The 2012 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

They were led by second-year head coach Pete Lembo and played their home games at Scheumann Stadium.

They were a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.

They were invited to the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl where they were defeated by UCF.

This college football 2010s season article is a stub.