by Jackson Copeland
When the clock hit triple zeros, the Harding Bison crushed the Oklahoma Baptist Bison in Searcy, Arkansas, with a final score of 69–0. That shutout was Harding’s fourth of the season, and the team has allowed only 43 total points all year.
With a perfect 9–0 record and the title of the No. 2 ranked Division II team in the nation, Harding University is the top dog—not just in the Great American Conference (GAC), but arguably in the country. Offensively, the Bison run what most people know as the wishbone or Wing-T formation. When executed by the right players, this ground-heavy offense can be deadly. Unfortunately for their opponents, Harding has exactly those players—and year after year, they steamroll teams.
One of the most overlooked positions in football is the fullback. Typically standing around 5’10” to 6’0” and built like a brick wall, fullbacks are used for lead blocking, short-yardage gains, or as extra blockers. In the wishbone, though, they’re a key piece of the puzzle. Harding’s fullback, Andrew Miller, has already racked up 1,051 rushing yards this season—ranking 7th in the nation—and has scored 15 touchdowns.
The fewest rushing yards Harding has recorded in a single game this season is 326 and 338, with most games well over 400 or 500 yards on the ground. Against Arkansas-Monticello, they came just 10 yards short of 600.
With a running game that dominant, some might wonder about Harding’s passing attack. The answer? They’ve only thrown two passing touchdowns all year. But when you have 53 rushing touchdowns, why bother throwing?
When it comes to recruiting, Harding seems to have a knack for finding hidden gems—or “mutants,” as some call them. The team currently has two defensive ends standing 6’7” and weighing over 240 pounds. One of them doesn’t even start, which says a lot about the team’s depth.
Clark Griffin, a 5’9”, 185-pound inside linebacker, is one of the most impressive players on Harding’s roster. Though undersized, Griffin once walked on at the University of Alabama, where he mostly played special teams. After transferring to Harding, he made the best move of his career. His list of awards is long:
- 2024 AP All-America (First Team)
- 2024 Don Hansen All-America (Second Team)
- 2024 D2Football.com Elite 100
- 2023 Don Hansen All-America (Honorable Mention)
- 2023 & 2024 D2CCA All-Super Region 3 (Second Team)
- 2023 & 2024 All-GAC (First Team)
This season, he ranks 10th in the nation in tackles. Against OBU, Griffin recorded six tackles, a sack, and an interception returned for a touchdown.
On offense, Braden Jay, a 5’9”, 190-pound running back, mirrors that same underdog energy. A local product, Jay averages 12 yards per carry, with a career total of 3,279 yards and 42 touchdowns—and the season isn’t even over yet. His trophy case is equally stacked:
- 2024 Don Hansen All-America (Honorable Mention)
- 2024 D2CCA All-Super Region 3 (Second Team)
- 2024 D2Football.com Elite 100
- 2023 & 2024 All-GAC (First Team)
- 2024 CSC Academic All-America (First Team)
- 2023 & 2024 CSC Academic All-District
- 2023 & 2024 Academic All-GAC
In 2023, Harding was crowned national champion, finishing 15–0 after dominating every opponent in its path. The Bison rolled into the national playoffs undefeated and capped it off with a 38–7 win in the title game.
In 2024, they looked poised to repeat—but fell in the national quarterfinals when Ferris State finally found a way to slow down their lethal offense.
Now, in 2025, the Harding Bison are on yet another championship run—and once again, it looks like nothing and no one can stop them.
Edited by AI
