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 (GAC) 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 (11–0 against conference opponents), 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 Central Missouri (35–34) in the second round, No. 2 (7–6) in the quarterfinals, and No. 11 (55–14) 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 seleced 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.

Schedule

Rankings

Personnel

Game summaries

At Southern Nazarene

Oklahoma Baptist

Arkansas–Monticello

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

Southwestern Oklahoma State

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

At Northwestern Oklahoma State

No. 5 Ouachita Baptist

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

At Southern Arkansas

At Southeastern Oklahoma State

East Central

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

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

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)

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)

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

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 (Braden Jay and Blake Delacruz) 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.

References

{{NCAA Division II football national champion navbox

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Harding Bisons football seasons
NCAA Division II Football Champions
College football undefeated seasons
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