October 16th, 2026 6:00am
No. 2 Harding Hosts Top‑25 Showdown with No. 18 Henderson State
By Chuck Bitner, D2Football.com
The Great American Conference will feature a marquee Top‑25 matchup on Saturday afternoon as No. 18 Henderson State (6‑0) visits No. 2 Harding (6‑0). Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. Central at Harding’s First Security Stadium, with live coverage on the Harding Sports Network, HU16.
The two Arkansas‑based rivals enter the weekend tied for first place in the GAC standings, and it’s easy to see why. They boast the league’s top two scoring offenses, with Harding averaging 45.5 points per game and Henderson State posting 41.7. Both marks rank inside the top 15 nationally.
As usual, Harding brings the top rushing attack in Division II. The Bisons’ powerful ground game is producing 414 yards per contest. 2025 Harlon Hill Award finalist Andrew Miller leads the charge, averaging 137 yards per game and tied for second nationally with 14 rushing touchdowns. Miller was nearly unstoppable in last year’s meeting, finishing with 298 rushing yards and four scores in the road win at Henderson State.
Jeff Regan has emerged as an explosive weapon in recent weeks, adding a “Braden Jay element” to the Harding offense—something opposing defenses know is a problem. He averages an eye‑popping 17.4 yards per carry and has scored seven touchdowns. Malik Young and Camren Cavalier have both seen time at quarterback, though Young is expected to take most of the snaps Saturday. Harding won’t throw often, but defenses still have to respect the threat: half of Harding’s eight completions this season have gone for touchdowns, all from 20 yards or more.
Henderson State counters with one of the most balanced offenses in the nation. The Reddies are the only team in Division II to rank in the top 15 in both rushing yards (248) and passing yards (281) per game. Their combined production makes them the fourth‑most productive offense in the country.
The biggest question for the Reddies is the status of starting quarterback Austin Ledbetter. He’s a 69‑percent passer averaging 216 yards per game, but he did not play in last week’s win over Northwestern Oklahoma. The good news: Jordan Walker stepped in seamlessly, completing 19 of 27 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 101 yards and two more scores. Walker has played in every game this season and is the team’s third‑leading rusher, so Henderson State has proven it can move the ball with either quarterback.
Regardless of who lines up behind center, expect plenty of Chris Gannaway and Myron Thrash. They’ve combined for more than 600 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Maddox Davis is the primary receiving target, but the biggest play threats may come from Michael Jones and Taylin Paskel, both of whom average more than 20 yards per catch.
The biggest variable is whether Henderson State can slow down Harding’s offense. The Reddies do have a physical front led by Mulumba Wa‑Kalonji (6 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and Amarion Pullman (3 TFL, 2.5 sacks). They’ve been strong on third down, allowing just 30 percent conversions—an essential factor against Harding. Bisons games typically feature limited possessions, so Henderson State must maximize its own touches and force at least one punt per half. Harding has also been a bit turnover‑prone at times (see last week’s first half against Southeastern), and if the Reddies can win the turnover battle, it could be a major swing.
The Reddies face a tough task, but Harding’s defense will also be tested. Henderson State may be the most talented—and certainly the most productive—offense the Bisons have faced this season. This year’s Harding unit is good, but not as dominant as the groups from the past three seasons. It has been more than a month since the Bisons allowed fewer than three touchdowns in a game. While they’ve still won most games comfortably, there are reasons to believe the Reddies will be able to move the ball in this matchup.
Looking beyond this week, Harding has already defeated the other top contenders in the GAC. If the Bisons prevail Saturday, I don't see anything standing between them and another conference championship. Henderson State’s path is tougher. A win this weekend would be a massive statement, but the Reddies still face a challenging closing stretch of Southeastern Oklahoma (4‑2), East Central (5‑1), and Ouachita Baptist (4‑2).
Here are some additional resources to get ready for game day