04 Sep 2024 No. 1 Harding plays Southern Nazarene tonight

The Harding Bisons (0-0, 0-0) will play Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (0-0, 0-0) at 7 p.m. tonight at First Security Stadium in Searcy. The Bisons are the defending national champions.

Below are 11 Facts and Stats about this week’s game. 

1. Harding opens its 73rd season as the defending NCAA Division II national champion after going 15-0 last season and also winning the GAC championship … it is also the 100th anniversary of Harding’s first football season in 1924.
2. The game features the top two rushing teams in Division II last season, with Harding ranked first and Southern Nazarene second.
3. Harding has a 10-1 series lead over Southern Nazarene, winning the last five straight meetings.
4. The Bisons are ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll and have appeared in 65 consecutive AFCA polls.
5. Harding carries over a school-record 19-game winning streak from the last two seasons.
6. The Bisons have won 17 of their last 21 season openers, including the last four at home.
7. Harding led NCAA Division II in 11 statistical categories last season, including rushing offense and time of possession.
8. Southern Nazarene was second in the nation in rushing offense last season, but struggled with turnover margin and penalties.
9. Harding has won its last five meetings with Southern Nazarene by an average score of 46-12.
10. The Bisons have six captains, including defensive linemen Wesley Coleman, Dre Hall and Gage Price, running backs Jhalen Spicer and Blake Delacruz, and defensive back Kyle McDonald.

Harding is 68-9 (.883) in GAC games since 2016, losing only one conference game by more than 10 points since 2015.