October 23rd, 2026 8:00am
Harding continues to lead the way in the Great American Conference after its dominant win over Henderson State, but the race behind the Bisons remains competitive. Henderson State and East Central are both 6-1 and looking to keep pace, while Southeastern Oklahoma State has emerged as another team to watch. Ouachita Baptist is also building momentum, with three straight wins putting the Tigers back in the Division II playoff conversation.
Saturday Slate
Arkansas Tech (3-4) at Henderson State (6-1)
Henderson State looks to respond after last week's 46-16 loss to Harding. The Reddies entered that game averaging 493.7 yards per contest but managed just 279 total yards against the Bisons, who also limited Henderson's rushing attack.
Getting back to its offensive balance will be important. Henderson averages 272.9 passing yards and 220.9 rushing yards per game. Austin Ledbetter and Jordan Walker have both contributed at quarterback, while Maddox Davis leads the receiving corps with 585 yards and five touchdowns.
Arkansas Tech arrives with momentum after ending a four-game losing streak with a 37-27 win over Southern Arkansas. The Wonder Boys ran for 370 yards, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. They scored three rushing touchdowns and added a passing touchdown. Tracy Daniels leads the team with 495 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Arkansas Tech needs to maintain that ground production without becoming predictable and protect the football against a Henderson defense that has forced 14 turnovers. The Reddies, meanwhile, need to control the line of scrimmage, limit Daniels and get their offense back to its usual production. Making the Wonder Boys defend both the run and pass will be critical.
Harding (7-0) at Arkansas-Monticello (1-6)
Harding's rushing attack continues to overwhelm opposing defenses. The Bisons ran for 433 yards and six touchdowns against Henderson State. Quarterback Malik Young rushed for 214 yards against Henderson State, setting Harding's single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback.
Arkansas-Monticello needs a much stronger defensive performance after allowing 62 points to Ouachita last week. The Boll Weevils have allowed 459 yards per game, including 216.6 rushing yards, a difficult matchup against a Harding offense averaging more than 400 rushing yards per game.
UAM's best chance to stay competitive could come through the air. Quarterback Drew Forkner has thrown for 1,627 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Dave Alston leads the backfield with 711 rushing yards.
Harding needs to establish the run early, stay ahead of the chains and avoid turnovers. Defensively, limiting Forkner's opportunities to settle into the passing game will be important. UAM must tackle consistently, find a way to slow the triple-option attack and turn its offensive production into points.
Oklahoma Baptist (3-4) at Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-2)
Southeastern has built its success around a defense that consistently makes life difficult for opposing offenses. The Savage Storm held Northwestern Oklahoma State to 128 total yards and -37 rushing yards in last week's 25-10 win. Southeastern also recorded five sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown, while allowing just 16.3 points per game this season.
Jacob Geddes leads the conference with 16 tackles for loss and has recorded 5.5 sacks, while Prince Dweh leads the defense with 51 tackles. Southeastern has forced 14 turnovers and scored 64 points off takeaways, making ball security a major concern for Oklahoma Baptist.
The Bison come to Durant after letting a 10-0 fourth-quarter lead slip away against East Central. OBU's defense kept the Tigers in check for most of the game, but the offense could not add to its lead. The Bison have also been dangerous on special teams, recording eight blocked kicks this season.
OBU needs to get playmakers Jacob Trimble and Nick Harris involved in the passing game while avoiding negative plays. Southeastern must continue winning the battle up front, tackling well and forcing difficult third downs. If the Bison protect the football and sustain drives, their special teams could provide an important advantage.
Ouachita Baptist (5-2) at Southern Arkansas (2-5)
Ouachita has an opportunity to strengthen its playoff case with another conference win. The Tigers have won three straight and are coming off a 62-10 victory over Arkansas-Monticello, piling up 483 total yards and forcing four turnovers, and scored on a 87-yard return. They scored 41 points in the first half while finding success through both the rushing and passing attacks.
The Tigers have shown they can compete with the conference's best, taking Harding to the final seconds earlier this season. Continuing to protect the football and finish drives will be important as they try to work their way back into the Division II playoff picture.
Southern Arkansas enters after a 37-27 loss to Arkansas Tech. The Muleriders fell behind 20-0 but fought back to tie the game at 27 before Tech scored the final 10 points. The comeback showed the offense can respond to adversity, but Southern Arkansas needs to avoid the slow start that forced it to chase the game.
Ouachita needs to establish the run, make Southern Arkansas defend the full field and avoid giving the Muleriders extra possessions. Southern Arkansas must start faster and improve defensively. Turning offensive opportunities into touchdowns will be crucial if the Muleriders want to keep pace with Ouachita.
Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-4) at East Central (6-1)
East Central has found ways to win close games over the past two weeks, beating Arkansas Tech on a late field goal before rallying from a 10-0 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Oklahoma Baptist 17-10. Sergio Kennedy delivered the decisive play against OBU, scoring on a 26-yard run with 30 seconds remaining.
Kennedy averages 303.6 yards of total offense per game, with 1,611 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 514 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. East Central averages 441.4 total yards per game and converts 51.8 percent of its third downs, allowing the Tigers to sustain drives and pressure opposing defenses.
SWOSU returns after its game against Southern Nazarene was canceled. The Bulldogs' last outing was a 28-18 win over Southern Arkansas, and they have rushed for at least 215 yards in three straight games. They also rank third nationally with 3.5 sacks per game, totaling 21 through six contests.
That creates one of the weekend's key matchups. East Central has allowed just four sacks in seven games, ranking among the nation's best in pass protection. SWOSU needs to pressure Kennedy without losing contain and allowing him to escape for big gains. The Tigers must protect their quarterback and continue converting third downs.
Turnovers could also matter. East Central has recovered 11 fumbles, tied for the Division II lead, while SWOSU has forced 11 fumbles. The Bulldogs need to create disruption without giving away possessions, while East Central must protect the ball and avoid giving SWOSU short fields.
Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-7) at Southern Nazarene (1-5)
Northwestern Oklahoma State is still looking for its first win and needs more consistency on offense. In last week's 25-10 loss to Southeastern, the Rangers finished with minus-37 rushing yards and struggled to sustain drives against a defense that recorded five sacks. Northwestern managed only 128 total yards.
Getting the running game back on track and avoiding negative plays will be critical. Northwestern needs to stay out of obvious passing situations and win the turnover battle.
Southern Nazarene returns after its scheduled game against SWOSU was canceled. The Crimson Storm's only win came against Arkansas-Monticello, and they will look to build on that result at home.