Ball State, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team, has agreed to a a home-and-home deal with Illinois State.

Ball State, a member of the Mid-American Conference, will travel to Normal to play the Redbirds in 2013 and Illinois State will head to Muncie, Ind., in 2014 to complete the two-game series.

Dates and times for both games will be announced at a later date.

The Cardinals and the Redbirds have met 16 times previously, with Ball State owning an 11-5 lead in the series. The two teams last met in 1993, a 45-30 defeat for the Redbirds on the road in Muncie, Ind.

ISU athletics director Sheahon Zenger believes the series will bring some national attention to the university and the football team.

"This is a meaningful series for the Redbird football program," Zenger said. "I believe this is another indicator which highlights the prominence of Illinois State University and its football program within the national scope."

ISU football head coach Brock Spack believes the series with the Cardinals will give his team a boost in recruiting.

"A game with Ball State at home will give us a lot of credibility when we are out trying to recruit quality student-athletes," Spack said. "We are often competing for the same players in the Chicago area, the state of Illinois and all throughout the Midwest with many of the MAC schools. The fact that we can get a quality FBS team like Ball State to come play us on our home field says a lot about our program and our administration. "

Illinois State will play at Northwestern Sept. 11, 2010, but currently does not have a game scheduled against a FBS opponent in 2011 or 2012. ISU is 3-31 all-time against FBS opponents, with all three wins coming against MAC opponents: Eastern Michigan (1981), Western Michigan (1987) and Akron (1991).