BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Ball State won this one for Dante Love.

And nothing, not even a potentially serious injury to the Cardinals top receiver, was going to stop them this time.

The Cardinals used their heavy hearts and concerns about Love's uncertain condition to regroup, propelling themselves to a stunning 42-20 victory over Indiana while Love remained in an Indianapolis emergency room after leaving the field strapped to a backboard.

"I'm going to be real brief because, obviously, I want to go see how Dante Love is doing," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said, quickly cutting off any other questions in the postgame interview. "I appreciate you're understanding, but I'm going to go and go to the hospital, thanks."

Ball State officials had no additional updates after the game, and associate athletic director Joe Hernandez said he was having trouble getting additional information about the injury. School officials issued a statement saying Love had tingling and numbness while he was on the field.

After the game was over, a hospital administrator later said Love was still being evaluated.

On the field, the Cardinals were brilliant.

They repeatedly marched down the field, getting 166 yards rushing and four short touchdown runs from MiQuale Lewis to finally end a string of near misses over BCS schools. The stretch began in 2006 with a 24-23 loss at home against Indiana. Then came a 34-26 loss at Michigan later that season and a 41-40 loss at Nebraska last year. In all, they were 0-42 all-time against BCS schools.

But the celebration over the biggest win in school history, and the Cardinals first 4-0 start in two decades, was tempered because of Love's uncertain status.

He entered the game as the nation's leader in yards receiving per game (144.3) and was knocked out early in the second quarter when Indiana cornerback Chris Adkins jarred the ball loose with a big hit. As Love fell backward, safety Nick Polk scooped up the ball and ran 31 yards for a score while Love remain motionless on the ground.

Within seconds, a team of doctors surrounded the senior, and within minutes, the Cardinals were down on one knee in prayer. Love was eventually rolled on to a backboard, his face mask removed, and then lifted on to a golf cart where dozens of players offered encouraging words before the doctors asked them to move.

As the cart pulled away, Love's parents ran behind it and the entire crowd of 41,349 was on its feet applauding in a show of support. Initially, he went to Bloomington Hospital before being transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

While the dreaded scene could have taken the air out of another Ball State upset bid, the Cardinals made a promise.

"It was hard. We have a lot of respect for Dante, we really love him, he's a big part of the team," linebacker Bryant Haines said. "It was hard to regroup the guys, so what we said was 'Hey, let's win it for him.' "

It wasn't just the Cardinals who felt the impact.

Coach Bill Lynch, who spent eight seasons as Ball State's head coach before coming to Indiana, acknowledged the reality of what happened right in front of the Indiana bench.

"That's the bad part of what do you say, the profession or any sport," Lynch said. "It's not just unique to football. But you hate to see somebody get hurt. Certainly our prayers are with him and, hopefully, everything works out well for him. But it's very, very hard."

The Hoosiers (2-1) weren't themselves after the injury.

Kellen Lewis ran 25 times for 148 yards and one TD, but was only 11-of-25 for 159 yards with two interceptions through the air. And Indiana was shut out in the second half after trailing 28-20 at the half.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, piled up 463 yards in offense en route to ending the Hoosiers 20-game winning streak against Mid-American Conference foes. The Hoosiers last loss to a MAC school: Sept. 24, 1977 loss against Miami of Ohio when Lee Corso was coaching Indiana.

But even a loss paled in comparison to what the Hoosiers witnessed on the field.

"It's just one football game, so you have to put it in perspective," Indiana receiver Andrew Means said. "You have to think about Dante Love and, hopefully, he can get better and, hopefully, he's doing well."