2023 Harding Bisons football team


The 2023 Harding Bisons football team was an American football team that represented Harding University in the Great American Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth year under head coach Paul Simmons, the team compiled a perfect 15–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 665 to 156, and won the GAC and NCAA Division II championships. The team also set an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a season with 6,161 rushing yards.
The team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 among Division II programs and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they received a bye in the first round and defeated No. 6 [2023 2023 Central Missouri Mules football team|Central Missouri Mules football team|Central Missouri] in the second round, No. 2 [2023 2023 Grand Valley State Lakers football team|Grand Valley State Lakers football team|Grand Valley State] in the quarterfinals, and No. 11 in the semifinals. Through the December 16 victory over Colorado Mines, the Bison have won 18 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in program history. Harding defeated No. 1 Colorado Mines in the Division II national championship game on December 16, 38–7, to win the school's first national championship.
Harding defensive end Nathaniel Wallace was selected as the 2023 GAC Defensive Player of the Year. Paul Simmons was selected as GAC Coach of the Year.
The team played its home games at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas.

Preseason

The GAC coaches preseason poll was released on August 1, 2023. The Bisons were predicted to finish second in the conference. Ouachita Baptist was favored to win the conference.

Game summaries

At Southern Nazarene

StatisticsHARSNU
First downs1914
Total yards322322
Rushing yards282145
Passing yards40177
Turnovers26
Time of possession33:2926:31

Oklahoma Baptist

StatisticsOKBHAR
First downs1525
Total yards238513
Rushing yards9382
Passing yards229131
Turnovers31
Time of possession27:3232:28

Arkansas–Monticello

StatisticsUAMHAR
First downs1124
Total yards217463
Rushing yards34424
Passing yards18339
Turnovers44
Time of possession26:2433:36

Entering the game, the Boll Weevils had the top offense in the GAC, scoring 53.5 points per game, but here weld to just 217 yards of offense against Harding.

At No. 20 Henderson State

StatisticsHARHSU
First downs2211
Total yards363244
Rushing yards35354
Passing yards10190
Turnovers10
Time of possession39:5319:57

Southwestern Oklahoma State

StatisticsSWOHAR
First downs425
Total yards79587
Rushing yards29462
Passing yards50125
Turnovers20
Time of possession24:3835:22

Quarterback Cole Keylon completed five passes, each going to a different receiver.

At Northwestern Oklahoma State

StatisticsHARNWO
First downs216
Total yards414108
Rushing yards38063
Passing yards3445
Turnovers04
Time of possession22:0937:51

No. 5 Ouachita Baptist

StatisticsOUAHAR
First downs1422
Total yards234427
Rushing yards155427
Passing yards790
Turnovers12
Time of possession26:3533:25

The no. 9 Bisons downed the no. 5 Tigers, handing Oauchita Baptist its first loss of the season.

At Southern Arkansas

StatisticsHARSAU
First downs2919
Total yards653462
Rushing yards631264
Passing yards22198
Turnovers02
Time of possession36:0923:51

At Southeastern Oklahoma State

StatisticsHARSOU
First downs278
Total yards502141
Rushing yards43645
Passing yards6696
Turnovers15
Time of possession36:3923:21

East Central

StatisticsECUHAR
First downs730
Total yards134528
Rushing yards22528
Passing yards1120
Turnovers00
Time of possession20:2439:36

The Tigers were held to just 134 yards of total offense while Harding only attempted two passes, both of which were incomplete.

At Arkansas Tech

StatisticsHARATU
First downs208
Total yards41891
Rushing yards333-27
Passing yards85118
Turnovers01
Time of possession38:4121:19

No. 6 Central Missouri (NCAA Division II Second Round)

StatisticsUCMHAR
First downs2720
Total yards534418
Rushing yards109384
Passing yards42534
Turnovers00
Time of possession24:1835:42

The Mules scored a touchdown with less than 30 seconds in regulation, needing an extra point to tie the game and potentially send it into overtime. However, Harding defensive lineman Gage Price blocked the game-tying PAT, securing the 35–34 victory for the Bisons.

No. 2 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)

StatisticsGVSHAR
First downs1015
Total yards222225
Rushing yards62205
Passing yards16020
Turnovers00
Time of possession19:3139:14

In the quarterfinal round of the NCAA division II playoffs, Harding hosted no. 2 Grand Valley State from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Lakers entered the game with one of the best defenses in all of division II, holding opponents to an average of 17 points per game. The Lakers' defense held the Bisons scoreless for just over 56 minutes of game time before Harding quarterback Cole Keylon scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne (NCAA Division II Semifinals)

StatisticsLRUHAR
First downs1426
Total yards336500
Rushing yards-3431
Passing yards33969
Turnovers11
Time of possession19:1740:43

Vs. No. 1 Colorado Mines (NCAA Division II Championship Game)

StatisticsHARCSM
First downs2118
Total yards548341
Rushing yards50271
Passing yards46270
Turnovers01
Time of possession36:1023:50

Statistical accomplishments

On offense, Harding prioritizes the run game, averaging over 400 rushing yards per game. In a game against on October 21, the team rushed for 631 yards and had two players each tally over 200 rushing yards.
On defense, the team has recorded four shutouts and has allowed per-game averages of 10.92 points, 74.2 rushing yards, and 158.62 passing yards.
The team's individual statistical leaders include:
  • Blake Delacruz with 1,149 rushing yards and 114 points scored;
  • Cole Keylon with 546 passing yards;
  • Braden Jay with seven receptions for 164 yards;
Harding became the first team in NCAA history to rush for over 6,000 yards in a single season.