Venue & Logistics
- Venue: Quigley-Cox Stadium, Little Rock, Arkansas (home of Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes)
- Kickoff Time: 6:00 PM CDT
- Broadcast: Arkansas Baptist Athletics Live Stream, local radio affiliates
Weather Forecast (Little Rock, AR)
- Conditions: Partly cloudy skies, warm evening
- Temperature: 29°C (84°F) at kickoff, cooling to 25°C (77°F) by the fourth quarter
- Winds: 10–12 km/h from the south
- Precipitation: 15% chance of light showers
- Impact: Warm, humid conditions could test depth and conditioning, especially for defenses
Injury Report
- Nelson University (Texas):
- QB1 (shoulder soreness) – Probable
- RB2 (ankle) – Questionable
- LB1 (hamstring) – Out
- Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes:
- QB1 (wrist) – Probable
- WR2 (groin) – Game-time decision
- DB1 (concussion protocol) – Out
Key Player Matchups
- QB Battle: Nelson’s dual-threat QB vs. Arkansas Baptist’s pocket passer – both must protect the ball in a game where turnovers could swing momentum.
- RB Committee (Nelson) vs. Buffaloes Front Seven – Nelson must establish the run to control tempo and keep the Buffaloes’ offense off the field.
- WR1 (Arkansas Baptist) vs. Nelson Secondary – With DB1 out, Arkansas Baptist’s top receiver could have a big day.
- Special Teams: Both squads have reliable kickers; field position could be decisive in a close contest.
Recent Team Form (2025 Season to Date)
- Nelson University (0-1):
- L vs. Texas Wesleyan 35-14 (Sep. 6)
- Showed flashes offensively but struggled defensively against the run.
- Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes (1-1):
- L at Houston Christian (FCS) 69-0 (Aug. 28)
- W vs. Texas College 34-27 (Sep. 6)
- Rebounded well after a tough opener; offense averaging 17 points per game, defense allowing 48 (skewed by FCS loss).
Series History
- All-Time Meetings: First official meeting between Nelson and Arkansas Baptist
- Context: Nelson is a newer program looking to establish itself, while Arkansas Baptist is building momentum in the NAIA independent ranks.
Betting Trends
- Nelson is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games vs. NAIA opponents.
- Arkansas Baptist is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 home games.
- The Over has hit in 3 of Arkansas Baptist’s last 5 contests.
- Arkansas Baptist is 2-0 straight up in its last two home openers.
Historical Betting Results
- 2024 (Arkansas Baptist): -3.5 vs. Texas College, won 27-20 → Cover, Under
- 2023 (Arkansas Baptist): +14.5 vs. Langston, lost 31-21 → Cover, Under
- 2022 (Arkansas Baptist): -7.5 vs. Wayland Baptist, lost 28-17 → No Cover, Under
Game Odds
Nelson (TX) 49
Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
