It’s Homecoming weekend, here, at Ball State.  Central Michigan’s Chippewas are also coming to the Ball State campus – Scheumann Stadium to be precise – for Saturday afternoon’s football battle with the Cardinals.  Ball State is still plagued with several injuries.  Seven starters – six on offense, including quarterback Riley Neal – have been sidelined.  A number of freshmen have stepped into starting and backup roles.  The Cards are 2-and-4 on the season; The Chippewas are 3-and-3. Central Michigan is a two-and-a-half-point favorite.  Kickoff is at 3 p.m. on ESPN-3.

Elsewhere with the state’s big four in college football …

Purdue is on the road at Rutgers for a noon kickoff on the Big Ten Network.

Indiana travels to Michigan State for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.

And Notre Dame hosts the USC Trojans.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 on NBC.