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Football

No. 2 Harding vs. Southern Nazarene -- GAME NOTES

#2 Harding Bisons (9-0, 9-0) vs. Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (2-6, 2-6)
Nov. 7, 2026 • 3 p.m. • Searcy, Ark. • First Security Stadium

THE MATCHUP (HOMECOMING 2026): Consensus No. 2-ranked Harding (9-0, 9-0 GAC) returns home to First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas, hosting Great American Conference foe Southern Nazarene (2-6, 2-6 GAC) for the annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3:00 p.m. ... the contest marks the first of back-to-back home games to close the regular season, with the home finale set for next Saturday, Nov. 14 against Arkansas Tech ... the Bisons enter holding the nation's second-longest active home winning streak (28 games), having won an all-time school-record 12 consecutive road games, while remaining one of only seven undefeated teams in NCAA Division II ... the game will be streamed live on the Harding Sports Network and on KVHU 95.3 FM.

HOMECOMING SUCCESS: Harding enters Saturday's contest with a 46-17-2 (.723) all-time record on Homecoming dating back to the program's modern resumption in 1959 ... the Bisons carry an active 11-game Homecoming winning streak into Saturday dating back to 2014, outscoring opponents 538 to 112 (an average margin of victory of 48.9 to 10.2) ... Harding is 31-4 (.886) in its last 35 Homecoming games dating back to 1990 and 12-2 (.857) in the Great American Conference era (since 2011) ... Saturday marks the first time Harding has faced Southern Nazarene on Homecoming, making SNU the 25th unique Homecoming opponent in school history.

WEEK 9 RECAP (48-10 AT OKLAHOMA BAPTIST): Fifth-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller etched his name at the very top of the Harding record book with three second-quarter TD to become the program's all-time rushing TD leader, and second-ranked Harding shook off early weather-induced miscues to pull away for a 48-10 victory over Oklahoma Baptist before 2,028 fans at Crain Family Stadium in Shawnee, Oklahoma ... the Bisons overcame two lost fumbles on kickoff returns in the first two minutes, with the defense holding OKBU to just a field goal before the offense unleashed 34 unanswered points ... Harding rolled up 414 rushing yards and five TD on 51 carries (8.1 ypc) while outgaining OKBU 494-230 ... Josh Strickland, Jr. led all rushers with 137 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (12.5 ypc), while Connor Dean punctuated the win with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first snap of the fourth quarter ... Harding's defense suffocated the OKBU ground game, holding the hosts to just six net rushing yards on 28 attempts (0.2 ypc) and recording five sacks.

MILLER BREAKS ALL-TIME PROGRAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWN RECORD: 5th-year fullback Andrew Miller entered Week 9 tied with Cole Chancey (66 rushing TD, 2017–21) for Harding's all-time career rushing TD record ... with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter, Miller took an inside handoff from 6 yards out and plunged into the end zone for his 67th career touchdown to seize sole possession of the program record ... Miller added scoring runs of 2 yards and 1 yard before halftime, elevating his career total to 69 rushing TD ... his 69 TD are the most among all active college football players across all NCAA divisions (FBS, FCS, D-II, and D-III) ... Miller has scored at least one touchdown in 11 consecutive games and 21 of his last 22 outings dating back to 2025.

MILLER SURPASSES 1,000 YARDS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON: Andrew Miller carried 17 times for 92 yards and three touchdowns at OKBU, elevating his season total to 1,072 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 183 carries (5.9 ypc) ... Miller became just the third player in Harding history to record three separate 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining Cole Chancey (2017, 2019, 2021) and Braden Jay (2023, 2024, 2025) ... Miller's career total now stands at 4,690 rushing yards, leading all active NCAA Division II players and ranking second among all active players across all NCAA divisions behind Montana's Eli Gillman (4,838) ... Miller sits just 424 yards shy of Cole Chancey's all-time Harding career rushing yardage record (5,114 yards, 2017–21).

SCHOOL-RECORD 12TH CONSECUTIVE ROAD VICTORY: With the victory at Oklahoma Baptist, Harding established a new all-time program record with its 12th consecutive road victory, breaking the previous mark of 11 straight road wins set between Oct. 8, 2022, and Oct. 19, 2024 ... HU's 12-game road streak stands as the third-longest active road winning streak in NCAA Division II.

