A ‘Natural’ Look At The D2 Playoffs
Many teams are across the bracket as we begin the 2024-25 Division 2 playoffs. We will take a deeper look at the two teams from the state of Arkansas: Ouachita Baptist and Harding. These two storied programs represent the Great American Conference and, in the case of the Bisons of Harding, will be looking to defend their National Championship. Can these teams survive and advance as they will both travel for their first games?
Harding Bisons
We start with a trip to Pittsburg, Kansas, as the #4 Harding Bison, defending D2 National Champions, take on the #13 Pittsburg State Gorillas. The game, scheduled for a 1 pm kickoff, will be streamed on ESPN+.
For Harding, this is their ninth playoff appearance in program history. The Bisons are also the playoff flag bearer for the GAC, as they hold 10 of the 12 wins ever in the postseason for this conference. Harding enters the game winners of 29 of their last 30 games dating back to the 2022 season. In addition, the Bisons have won 12 of its last 13 road games dating back to that season.
The Gorillas enter the game with an 8-2 record, including a 7-2 record in the MIAA. PSU averages 26.1 points per game, along with the 49th-best offense. Through the air, the Gorillas average 234 yards per game, 33rd in D2, while on the ground, the 79th best with 142 yards per game.
Defensively, the Gorillas will need to play their best game of the season to advance. PSU comes in with a defense that is gashed weekly for an average of 345.2 yards, which is 80th in D2. Through the air, the Gorillas have open air as they allow an average of 254 passing yards per game. Conversely, the Gorillas rank 24th in rush defense, with an average of 90.8 yards per game. With the Bison’s nearly perfect rushing attack, this will be the key to the game for the Gorillas.
Historically speaking, this will be the 2nd meeting between these programs as they met in the 2014 playoffs. In that game, the Bisons would sprint out to a 21-0 early lead before the Gorillas would score on eight straight possessions to win 59-42. This is the last time we have seen the Bison have more passing yards, with 307, than rushing, 229, in a game.
The winner between these two programs will play the winner of the #2 Grand Valley State and UIndy games.
Ouachita Baptist Tigers
Next, we discuss the #9/12 Ouachita Baptist Tigers. OBU is in a familiar place, as this is their 6th appearance in the playoffs in program history and their first since the 2022 season. The 2024 GAC Co-Champions enter this game 1-5 overall in these games, with the lone win coming in the 2018 season over Indianapolis in Arkadelphia.
The Tigers travel to Edmond, Oklahoma, to battle the Bonchos of Central Oklahoma. UCO, led by third-year head coach Adam Dorrell, is the outright winner of the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletics Association {MIAA} and will make their fifth all-time appearance and first since 2003. Central Oklahoma enters as the #8/7 program in the nation, including a 10-1 overall record. The Bronchos nickname, which features an ‘h,’ originated in 1922 and, at the time, was considered the proper spelling.
The Bronchos are, in a way, a Jekyll and Hyde team. This program features a potent offense as it ranks 2nd in D2 in scoring offense, with 47.5 points per game. This scheme averages nearly 550 yards per game and has a legit air attack, as it ranks 3rd in D2, with 338 yards per game.
Ironically, as good as the offense is, the defense is just bad for the Bronchos. This unit allows an average of 29 points per game while being gashed for 450 yards in these contests. When defending the pass, the Bronchos are second to last in the nation, as offense torch them for 310 per game.
In the history between these programs, this is the fifth all-time meeting with the Bronchos leading 3-1. The first meeting came in the 1953 season, where Ouachita would win 13-0, then there would be a hiatus until 1997 when both programs were in the Lone Star Conference. OBU dropped the most recent three games, from 1997-1999, all in Arkadelphia. The most recent contest, in 1999, was the first season of Todd Knight, current Tigers head coach. In the history between the teams, the Bronchos have outscored the Tigers 120- 54.
These two will kick off at 1 pm central time with the game streaming on ESPN+. This will be a great game featuring two potent offensive units. A factor in this game comes from the defensive side of the ball.
Can Ouachita slow down the Bronchos? Can the Brochos stop the Tigers?
We will soon find out as the winner of this game will travel to Big Rapids, Michigan to take on #1 Ferris State in Round 2.
We will keep you updated on both games as we continue our coverage of the D2 Playoffs through our podcast and articles.
