RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist's football team finds itself slated to finish in seventh after the Great American Conference announced its 2024 preseason poll on Thursday.
OBU received 59 points by the league's coaches while the reigning Division II and GAC Champion Harding checked in at No. 1 with 120 points including 10 first-place votes. Ouachita (106) and Southern Arkansas (100) rounded out the top three.
Last season, the Bison posted a 6-5 record and return numerous contributors in all three phases of the game. Defensively, that group includes All-American
Scooter Baker, All-GAC honoree
Tainique Taylor and fellow defensive backs
Brandon Spencer II and
Chase Whitebear.
On the offensive end, All-GAC award-winners
Michael Marshall,
Nick Harris and
Jake Sitsler return. Plus, kicker
Luke Watkins, who had one of the best freshman seasons in school history, is back for the green and gold.
Players report on Aug. 9, with the team's first game coming Sept. 5 at Arkansas Tech at 7 p.m.
2024 GAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Harding - 120 (10)
2. Ouachita - 106 (1)
3
. Southern Arkansas – 100 (1)
4. Henderson State - 96
5. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 72
6. Arkansas Tech - 66
7. Oklahoma Baptist - 59
8. Arkansas-Monticello - 52
9. East Central - 49
10. Southern Nazarene - 35
11. Southwestern Oklahoma State - 23
12. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 14
