1971 Ball State Cardinals football team

1971 Ball State Cardinals football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–5–1
Head coach
Home stadiumBall State Stadium
1971 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Delaware     10 1 0
No. 5 Tennessee State     9 1 0
No. 2 McNeese State     9 1 1
Samford     8 1 0
Colorado College     7 1 0
No. 8 Akron     8 2 0
No. 3 Eastern Michigan     7 1 2
Arkansas AM&N     7 2 0
Indiana (PA)     7 2 0
Kentucky State     8 3 0
Appalachian State     7 3 1
Northern Michigan     7 3 0
Hawaii     7 4 0
Ashland     6 4 0
Santa Clara     6 4 0
Southern Illinois     6 4 0
Tampa     6 5 0
UNLV     5 4 1
Bucknell     5 5 0
Central Michigan     5 5 0
Milwaukee     5 5 0
Nevada     5 5 0
St. Norbert     5 5 0
Wayne State (MI)     4 4 0
Hofstra     5 6 0
Cortland     4 5 0
Northeastern     4 5 0
Portland State     4 5 0
Ball State     4 5 1
Chicago     3 4 0
Northeast Louisiana     4 6 1
Eastern Illinois     4 6 0
Indiana State     4 6 0
Saint Mary's     3 5 0
Rose-Hulman     3 6 0
Boston University     3 7 0
Drexel     2 6 0
Chattanooga     2 9 0
Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1971 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In its first season under head coach Dave McClain, the team compiled a 4–5–1 record. The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.