Venue & Game Info
Date & Time: Thursday, September 4, 2025 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Ranger Field, Alva, Oklahoma
Surface: Artificial Turf
Capacity: ~5,000
Broadcast: GAC Sports Network / Local Radio
Weather Forecast (Alva, OK – Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Temperature: ~88°F (31°C) at kickoff, cooling to ~80°F by the 4th quarter
Wind: Light ESE at 5–8 mph
Humidity: ~35%
Impact: Minimal — warm but not extreme; light winds mean no major effect on passing or kicking.
Injury Report
Harding: No major injuries reported; full offensive backfield rotation available, including FB Blake Delacruz and slot back Braden Jay.
Northwestern Oklahoma: No significant absences reported; LB Coby Tillman (nation’s 3rd in tackles per game last season) fully fit.
Recent Team Form
Team
Harding Bisons
Last 5 Games: L 41–7 @ Ferris St. (NCAA Playoffs), W 44–26 @ Grand Valley St., W 48–3 vs Pittsburg St., W 57–27 vs Arkansas Tech, W 34–7 @ East Central
Notable Trends: Finished 13–1; led NCAA DII in rushing (469.6 ypg) and scoring defense (2.6 ppg allowed in regular season).
Team
Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers
Last 5 Games: L 50–0 @ SW Oklahoma, L 78–0 @ Southern Arkansas, L 44–10 vs Henderson St., W 30–28 vs Oklahoma Baptist, L 20–14 @ East Central
Notable Trends: Finished 2–9; ranked near bottom nationally in rushing offense (53.4 ypg) and 3rd‑down conversions (20.6%).
Series History
All-Time: Harding leads 15–2
Current Streak: Harding has won 13 straight (since 1977).
Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2024 – Harding 62, NWOSU 0 (in Searcy, AR)
At Alva: Harding has won the last 6 meetings; NWOSU’s last home win came in 1976.
Largest Margin: Harding 69–0 (2013).
Betting Trends
Harding: 24‑game overall win streak; 20‑game GAC win streak.
Harding: 5‑0 ATS in last 5 vs NWOSU; average margin of victory in that span: +49.6 points.
NWOSU: 3‑12 ATS in last 15 home games.
Over has hit in 4 of last 6 meetings, but Harding has posted multiple shutouts in series.
Suggested Wagering Model
Model Inputs:
Harding’s elite rushing attack vs NWOSU’s bottom‑tier run defense.
NWOSU’s offensive inefficiency vs HU’s top‑ranked scoring defense.
Historical blowout margins in series.
Edges:
Lean: Harding ‑49.5 (strong value given historical dominance)
Total: Lean Under 56.5 — NWOSU’s scoring chances minimal; Harding may pull starters early.
Game Odds
Harding Bisons – 49.5
N’western Oklahoma Rangers 56.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, September 3, 2025
