The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Gardner–Webb University in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the Division I FCS and are an affiliate member of the Ohio Valley Conference for football. Gardner–Webb's first football team was fielded in 1970. The team plays its home games at the 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Runnin' Bulldogs are coached by interim head coach Pete Bennett.
History
Classifications 1970–1992: NAIA Division I 1993–1999: NCAA Division II 2000–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS
Conference affiliations NAIA Independent (1970–1974) South Atlantic Conference (1975–1999) NCAA Division I-AA Independent (2000–2001) Big South Conference (2002–2022) OVC–Big South Football Association (2023–2025) Ohio Valley Conference (2026–present)
Conference championships 1987 Woody Fish South Atlantic Conference 11–2 6–1 1992 12–2 7–0 2002 Steve Patton Big South Conference 9–1 3–0 2003 8–4 4–0 2022 Tre Lamb 7–6 5–0 2023† Big South–OVC Football Association 7–5 5–1 Conference Championships 6 † denotes co-championship
Playoff results NAIA The Runnin' Bulldogs appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times, with an overall record of 3–2. 1987 First RoundQuarterfinals Moorhead StateCarson–Newman W, 27–7L, 24–27 1992 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Game ConcordShepherdCentral State W, 28–21W, 22–7L, 16–19
Division I FCS The Runnin' Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs two times, with an overall record of 1–2.
2022 First RoundSecond Round Eastern KentuckyWilliam & Mary W, 52–41L, 14–54 2023 First Round Mercer L, 7–17
Notable former players
Dobson Collins NFL wide receiver Woody Fish American football player and coach Terry Guess NFL wide receiver for New Orleans Saints Bobby Hopkins American football offensive guard and World champion arm-wrestler Brian Johnson NFL linebacker for Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions Todd Knight American football player and coach T. J. Luther NFL wide receiver Jim Maxwell NFL linebacker for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals Carroll McCray American football player and coach Gabe Wilkins NFL defensive tackle for Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XXXI champion
Future non-conference opponents Future non-conference opponents announced as of October 5, 2026.
at Arkansas at Virginia Tech at Alabama at Chattanooga at Georgia State at The Citadel
References
External links