As a junior, Ball was named player of the year (St. Louis American), first-team all-state, all-metro, all-district and all-conference after putting up 358 carries for 3,077 yards and 32 touchdowns, and was recognized in Sports Illustrated magazine's "Faces in the Crowd" section.

[9] He began the 2010 season as the backup running back to John Clay, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Because Clay had offseason ankle surgery and later an MCL injury, Ball gained a prominent role in the Badgers' offense, along with freshman back James White.

[13] On November 5, 2011, Ball was named Big Ten Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 223 yards against the Purdue Boilermakers.

[15] On November 12, 2011, Ball broke the single season Big Ten Conference record for touchdowns by rushing for two and receiving one against the Minnesota.

[21] Ball was one of three finalists for the 2011 Doak Walker Award joining Oregon's LaMichael James and Alabama's Trent Richardson.

[22] Ball was named First-team All-Big Ten, by both the coaches and media, at the conclusion of the 2011 regular season.

[26] On the same day, Ball was named All-American by the AFCA, joining teammates Peter Konz and Kevin Zeitler.

[31] On January 5, 2012, Ball announced he would return for his senior year with the Badgers rather than enter the 2012 NFL draft.

[35] On December 6, 2012, Ball won the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.

[37] On January 1, 2013, Ball became the first player in Rose Bowl Game history to score a touchdown in three straight years.

[40] On June 5, 2023, Ball was announced as one of 78 FBS players to be selected for the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

[46] On December 1, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ball had his best game of his rookie season, with 13 carries for 117 yards, including a 45-yard run, the longest of his career.

[49] Heading into his sophomore season, Ball was set to become the Broncos’ starting running back following the departure of Knowshon Moreno, who signed with the Miami Dolphins during the offseason.

[50] Despite this, Ball started in only three regular season games in 2014 and suffered a groin injury in Week 5, leading to the emergence of C.J.

He was placed on injured reserve on December 13, 2014, finishing the 2014 season with 172 yards and one touchdown, which was scored in a Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

[51][52] Ball entered the 2015 season with the Broncos fighting for a roster spot with fellow running backs C. J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, and Juwan Thompson.

[56] Ball was assaulted in the early morning hours of August 1, 2012, while walking on University Avenue in Madison.

[57][58] During the early morning of February 5, 2016, Ball was arrested on a felony battery charge after an apparent dispute with his girlfriend.

Ball began showing up drunk to practice as a junior in college and continued the habit in his professional career.