The Ouachita Baptist Tigers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Ouachita Baptist University located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in NCAA Division II and are members of the Great American Conference. Ouachita Baptist's first football team was fielded in 1896. The team plays home games at Benson-Williams Field at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Todd Knight has served as head coach for the Tigers since 1999.
History The Tiger football team is notable for participating in the first ever Intercollegiate game in Arkansas history, a 24–0 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the fall of 1897. The Ouachita Baptist Tigers compete in the Battle of the Ravine every year. This tradition started in 1895 when Ouachita Baptist played Arkadelphia Methodist College (currently known as Henderson State University), and won 8–0. This historical event was not played from 1951 to 1963 because of the excessive rivalry between the two schools. It resumed after 1963 and is still being played to this day.
The Ouachita Baptist head coach from 1965 to 1995 was former Oklahoma Sooner and Arkansas Razorbacks player Buddy Benson. Coach Benson compiled a record of 161–140–8. He played for Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, and Bowden Wyatt at Arkansas.
The Tiger's head coach since 1999 is Todd Knight. He has led OBU to six conference titles.
The longtime radio voice of the OBU Tigers is Rex Nelson. Nelson is a member of the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
On October 19, 2024, the No. 9 nationally ranked Ouachita Baptist Tigers beat the No. 1 ranked Harding Bisons 17–13, marking the first time in OBU history that the Tigers beat the No. 1 team in nation.
Conference affiliations Independent (1897, 1906–1926, 1928–1930) No team (1898–1905, 1943–1944) Arkansas Association (1927) Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (1931–1942, 1945–1994) NAIA Division I independent (1995–1996) Lone Star Conference (1997–1999) Gulf South Conference (2000–2010) Great American Conference (2011–present)
Championships Conference championships 1927* 6–1–2 Arkansas Association 1934 8–2 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) 1941 8–3 AIC 1966* 6–4 AIC 1970* 8–2 AIC 1975* 9–2 AIC 1982 8–3 AIC 2011 7–3 Great American Conference (GAC) 2014 10–1 GAC 2017 9–3 GAC 2018 12–1 GAC 2019 11–1 GAC 2022 11–1 GAC 2024* 10–2 GAC *Indicates co-championship
Postseason appearances NCAA Division II The Tigers have made six appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 1–6.
2014 Second Round Minnesota–Duluth L, 45–48 2017 First Round Ferris State L, 19–24 2018 Second RoundQuarterfinals IndianapolisFerris State W, 35–7L, 14–37 2019 First Round Lindenwood L, 38–41 2022 First Round Northwest Missouri State L, 17–47 2024 First Round Central Oklahoma L, 31–38 OT
NAIA Division I The Tigers have made two appearances in the NAIA Division I playoffs, with a combined record of 0–2.
1975 Semifinals Salem L, 7–21 1982 Quarterfinals Northeastern State L, 23–38
Notable former players Former NFL players Carl Allen, RB/DB, Brooklyn Dodgers Cliff Harris, DB, Dallas Cowboys, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gregory Junior, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars Bill LaFitte, E, Brooklyn Tigers Ed Neal, OL, Green Bay Packers Julius Pruitt, WR, Miami Dolphins Chuck Taylor, LB, Brooklyn Tigers Chris Rycraw, RB, Green Bay Packers Phillip Supernaw, TE, Tennessee Titans
Rivalries Henderson State
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