Venue & Game Details
Kickoff Time: 4:00 PM CT (5:00 PM ET)
Venue: Ruggles Field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia, Arkansas (Capacity ~8,500, turf surface)
Broadcast: ESPN+ / GAC Sports Network
Weather Forecast (Arkadelphia, AR)
Temperature: ~78°F (26°C) at kickoff, cooling into the low 70s by evening
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)
Precipitation:
Impact: Excellent football weather; no disruptions expected
Injury Report (Projected)
(Note: GAC programs rarely release official injury reports; this is based on recent availability trends)
Southern Arkansas:
QB healthy, but threw 2 INTs in loss vs Harding.
RB1 probable (ankle).
Secondary missing one starter (questionable).
Henderson State:
QB healthy, 5 TDs in last two games.
WR1 probable (hamstring).
DL depth thin after Week 2 injury.
Key Player Matchups
SAU QB vs. HSU Secondary
Southern Arkansas has been inconsistent through the air, while Henderson’s DBs have forced multiple turnovers in each of their first three games.
HSU QB vs. SAU Front Seven
Henderson has averaged 41.3 PPG in its first three contests. SAU’s defense, which allowed 31 to Harding, must generate pressure to avoid another shootout.
Special Teams
Henderson has been consistent in the kicking game, while SAU has had miscues in coverage. Field position could be decisive.
Recent Team Form
Southern Arkansas (2–1, 1–1 GAC):
L vs Harding (31–12)
W @ Southern Nazarene (26–18)
W vs Oklahoma Baptist (49–14)
Strength: Balanced offense, opportunistic defense.
Weakness: Turnovers and inconsistency against top-tier defenses.
Henderson State (3–0, 2–0 GAC):
W @ Arkansas–Monticello (48–18)
W @ Oklahoma Baptist (28–14)
W vs Southern Nazarene (48–13)
Strength: Explosive offense, opportunistic defense.
Weakness: Run defense has been tested in close games.
Conference vs. Conference
Both teams are GAC rivals.
Henderson State: Ranked in the Top 25 nationally, looking to stay unbeaten.
Southern Arkansas: Aiming to bounce back from a tough loss to Harding and prove it can contend in the GAC.
Series History
All-time series: Henderson State leads.
Recent meetings:
2024: Southern Arkansas 42, Henderson State 19
2023: Henderson State 35, Southern Arkansas 34
Trend: The last two meetings have been split, with SAU winning big in 2024 after a one-point HSU win in 2023.
Betting Trends:
Southern Arkansas is 2–1 ATS this season (modeled).
Henderson State is 3–0 ATS this season.
SAU games have gone Under in 2 of 3 due to defensive struggles.
HSU games have gone Over in 2 of 3 due to offensive firepower.
Historical Betting Results (Modeled)
2024: SAU +6.5 (covered, won 42–19)
2023: HSU -3.5 (covered, won 35–34)
2022: HSU -7.5 (covered, won 31–21)
2021: HSU -4.5 (covered, won 27–20)
Game Odds
Southern Arkansas Muleriders 56
Henderson State Reddies – 10
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
