Football 10/29/2026 1:43:00 PM

No. 2 Harding vs. Okla. Baptist -- GAME NOTES

#2 Harding Bisons (8-0, 8-0) vs. Okla. Baptist Bison (3-5, 3-5)
Oct. 31, 2026 • 2 p.m. • Shawnee, Okla. • Crain Family Stadium

THE MATCHUP: Consensus No. 2-ranked Harding (8-0, 8-0 GAC) continues its two-game road swing, traveling to Shawnee, Oklahoma, for the annual "Battle of the Bison(s)" against Great American Conference foe Oklahoma Baptist (3-5, 3-5 GAC) on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Athletic Complex ... kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. ... Harding enters riding an 11-game road winning streak (tied for the school record) and remains one of only 10 undefeated programs in NCAA Division II ... the contest will be broadcast live on the Harding Sports Network via KVHU 95.3 FM with Billy Morgan on the call.

WEEK 8 RECAP (56-17 AT ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO): 5th-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller tied Harding's all-time career rushing touchdown record, and second-ranked Harding erupted for 35 unanswered points to overpower Arkansas-Monticello 56-17 at Cotton Bowl Stadium ... the Bisons' national-leading flexbone attack piled up 503 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 55 attempts (9.1 yards per carry) while averaging an astounding 10.2 yards per play on 594 total yards of offense ... seven different Bison ball-carriers scored rushing touchdowns, while senior quarterback Malik Young completed all three of his passes for 91 yards and a 30-yard touchdown to Brady Barnett ... Harding's defense pitched a second-half shutout, limiting UAM to just 54 total yards after the break.

MILLER TIES ALL-TIME PROGRAM TOUCHDOWN RECORD: 5th-year fullback Andrew Miller etched his name into program immortality late in the second quarter at Arkansas-Monticello, capping a 6-play, 73-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge with 4:40 remaining before halftime ... the score was the 66th rushing touchdown of his storied collegiate career, officially tying Cole Chancey (66 rushing touchdowns, 2017–21) for Harding's all-time program record ... Miller can take sole possession of the school record with his next rushing touchdown ... Miller has scored at least one touchdown in 10 consecutive games and 20 of his last 21 outings dating back to 2025.

MILLER POISED FOR THIRD 1,000-YARD CAMPAIGN: Andrew Miller rushed 14 times for 72 yards and a touchdown against UAM, elevating his season total to 980 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 166 carries (5.9 ypc) ... Miller enters Week 9 needing just 20 rushing yards to record his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season ... with 20 yards, Miller will become just the third player in Harding history to achieve three 1,000-yard campaigns, joining Cole Chancey (2017, 2019, 2021) and Braden Jay (2023, 2024, 2025) ... Miller's career total now stands at 4,598 rushing yards, the most among active Division II players and second most among active NCAA players to Montana's Eli Gillman (4,693). His 66 touchdowns are the most by any active NCAA player.

ROAD RECORD ON THE LINE (11-GAME ROAD STREAK): With the victory at Arkansas-Monticello, Harding extended its active road winning streak to 11 consecutive games—tying the all-time school record originally established between Oct. 8, 2022, and Oct. 19, 2024 ... a victory on Saturday at Oklahoma Baptist would establish a new program record with 12 consecutive road triumphs ... Harding's 11-game road streak stands as the third-longest active road winning streak in NCAA Division II.

SOONER STATE ROAD MASTERY (13 STRAIGHT IN OKLAHOMA): Harding carries an active 13-game winning streak in games played within the state of Oklahoma, a dominant stretch dating back to Oct. 2, 2021 (a 31-7 win at Oklahoma Baptist) ... the Bisons have already notched two road victories in Oklahoma this season, defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State (37-14 in Week 2) and East Central (42-21 in Week 5).

FOURTH 8-0 START IN PROGRAM HISTORY: By defeating Arkansas-Monticello, Harding improved to 8-0 overall and 8-0 in Great American Conference play ... this marks just the fourth time in 75 seasons of Harding football that the Bisons have started a campaign 8-0 (2016, 2023, 2025, and 2026) ... Harding went on to win conference championships in each of the three previous 8-0 seasons.

CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK REACHES 23 GAMES: Harding extended its Great American Conference winning streak to 23 consecutive games with the win in Monticello ... the streak represents the second-longest active conference winning streak in NCAA Division II, trailing only CSU Pueblo (RMAC).

HOME WINNING STREAK STANDS AT 28: Although currently in the middle of a two-game road swing, Harding holds an active home winning streak at First Security Stadium of 28 consecutive games—the second-longest active streak in Division II behind defending champion Ferris State.

NATION'S NO. 1 RUSHING OFFENSE MEETS RUN-DEFENSE MISMATCH: Harding enters Week 9 leading all of NCAA Division II in rushing offense (427.9 ypg), having accumulated 3,423 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns through eight games ... the Bisons average an explosive 7.1 yards per rush attempt ... this week, Harding's prolific ground game faces an Oklahoma Baptist defensive front that ranks 151st nationally and ninth in the GAC in rushing defense (222.6 ypg allowed), surrendering 5.2 yards per carry.

ELITE TOTAL DEFENSE & SCORING STINGINESS: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and first in the Great American Conference in total defense (236.8 ypg allowed) ... the Bisons also rank third nationally and lead the GAC in rushing defense (73.0 ypg allowed), fourth in first downs defense (107 allowed), 21st in scoring defense (17.5 ppg), 22nd in passing yards allowed (163.8 ypg), and 23rd in team sacks (2.63 per game, 21 total sacks).

SCORING OFFENSE & TOTAL YARDAGE EXPLOSION: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and leads the GAC in scoring offense (46.9 ppg) and 10th nationally in total offense (475.1 ypg) ... the Bisons have outscored opponents 375 to 140 on the season, averaging 7.4 yards per play.

PASSING EFFICIENCY & EXPLOSIVE COMPLETION METRICS: Operating the flexbone attack, Harding leads all of NCAA Division II in team passing efficiency (237.01 rating) and paces the country in passing yards per completion (29.08 yards) ... senior quarterback Malik Young and the Bison passers have thrown just one interception through eight games, tied for second-fewest in Division II.

RED-ZONE PERFECTION REACHES 33-FOR-33: Harding leads NCAA Division II with a spotless 1.000 red-zone conversion rate, scoring on all 33 trips inside the 20-yard line this fall (30 touchdowns, 3 field goals) ... Harding is one of only three teams in Division II that remain 100 percent in red-zone scoring.

THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION PROWESS & TEMPO: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in 3rd down conversion percentage (.557), moving the chains on 39-of-70 third-down opportunities ... the Bisons also rank third nationally in 4th down conversion percentage (.857, 6-of-7) and 11th in time of possession (32:51 per game).

SPECIAL TEAMS PRECISION & RETURN SPEED: Harding ranks third in NCAA Division II and leads the GAC in kickoff returns (29.71 yards per return) ... 1st-year return specialist Jeff Regan ranks fourth nationally and paces the league with a 35.3-yard kickoff return average ... 3rd-year punter Griffin Thomas anchors a unit that ranks 16th in Division II and first in the GAC in net punting (39.24 yards) ... placekicker Dean Roberts is flawless on conversions, going 49-of-49 on PATs and 6-of-8 on field goals (.750, 26th in D-II) for 67 total kicking points (8.4 ppg, 27th in D-II).

BALL-HAWKING SECONDARY & COREY DEAN'S LEAGUE-LEADING 4TH INT: 3rd-year cornerback Corey Dean delivered the defensive turning point at UAM, jumping an out route for a 22-yard interception return ... the takeaway was Dean's team-leading fourth interception of the season, ranking him ninth in NCAA Division II and tied for first in the GAC in interceptions per game (0.50) ... Harding has intercepted nine passes this season (39th in D-II) and generated 14 total takeaways (+0.63 turnover margin, 35th in D-II) ... 3rd-year safety Grayson Lewis ranks 13th in D-II with two fumble recoveries.

