season with a 2–10 overall record and 1–7 in MAC play
Pete Lembo was hired as head coach in December 2009, officially starting in 2010
Scored 236 points (19.7 per game) while allowing 377 (31.4 per game)
Played home games at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana
Lost their final eight games of the season after a 2–2 start

Overview

The 2010 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division, the team struggled significantly compared to previous years, marking a rebuilding year under new leadership.

Head coach Pete Lembo, hired in December 2009, took over a program coming off a 2–10 season in 2009. The 2010 campaign continued the downturn, with the Cardinals finishing 2–10 overall and 1–7 in conference play, their worst record since 2007.

Record: The team ended the season with a 2–10 overall record, including a 1–7 mark in the MAC, placing last in the West Division.
Scoring: Ball State averaged 19.7 points per game, totaling 236 points for the season, while allowing 377 points (31.4 per game).
Head Coach:Pete Lembo began his tenure in 2010 after being hired from Elon University, where he had a 40–8 record over five seasons.
Home Games: All home games were played at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana, which has a capacity of 22,500.
Season Start: The Cardinals began the season 2–2 before losing their final eight games, including a 45–14 loss to rival Ball State in the season finale.

How It Works

The 2010 season marked a transition for Ball State football, as new coaching strategies and player development were implemented under first-year head coach Pete Lembo. The team focused on rebuilding both culture and performance after years of inconsistency.

Coaching Transition:Pete Lembo replaced Stan Parrish, who was fired after a 2–10 season in 2009; Lembo brought a more disciplined, special-teams-focused approach.
Offensive System: The Cardinals ran a pro-style offense emphasizing ball control, though they ranked near the bottom of the MAC in total yards per game (318.3).
Defensive Struggles: Ball State allowed 377 total points, worst in the MAC, with the defense giving up an average of 31.4 points per game.
Quarterback Play:Nate Davis had graduated, and the team rotated multiple QBs, including Keith Wenning, who threw for 1,488 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Special Teams: Lembo emphasized special teams, but the unit ranked 11th in the 12-team MAC in scoring margin due to poor field position.
Recruiting Impact: The 2010 recruiting class included 19 signees, many of whom became key contributors by the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2010 Ball State Cardinals compared to other MAC West teams in key statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	MAC Record	Points For	Points Against
Ball State	2–10	1–7	236	377
Central Michigan	4–8	3–5	272	310
Western Michigan	5–7	4–4	285	294
Eastern Michigan	2–10	1–7	179	378
Purdue (non-MAC)	8–5	N/A	342	275

The table shows Ball State ranked near the bottom in both scoring and defense within the MAC. While they outscored Eastern Michigan, they were outperformed by all other West Division teams. The 14-point improvement over EMU in scoring was not enough to overcome defensive lapses. This season highlighted the need for roster development and strategic overhaul under the new coaching staff.

Why It Matters

The 2010 season was a low point for Ball State football, but it laid the foundation for future improvement under Pete Lembo’s leadership. The struggles underscored the importance of sustained coaching stability and long-term program building.

Rebuilding Year: The 2–10 record served as a rebuilding phase, allowing Lembo to install new systems and evaluate talent.
Player Development: Quarterback Keith Wenning gained experience in 2010, later becoming a multi-year starter and record holder.
Recruiting Shift: The 2010 class helped Ball State improve to a 10–3 record in 2013, showing long-term impact.
Special Teams Focus: Lembo’s emphasis on special teams later led to national rankings in punt return and field goal efficiency.
Conference Context: The poor performance highlighted competitive gaps in the MAC, pushing the program to invest more in facilities and recruiting.
Historical Benchmark: The 2010 season remains a low point in modern Ball State history, used as a contrast to later success.

While the 2010 season was disappointing, it was a necessary step in Ball State’s journey toward competitiveness. The lessons learned contributed to a turnaround in the early 2010s, proving that even losing seasons can have lasting value in college football programs.