FOURTH 9-0 START IN PROGRAM HISTORY: By defeating Oklahoma Baptist, Harding improved to 9-0 overall and 9-0 in Great American Conference play ... this marks just the fourth time in 75 seasons of Harding football that the Bisons have started a campaign 9-0 (2016, 2023, 2025, and 2026) ... Harding went on to capture the Great American Conference championship in each of the previous three 9-0 seasons.

CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK REACHES 24 GAMES: Harding extended its Great American Conference winning streak to 24 consecutive games with the victory in Shawnee ... 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 GAMES: Returning to First Security Stadium for Homecoming, Harding puts its active 28-game home winning streak on the line ... the run stands as the second-longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division II behind defending champion Ferris State ... Harding's last home loss came on Oct. 15, 2022.

SOONER STATE ROAD MASTERY (14 STRAIGHT): The win at Oklahoma Baptist extended Harding's dominant winning streak in games played inside the state of Oklahoma to 14 consecutive games, a run dating back to Oct. 2, 2021 (a 31-7 win at Oklahoma Baptist).

NATION'S NO. 1 RUSHING OFFENSE: Harding enters Week 10 leading all of NCAA Division II in rushing offense (426.3 ypg), having accumulated 3,837 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns through nine games ... the Bisons average an explosive 7.2 yards per rush attempt and have scored 50 of their 58 total offensive touchdowns on the ground.

ELITE TOTAL DEFENSE & SCORING STINGINESS: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and first in the Great American Conference in total defense (236.0 ypg allowed) ... the Bisons also rank second nationally and lead the GAC in rushing defense (65.6 ypg allowed), first in the GAC and 15th nationally in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), first in the GAC and 31st nationally in first downs defense (121 allowed), 15th in team sacks (2.89 per game, 26 total sacks), and 28th in passing yards allowed (170.4 ypg).

CLASH OF TOP-FIVE RUSHING ATTACKS: Saturday's Homecoming matchup features a rare national showdown between two of the top five rushing offenses in NCAA Division II: Harding (No. 1 nationally at 426.3 ypg) against Southern Nazarene (No. 5 nationally at 294.1 ypg) ... however, the matchup features a stark contrast in stopping the run: Harding boasts the nation's No. 2 rushing defense (65.6 ypg allowed), while Southern Nazarene ranks 149th nationally in rushing defense (220.5 ypg allowed).

SCORING OFFENSE & TOTAL YARDAGE EXPLOSION: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and leads the GAC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg) and 11th nationally in total offense (477.2 ypg) ... the Bisons have outscored opponents 423 to 150 on the season, averaging 7.4 yards per play.

PASSING EFFICIENCY & HOME-RUN AIR METRICS: Operating the flexbone attack, Harding leads all of NCAA Division II in team passing efficiency (249.21 rating) and paces the country in passing yards per completion (28.63 yards) ... senior quarterback Malik Young, backup Camren Cavalier, and the Bison passers have thrown just one interception through nine games, tied for the fewest in Division II.

RED-ZONE PERFECTION REACHES 38-FOR-38: Harding leads NCAA Division II with an unblemished 1.000 red-zone conversion rate, scoring on all 38 trips inside the 20-yard line this fall (35 touchdowns, 3 field goals) ... Harding is the only team in all of Division II that remains 100 percent in red-zone scoring.

THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION PROWESS & TIME OF POSSESSION: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in 3rd down conversion percentage (.570), moving the chains on 53-of-93 third-down opportunities ... the Bisons also rank third nationally in 4th down conversion percentage (.857, 6-of-7) and 14th in time of possession (32:22 per game).

CONNOR DEAN'S HISTORIC PICK-SIX & BALL-HAWKING DEFENSE: 3rd-year defensive back Connor Dean punctuated the Week 9 win at OKBU with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter ... Dean's 85-yard return tied for the sixth-longest interception return for a touchdown in Harding football history ... Harding is tied for first in the GAC and ranks 16th in NCAA Division II with 12 interceptions ... 3rd-year cornerback Corey Dean ranks 15th in D-II and second in the GAC with 0.44 interceptions per game (4 INTs), while Connor Dean ranks 36th nationally with 0.33 interceptions per game (3 INTs) ... Harding has generated 17 takeaways (+0.44 turnover margin, 45th in D-II).