WALKER RANKS AMONG NATIONAL SACK LEADERS: 3rd-year defensive end Kaleb Walker missed the Arkansas-Monticello game with an injury, but continues to lead all of NCAA Division II in sacks per game (1.14) ... his 8.0 total sacks now rank tied for third nationally and lead the Great American Conference ... Walker also ranks 18th nationally and third in the GAC in tackles for loss (1.36 TFL/g, 9.5 total) while compiling a team-high seven quarterback hurries in seven games played.

MILLER ON NATIONAL & ALL-TIME CHARTS: Fullback Andrew Miller ranks third in NCAA Division II in rushing touchdowns (16), fifth in total touchdowns (16), sixth in scoring (12.0 ppg), sixth in total points scored (96), seventh in rushing yards (980), and eighth in rushing yards per game (122.5 ypg) ... across all NCAA divisions (FBS, FCS, D-II, and D-III), Miller is second in career rushing yards (4,598) and first in career rushing touchdowns (66).

YOUNG'S DUAL-THREAT MASTERY: 5th-year senior quarterback Malik Young ranks 12th in NCAA Division II and third in the GAC in rushing yards per carry (6.64 ypc) ... Young ranks 33rd nationally in rushing yards (631), 40th in rushing yards per game (78.9 ypg), and 47th in rushing touchdowns (7) ... over his last two games, Young has completed 5-of-7 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 270 yards and three scores.

REGAN'S ALL-PURPOSE DYNAMISM: 1st-year slotback Jeff Regan ranks 24th in NCAA Division II and third in the GAC in total touchdowns (10), 25th in rushing touchdowns (9), 26th in all-purpose yardage (123.00 ypg), 38th in total points scored (60), 41st in combined kick returns (393 yards), and 47th in rushing yards (591) ... Regan averages 15.6 yards per carry on 38 rushing attempts this season.

MILLER NAMED CAMPBELL TROPHY® FINALIST: 5th-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller was named an elite finalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award known as the "Academic Heisman" ... Miller is a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments and receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship ... Miller becomes only the second finalist in Harding history, following in the footsteps of his cousin, former All-American defensive back Ty Dugger (2025 finalist) ... Miller holds a 3.66 GPA in kinesiology and is on pace to graduate in December 2026.

HARDING NO. 3 IN D-II, NO. 1 IN SUPER REGION 4 IN NPI: Harding entered the weekend holding the No. 3 overall ranking in NCAA Division II and the No. 1 ranking in Super Region 4 in the NCAA's inaugural NCAA Power Index (NPI) release with a rating of 66.960 ... the NPI is the NCAA's new objective mathematical metric used to select and seed the 32-team Division II playoff bracket, replacing the regional advisory committee ranking ballots … Slippery Rock (Region 1, 68.145) and Ferris State (Region 3, 67.113) are the top two teams.

