SEARCY – A new era of Harding University football officially got underway Wednesday as 125 players descended on Searcy for reporting day to begin preparations for the 2026 campaign.

Entering their first season under head coach Roddy Mote, the Bisons return 10 starters—five on offense and five on defense—along with 39 players who logged action in at least half of Harding's games last fall during a 15-1 season that culminated in an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.

Harding enters the 2026 season seeking to build on the most successful run in program history. The Bisons captured the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship, advanced to the Super Region 3 finals in 2024, and returned to the national title game in 2025. Harding will also defend a 24-game home winning streak at First Security Stadium when the season kicks off next month.

Offensive Core & Record-Setting Attack

The Bisons' ground attack returns national headline power in senior running back Andrew Miller. The 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up and Darren McFadden Award winner shattered single-season school records a year ago, rushing for 2,048 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Miller will run behind an offensive front anchored by returning First-Team All-GAC offensive lineman Cobe Williams, senior starter David Gomez, and Isaac Gray, who shifts to starting right tackle after making seven starts last season. Out on the perimeter, junior receivers Brady Barnett (11 rec., 217 yds.) and Bodie Neal (6 rec., 90 yds.) return to lead the wide receiver room.

In 2025, Harding's flexbone system produced the most prolific rushing season in college football history at any level. The Bisons set all-division NCAA records with 6,943 rushing yards and 88 rushing touchdowns while averaging a school-record 433.9 rushing yards per game. Harding scored at least five rushing touchdowns in 12 of its 16 games last season, including three separate contests with eight touchdowns on the ground.

While Miller leads the returning group, Mote and offensive coordinator Bryce Bray must replace a legendary quartet of departures: quarterback Cole Keylon (870 rush yds, 10 TD), all-purpose star Braden Jay (1,514 rush yds, 22 TD), running back Christian Franklin (714 rush yds, 10 TD), and All-GAC offensive linemen Jake Mitchell, Mike Ericson, and Dylan Daring.

The Bisons finished in the top three nationally in rushing for the 12th consecutive season in 2025, while leading Division II in rushing offense for the fifth straight year (2016, 2019, 2021–2025).

Defense of Distinction

Defensively, Mote and newly appointed defensive coordinators Tre'von Biglow and Luke Tribble welcome back a strong foundation in the front seven and secondary, led by senior defensive lineman Justin Sobczak (43 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 8.0 sacks) and junior linebacker Jordan Mays (71 tackles, 8.0 TFL), both First-Team All-GAC selections in 2025. Sophomore defensive end Kaden Spencer also returns upfront following a breakout freshman campaign that earned him Third-Team All-GAC honors. Junior defensive lineman Brock Knapton (25 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks) and senior defensive backs Deion Campbell (59 tackles, 1 INT) and Zac O'Day (50 tackles, 1 INT) round out the returning nucleus.

Harding's defense led NCAA Division II in scoring defense (12.8 points per game) and red-zone defense (51.7%) in 2025.

The unit will break in new leaders following the graduation of All-American linebacker Clark Griffin (163 tackles), defensive backs Ty Dugger, Troy Wiseman, and Curtis Jackson.

The unit enters 2026 looking to extend remarkable conference domain:

• Harding has led the Great American Conference in total defense in 12 of the last 13 seasons.

• The Bisons have topped the GAC in rushing defense for 12 consecutive seasons.

• Harding has earned the league's top scoring defense in 12 of the past 14 seasons.

Over the past 12 seasons combined, Harding has amassed 711 rushing touchdowns while surrendering just 122. During that span, the Bisons have outrushed their opponents 58,523 yards to 15,752—outgaining foes on the ground by more than 24 miles.

Specialists Reset

On special teams, new coordinator Cameron Tucker will oversee an entirely new specialist group following the graduation of placekicker Magnus Lepak (10-of-16 FG, 84-of-85 PAT), punter Luke Mammana (41.5 avg.), and long snapper Xavier Hylton.

Dominance in the GAC and the Natural State

Harding's sustained excellence has established the Bisons as the standard in both the region and the state:

• Playoff Success: Harding has earned NCAA Division II Playoff berths in eight of the last nine seasons and owns 16 of the GAC's 18 all-time NCAA playoff victories.

• State Superiority: Over the last 13 seasons, Harding has won 139 games—24 more than any other college football program in the state of Arkansas. The Bisons have accumulated 17 postseason wins since 2012; no other team in Arkansas has more than five.

• GAC Track Record: Harding owns an 89-10 (.899) record in GAC play since 2016 and has suffered only one conference loss by more than 10 points since 2015.

Looking Ahead

Preseason practices begin this week as the Bisons prepare for their 2026 opener. Harding will kickoff the season at home under the lights at First Security Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 3, hosting Northwestern Oklahoma State at 7:00 p.m.

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