The highlight of Saturday night was Kyle Field.

The Texas A&M-Ball State game, which the Aggies won 56-23 simply served as a conduit for a gigantic party to celebrate the ending of a two-year refurbishing project of the 88-year-old stadium.

A&M spent $485 million to renovate the stadium - the most expensive project of its kind in college football.

"Our players today were all buzzing about getting into new Kyle," said Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. "It's hard to make Kyle Field better but we did the impossible."

While the 104,213 fans who were in the stands Saturday night will remember where they were for the grand reopening, the game likely will be quickly forgotten. No. 16 Texas A&M (2-0) sprinted to a big lead over the Cardinals, then inserted its backups.

Ball State (1-1) had its best success against the reserves, scoring 20 points in the second half.

The game was so lopsided toward the Aggies that even an offensive lineman scored. Redshirt freshman tackle Koda Martin was there to fall on freshman tailback Kwame Etwi's fumble into the end zone. It proved to be A&M's only score of the second half. But with a 46-point lead going into halftime, A&M could afford scoring only once in the final 30 minutes.

Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen, playing into the second quarter, completed 10 of 13 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Etwi, a third-teamer and walk-on, led all rushers with 116 yards.

Ball State's Riley Neal, who replaced an ineffective Jack Milas at quarterback, was 11-of-19 passing for 116 yards.

At intermission, the Aggies led 49-3 with A&M using two quarterbacks and going three deep with their tailbacks.

"I think we rolled the way we should," Allen said.

The game was close for the opening five minutes of the first quarter.

Texas A&M tailback Tra Carson scored on a 1-yard plunge. Ball State responded with an extended drive, which resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Morgan Hagee.

From there, it was an Aggie onslaught, so long as A&M's first teamers were on the field.

"I thought our ones played well across the boards, offense, defense and special teams," said Sumlin.

Allen threw a 3-yard touchdown to Josh Reynolds. Tailback Brice Dolezal, who was a walk-on until last

month, posted a 33-yard touchdown on a draw play.

Cornerback DeVante Harris completed the first quarter scoring for A&M when he jumped a route, intercepted Milas, and returned the pick for a 40-yard touchdown.

Allen threw two more touchdown passes in the second quarter - a three-yarder to tight end Jordan Davis and a 20-yarder to wideout Jeremy Tabuyo.

Freshman quarterback Kyler Murray completed the scoring for A&M with a 10-yard pass to Christian Kirk.

Ball State also used two quarterbacks. Neither was effective in the half. Milas was 1 of 8 for 5 yards. Riley Neal completed both his pass attempts for a combined five yards.