Bisons selected as unanimous favorite

22 Jul 2026 Bisons selected as unanimous favorite

Posted at 5:32 PMh in Sports by 501 LIFE

SEARCY — The road to the Great American Conference championship once again runs through Searcy.

Defending NCAA Division II national finalist Harding is the clear choice to sit atop the league, earning the No. 1 spot in the 2026 GAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Monday. The Bisons, who enter their first season under the leadership of head coach Roddy Mote, received 11 first-place votes—the maximum possible, as coaches cannot vote for their own teams.

Harding is coming off a spectacular 15-1 campaign in 2025 that concluded with an appearance in the national championship game. The selection marks the Bisons’ return to the top of the preseason projections as they seek to continue their sustained run of playoff appearances.

Ouachita Baptist received the remaining first-place vote, placing second in the poll, followed closely by Southern Arkansas and Henderson State.

The Bisons at a Glance

Harding returns a battle-tested core with five starters back on both sides of the ball.

The Bisons’ explosive flexbone offense will once again be anchored by senior running back Andrew Miller. The 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up and Darren McFadden Award winner coming off a historic 2,048-yard, 28-touchdown season, Miller will run behind an offensive line featuring returning standouts Cobe Williams and David Gomez.

Defensively, the Bisons will lean on their traditional physical style in the trenches. Defensive linemen Justin Sobczak and Brock Knapton, alongside veteran linebacker Jordan Mays, will anchor a unit that consistently ranked among the nation’s elite throughout the 2025 postseason run.

Harding opens the 2026 campaign at First Security Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 3, hosting Northwestern Oklahoma State.

2026 GAC PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

Rank	School	Points (1st Class Votes)	2025 Record
1	Harding	121 (11)	15-1 (11-0 GAC)
2	Ouachita Baptist	103 (1)	7-4 (7-4 GAC)
3	Southern Arkansas	99	8-3 (8-3 GAC)
4	Henderson State	95	8-3 (8-3 GAC)
5	Arkansas Tech	78	7-5 (7-4 GAC)
6	East Central	68	6-6 (6-5 GAC)
7	Southwestern Oklahoma State	67	6-5 (6-5 GAC)
8	Southeastern Oklahoma State	53	5-6 (5-6 GAC)
9	Arkansas-Monticello	38	2-9 (2-9 GAC)
10	Oklahoma Baptist	30	2-9 (2-9 GAC)
11	Southern Nazarene	24	2-9 (2-9 GAC)
12	Northwestern Oklahoma State	16	2-9 (2-9 GAC)

GAC TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS

Harding (15-1, 11-0 GAC): Under new head coach Roddy Mote, the Bisons welcome back five starters on offense and defense. Offensively, consensus All-American RB Andrew Miller returns alongside linemen Cobe Williams and David Gomez. The defense is anchored by DL Justin Sobczak, LB Jordan Mays, and DL Brock Knapton.

Ouachita Baptist (7-4, 7-4 GAC): Head coach Todd Knight’s Tigers won six of their final seven games in 2025 and return six starters on both sides of the ball. The offense features the connection of QB Tre Nichols to WR Carter McElhany, with protection from OL Isaiah Simpson. Defensively, DE Romelo Bell, LB Justin Crutchmer, and DB Chris Robinson return.

Southern Arkansas (8-3, 8-3 GAC): Brad Smiley’s Muleriders return 45 lettermen and 16 starters. The offense features QB CJ Montes, TE Jacob Trussell, and C Matt Elder. S Carter Wells, CB Kyle Knox, and DE Walteze Champ key the defense, while elite P/K Jay Todd Baker returns on special teams.

Henderson State (8-3, 8-3 GAC): Led by Greg Holsworth, the Reddies return 10 starters from a team that had the GAC’s second-rated scoring offense and defense. QB Austin Ledbetter, WR Taylin Paskel, and OL Gabe Hernandez lead the offense, while DL Mulumba Wa-Kalonji, S Lanard Harris, and S Bryant Hammond II highlight the defense.

Arkansas Tech (7-5, 7-4 GAC): Coming off a Heritage Bowl appearance, Roy Thompson’s Wonder Boys return 15 starters (eight on defense). Keys include OL Andrew Hellman, WR Austin Marshall, and WR JD Decausmaker on offense, and DL Tyler Mosley, DB Kylan Crite, and DB Caleb Arnold on defense.

East Central (6-6, 6-5 GAC): Coming off a First Americans Bowl appearance under John Litrenta, the Tigers bring back 10 starters, including QB Sergio Kennedy, WR Kaden Jones, and OL Ty Dodd. The defense relies on LB Caden Pickens, DE Justin McCray, and S Logan Taylor.

Southwestern Oklahoma State (6-5, 6-5 GAC): One of D-II’s most improved squads under Andrew Rice returns 17 starters. The offense features WR Baylor Nash and OLs Bradyn Henry and John-Paul Louie. Nine starters return to the defense, including LB Keshaun Jackson and DBs Kelton Moore and Malcolm Murphy.

Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-6, 5-6 GAC): Under Bo Atterberry, the Savage Storm return 15 starters. The group is led by QB Luke Hohenberger, OT Dorian Maple, C Reagan Wade, DL Jordan Hood, LB William Wallis, and DB Kamron Fields.

Arkansas-Monticello (2-9, 2-9 GAC): Gary Goff takes over as UAM’s 26th head coach. He must replace 13 starters but will rely on QB Drew Forkner, OL Carsen Berg, WR Stran Smith, DL Keith Wells, Jr., S Cayden Dominey, and DB Charles Thomas.

Oklahoma Baptist (2-9, 2-9 GAC): Chris Jensen returns nine starters. DL Bryce Starlin, LB Brady Luff, DE Richard Smith, WR Nick Harris, TE Haven Lysell, and OL Andrew Sukmungsa look to lead a turnaround for the Bison.

Southern Nazarene (2-9, 2-9 GAC): Dustin Hada’s Crimson Storm returns 13 starters. Key players include QB Jaxon Worley, WR Karomo Collins, DL Brandon Hobbs, S Tyler Ulrich, LB Wyatt Brown, and ST Dezmond Williams.

Northwestern Oklahoma State (2-9, 2-9 GAC): Former Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge takes over in Alva. He will lean on QB Jacob Jones, WR Royal Kyle, WR Henry Wilson, Jr., LB Aiden Lewis, S Omarion Buckmon, and LB Rock Schomaker.

Opening Week Schedule (Thursday, September 3)