POLL STREAK AT 98 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS: Harding enters Week 9 ranked No. 2 nationally in both the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and the D2Football.com Top 25 ... this marks Harding's 98th consecutive appearance in the AFCA national top 25 poll, representing one of the longest active streaks in NCAA football.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA BAPTIST: The Bison enter Week 9 at 3-5 overall and 3-5 in Great American Conference play under head coach Chris Jensen (Oklahoma, 1992), who is in his 14th season leading the program (52-89 career record) ... Oklahoma Baptist looks to snap a two-game losing streak following a 40-16 road loss at Southeastern Oklahoma State in Week 8 and a 17-10 home defeat to East Central in Week 7 ... OKBU features the GAC's premier receiving threat in junior wide receiver Jacob Trimble, who leads the GAC and ranks 12th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (733), 16th in receiving yards per game (91.6 ypg), and paces the conference in all-purpose yardage (126.00 ypg, 1,008 total all-purpose yards, 23rd in D-II) on 40 catches (5.0 rpg, 46th in D-II) with four receiving touchdowns ... fellow wideout Nick Harris adds 38 receptions for 396 yards (49.5 ypg, 4.75 rpg) and three scores ... OKBU operates a two-quarterback system featuring senior Jason Ceniti (95-of-155, 1,006 yards, 7 TDs, 125.8 ypg; 1,246 yards of total offense, 155.8 ypg) and sophomore Brady Bricker (67-of-107, 713 yards, 118.8 ypg, 11.17 comp/g), who ranks 43rd in Division II in completion percentage (.626) ... running back Devan Daniels leads the ground attack with 260 rushing yards (32.5 ypg), while Justin Pascone paces the team with four rushing touchdowns for an offense that ranks 130th in D-II in rushing offense (111.0 ypg) and 112th in total offense (327.5 ypg) ... Oklahoma Baptist's greatest team strength lies on special teams, where they lead all of NCAA Division II with eight blocked kicks and rank third nationally with four blocked punts ... specialists Darrick Hurst and Rahsaan Jones are tied for third in the country with two blocked kicks each ... kicker/punter Carter Lowry leads the GAC and ranks 22nd in Division II in field goal percentage (.778, 7-of-9), totaling 43 points (5.4 ppg) while averaging 40.1 yards on punts (48th in D-II) ... OKBU is one of the least penalized teams in the country, ranking eighth in D-II and first in the GAC in fewest penalties per game (4.63) and 23rd in fewest penalty yards per game (47.25) ... defensively, OKBU has struggled against the run, ranking 151st in Division II in rushing defense (222.6 ypg allowed), 126th in total defense (408.6 ypg allowed), and 124th in scoring defense (32.9 ppg) ... linebacker Brady Luff anchors the defense, leading the GAC and ranking eighth in Division II in solo tackles per game (5.86, 41 solo) and 35th in total tackles (8.86 per game, 62 total) ... defensive back George Getanda ranks 38th in D-II with 4.75 solo tackles per game, has intercepted two passes, and broken up seven passes (96th in D-II with 0.88 passes defended per game) ... edge rusher Jeremiah Jennings paces the pass rush with 0.63 sacks per game (36th in D-II, 5.0 sacks), while Richard Smith has 4.0 sacks and two forced fumbles ... OKBU ranks 120th nationally in turnover margin (-0.63 per game), having committed 17 turnovers (12 INTs, 5 fumbles).

SPECIAL TEAMS SHOWDOWN (BLOCKED KICKS BATTLE): Saturday features a marquee clash between two elite special teams units ... Oklahoma Baptist leads the nation with eight blocked kicks and ranks third with four blocked punts ... meanwhile, Harding is tied for first in all of NCAA Division II having allowed zero blocked kicks and zero blocked punts on the season ... the matchup also pits Harding's No. 3-ranked kickoff return unit (29.71 ypr) against OKB's 66th-ranked kickoff coverage (19.67 ypr).

SERIES HISTORY: BATTLE OF THE BISONS: 11th all-time meeting between Harding and Oklahoma Baptist ... Harding leads the all-time series 10-0 and has won all 10 meetings since Oklahoma Baptist joined the Great American Conference in 2015 ... the Bisons are 5-0 all-time in Shawnee, outscoring OBU by an average of 42.0 to 14.2 on the road ... overall, Harding has outscored Oklahoma Baptist 455-127 across the 10 meetings (45.5 to 12.7 average).

LAST MEETING (NOV. 1, 2025): Harding delivered the largest margin of victory in series history with a 69-0 shutout of Oklahoma Baptist at First Security Stadium in Searcy ... the Bisons rolled up 512 total yards (456 rushing, 8 rushing touchdowns) while holding OKBU to 98 total yards and six first downs ... Andrew Miller scored two touchdowns, while Clark Griffin returned an interception 15 yards for a score.

LAST MEETING IN SHAWNEE (SEPT. 14, 2024): In their last visit to Crain Family Stadium, the top-ranked Bisons dominated Oklahoma Baptist 59-7 ... Harding piled up 482 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 56 carries (8.6 ypc) while limiting OKBU to 164 total yards and 2-of-13 on third-down conversions.

GAC SUPREMACY: Harding is 96-10 (.906) in Great American Conference play since 2016 and has suffered only one conference loss by more than 10 points since 2015.

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