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Ball State and Northern Illinois are preparing for their final rivalry game as conference opponents.

The winner will keep the Bronze Stalk Trophy indefinitely as NIU is leaving the conference.

The all-time series record is tied, so this year's winner will also take a permanent lead.

MUNCIE ― This one means more.

Ball State football is gearing up for its first big rivalry game of the Mike Uremovich era — the Battle for the Bronze Stalk against Northern Illinois. Inspired by the miles of cornfields between the two schools, the Bronze Stalk Trophy has gone home with the winner of this matchup every year since 2008, though the rivalry itself dates all the way back to 1941.

This year's edition of the Battle for the Bronze Stalk has a little extra meaning, though. NIU

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