WALKER PACES NATION IN SACKS: 3rd-year defensive end Kaleb Walker continues to lead all of NCAA Division II in sacks per game (1.14) and ranks tied for fourth nationally with 8.0 total sacks on the season ... 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 and leads the GAC in rushing touchdowns (19), fifth in scoring (12.7 ppg), fifth in total points scored (114), fifth in total touchdowns (19), seventh in rushing yards (1,072), and eighth in rushing yards per game (119.1 ypg) ... across all NCAA divisions, Miller leads all active players in career rushing touchdowns (69) and ranks second in career rushing yards (4,690).

STRICKLAND'S CENTURY PERFORMANCE: 5th-year fullback Josh Strickland, Jr. powered the interior ground game at Oklahoma Baptist, rushing 11 times for 137 yards (12.5 ypc) and a 17-yard touchdown, highlighted by an explosive 66-yard burst in the third quarter ... the outing marked Strickland's second career 100-yard game ... Strickland has rushed for 440 yards and four touchdowns on the season, averaging 55.0 yards per game.

YOUNG'S DUAL-THREAT MASTERY: 5th-year senior quarterback Malik Young ranks 13th in NCAA Division II and second in the GAC in rushing yards per carry (6.78 ypc) ... Young ranks 41st nationally in rushing yards (685), 41st in rushing touchdowns (8), and 47th in rushing yards per game (76.1 ypg) ... Young completed both of his pass attempts for 59 yards at OKBU, including a 38-yard strike to Bodie Neal and a 21-yard completion to Jeff Regan.

REGAN'S ALL-PURPOSE DYNAMISM: 1st-year slotback Jeff Regan ranks eighth in NCAA Division II and leads the GAC in kickoff returns (32.3 yards per return) ... Regan ranks 31st nationally in total touchdowns (10), 33rd in rushing touchdowns (9), 36th in all-purpose yardage (118.22 ypg), 46th in combined kick returns (412 yards), 56th in rushing yards (631), and 62nd in total points scored (60) ... Regan has rushed for 631 yards on 42 carries, averaging 15.0 yards per carry.

DEAN ROBERTS & SPECIAL TEAMS WEAPONS: 2nd-year placekicker Dean Roberts ranks 24th in NCAA Division II in total points scored (73 points) and 29th in scoring (8.1 ppg) ... Roberts has converted 55-of-56 extra points and 6-of-8 field goals (.750) ... Roberts delivered a masterclass in directional kickoffs in wet conditions at OKBU, forcing four fair catches inside the 15-yard line ... 3rd-year punter Griffin Thomas anchors a punt unit that ranks 14th in Division II and first in the GAC in net punting (39.14 yards) ... as a unit, Harding ranks fifth nationally in team kickoff return average (27.37 yards per return).

MILLER NAMED CAMPBELL TROPHY® FINALIST: 5th-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller was named one of the elite finalists for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award known universally 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 is the second finalist in Harding history, joining 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.

POLL STREAK AT 99 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS: Harding enters Week 10 ranked No. 2 nationally in both the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and the D2Football.com Top 25 ... this marks Harding's 99th consecutive appearance in the AFCA national top 25 poll, representing one of the longest continuous top-25 streaks in all of college football.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN NAZARENE: The Crimson Storm enter Week 10 at 2-6 overall and 2-6 in Great American Conference play under head coach Dustin Hada (MidAmerica Nazarene, 2000), who is in his seventh season leading the program (19-48 career record) ... SNU operates one of the most productive rushing attacks in the nation, ranking fifth in NCAA Division II and second in the GAC in rushing offense (294.1 ypg) ... the ground game is spearheaded by junior standout Maddox Olatunde, who leads the GAC and ranks 11th in Division II in rushing yards per carry (7.00 ypc), 11th in rushing yards per game (112.0 ypg), 15th in rushing yards (896), 20th in rushing touchdowns (10), 31st in total touchdowns (10), and 41st in all-purpose yards (112.00 ypg) ... running back/quarterback Kaden Manuel adds 386 rushing yards (48.3 ypg, 4 TDs) ... Southern Nazarene's passing game is limited, ranking 157th in D-II in passing offense (73.8 ypg) and 148th in team passing efficiency (87.30 rating), with Jaxon Worley (38.9 ypg) and Olatunde (34.9 ypg) splitting signal-calling duties ... SNU leads the GAC in punt return average (9.67 yards per return) ... defensively, the Crimson Storm have struggled against opposing offenses, ranking 147th in Division II in total defense (459.8 ypg allowed), 149th in rushing defense (220.5 ypg allowed), 149th in scoring defense (40.1 ppg), and 148th in team passing efficiency defense (166.13 rating) ... the SNU defense is led by a pair of prolific tacklers: linebacker Matt Stuckey ranks 17th in Division II with 9.8 total tackles per game (78 total, 34 solo), while linebacker Wyatt Brown ranks 18th nationally with 9.6 tackles per game (77 total, 36 solo, 4.50 solo tackles per game) ... defensive back Lamarr Hunter has broken up nine passes (1.13 passes defended per game, 31st in D-II), and Noah Baxter has recovered two fumbles (15th in D-II).

