| Year: | 1976 |
| Team: | Ball State Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 8–3 |
| Conf Record: | 4–1 |
| Head Coach: | Dave McClain |
| Hc Year: | 6th |
| Captain: | Art Yaroch, Mike Lecklider |
| Stadium: | Ball State Stadium |
| Champion: | MAC champion |
The 1976 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In its sixth season under head coach Dave McClain, the team compiled an 8–3 record (4–1 against conference opponents) and won the school's first MAC championship.[1] [2] The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.
The team set a school record with 2,704 rushing yards, a total that was later eclipsed by the 1987 team.[3]
Running back Earl Taylor set the school's single-game record with 260 rushing yards against Eastern Michigan.[4] He led the team with 1,017 rushing yards for the season.[5] Other statistical leaders included Mike Andress with 551 receiving yards and quarterback Art Yaroch with 1,088 passing yards.[6] Yaroch received the John Magnabosco Award as the team's most valuable player.[7]
Five players received first-team honors on the 1976 All-MAC team: quarterback Art Yaroch; offensive guard Mitch Hoban; split end Rick Morrison; defensive back Maurice Harvey; and punter Mark O'Connell.[8]
Art Yaroch and Mike Lecklider were the team captains.[9]