SPECIAL TEAMS SHOWDOWN (ZERO BLOCKED KICKS ALLOWED): Saturday's matchup features two of the nation's most disciplined protection units ... both Harding and Southern Nazarene enter Week 10 tied for first in NCAA Division II having allowed zero blocked kicks and zero blocked punts on the season.

SERIES HISTORY: 14th all-time meeting between Harding and Southern Nazarene ... Harding leads the all-time series 12-1 and has won seven consecutive meetings against the Crimson Storm dating back to 2018 ... the Bisons are 5-1 all-time against SNU in Searcy ... Southern Nazarene's lone victory in the series came on Sept. 16, 2017 (a 28-27 win in Searcy) ... since that defeat, Harding has outscored Southern Nazarene 342-73 over the last seven meetings, winning by an average margin of 48.9 to 10.4.

LAST MEETING (NOV. 8, 2025): Second-ranked Harding amassed 504 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in a 52-14 victory over Southern Nazarene at SNU Football Stadium in Bethany, Oklahoma ... Andrew Miller broke away for a 67-yard touchdown run, Braden Jay scored three touchdowns (runs of 9, 36, and 26 yards), Cole Keylon ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run, Christian Franklin dashed 71 yards for a score, and Josh Strickland, Jr. added a 5-yard touchdown plunge ... Harding held SNU to 285 total yards and 3-of-12 on third-down conversions.

LAST MEETING IN SEARCY (SEPT. 5, 2024): In the Crimson Storm's last visit to First Security Stadium, top-ranked Harding dominated Southern Nazarene 59-0 in the 2024 season opener ... the Bisons piled up 500 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while holding SNU to 157 total yards and forcing three turnovers.

GAC SUPREMACY: Harding is 97-10 (.907) 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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Players Mentioned

Ty Dugger

#20 Ty Dugger

DB
6' 2"
Senior
Christian Franklin

#9 Christian Franklin

RB
6' 0"
Senior
Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

QB
6' 0"
Senior
Camren Cavalier

#17 Camren Cavalier

QB
5' 11"
3rd Year
Connor Dean

#33 Connor Dean

DB
6' 2"
3rd Year
Corey Dean

#15 Corey Dean

DB
6' 0"
3rd Year
Andrew Miller

#8 Andrew Miller

RB
6' 1"
Fifth Year
Bodie Neal

#9 Bodie Neal

WR
6' 1"
4th Year
Josh Strickland, Jr.

#2 Josh Strickland, Jr.

RB
5' 9"
Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Ty Dugger

#20 Ty Dugger

6' 2"
Senior
DB
Christian Franklin

#9 Christian Franklin

6' 0"
Senior
RB
Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

6' 0"
Senior
QB
Camren Cavalier

#17 Camren Cavalier

5' 11"
3rd Year
QB
Connor Dean

#33 Connor Dean

6' 2"
3rd Year
DB
Corey Dean

#15 Corey Dean

6' 0"
3rd Year
DB
Andrew Miller

#8 Andrew Miller

6' 1"
Fifth Year
RB
Bodie Neal

#9 Bodie Neal

6' 1"
4th Year
WR
Josh Strickland, Jr.

#2 Josh Strickland, Jr.

5' 9"
Fifth Year
RB
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Phone: 501-279-4760