:Central Arkansas Bears football
{{Short description|College football team for University of Central Arkansas}}
{{for|information on all University of Central Arkansas sports|Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears}}{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox NCAA football school
| CurrentSeason = 2025 Central Arkansas Bears football team
| TeamName = Central Arkansas Bears football
| Image = Central Arkansas Athletics wordmark.svg
| ImageSize = 250
| HeadCoach = Nathan Brown
| HeadCoachYear = 7th
| HCWins = 43
| HCLosses = 35
| Stadium = Estes Stadium
| StadCapacity = 12,000
| StadSurface = FieldTurf
| Location = Conway, Arkansas
| NCAAdivision = I FCS
| Conference = United Athletic Conference
| FirstYear = 1908; {{Years or months ago|1908}}
| AthleticDirector = Matt Whiting
| WebsiteName = UCASports.com
| WebsiteURL = http://www.ucasports.com/
| ATWins = 551
| ATLosses = 372
| ATTies = 42
| BowlWins =
| BowlLosses =
| BowlTies =
| NatlTitles = 3
(NAIA): 1984, 1985, 1991
| ConfTitles = 28 (22 AIC, 1 GSC, 4 SLC, 1 ASUN)
| PlayoffApps = 2001, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019
| DivTitles =
| Heismans =
| AllAmericans =
| uniform =
| FightSong =
| MascotDisplay =
| MascotLink =
| MarchingBand =
| Rivalries = McNeese State (rivalry)
}}
The Central Arkansas Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for University of Central Arkansas (UCA) located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), which started play in 2023. For the 2021 season, UCA was a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and in 2022 it played in its full-time home of the ASUN Conference. Central Arkansas's first football team was fielded in 1908. The team plays its home games at the 12,000-seat Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears are coached by Nathan Brown, in his seventh year.
UCA left the Southland Conference, which had been its all-sports home since 2006 and its football home since 2007, for the ASUN Conference in July 2021. At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future.{{cite press release |url=https://asunsports.org/general/2020-21/releases/20210126nthmsg |title=ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=January 29, 2021 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129160022/https://www.asunsports.org/general/2020-21/releases/20210126nthmsg |url-status=dead }} In the 2021 season, UCA competed in a football partnership between the ASUN and WAC officially branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge".{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2020-21/releases/20210223bff9nn |title=ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021 |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=February 23, 2021 |accessdate=February 23, 2021}} The ASUN launched its own football league in 2022, but the ASUN and WAC renewed their football partnership for that season; the two leagues shared a single automatic berth in the FCS playoffs in both seasons. After the 2022 season, the ASUN and WAC jointly announced their football-only merger,{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20221220kpoghs |title=@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/2023fbconfschedule |title=ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}} which was officially rebranded as the United Athletic Conference in April 2023.{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20230417066y7o |title=ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2023}}
History
The Central Arkansas Bears were formed in 1901 by William Hawkins. Although they finished 1-4-3 in their first season, and have an unusual record of 23-54-22 in its first 20 years of existence, the Bears would play for 7 championships in that span.
UCA would enjoy its greatest success over a 14-year period from 1979 to 1992, when the Bears won or shared 13 of the 14 conference championships, as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC). The AIC included in-state schools such as Arkansas Tech, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During that time frame, UCA won or shared twelve consecutive AIC titles from 1981 - 1992, as well as three NAIA national championships, in 1984, 1985, and 1991. The Bears were a constant presence in the NAIA Top 20, and made the playoffs 12 out of 14 seasons.
In 1993, the Bears left the AIC and the NAIA, and moved up in competition to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Central Arkansas would stay in the West Division of the GSC through the 2006 season, winning the GSC title in 2005. UCA moved up yet again, in 2007, joining the Southland Conference who are a member of the NCAA Division I-AA. The Bears have since won four Southland championships in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019. Central Arkansas also made the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019 (where they earned their first national seed in the playoffs at #8) winning their first FCS playoff game in 2011 over Tennessee Tech. The Bears also defeated Illinois State in 2016 before losing the next round at Eastern Washington.
In 2021, UCA accepted an invitation to join the ASUN Conference, ending their membership with the Southland on June 30, 2021. The first year of ASUN conference football was a partnership between the ASUN and the revived football league of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), called the ASUN–WAC Challenge. After the ASUN's first year, more new members joined, and a full slate of ASUN-only conference games was scheduled in 2022, although further conference realignment led to the ASUN and WAC renewing their alliance for that season. The alliance received an NCAA waiver that gave it an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. The two conferences fully merged their football leagues after the 2022 season and became the United Athletic Conference (UAC), beginning in 2023.
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:
Championships
=National championships=
Central Arkansas has won 3 national championships, all on the NAIA level.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|Season|Coach|Selectors|Record|Bowl}} | ||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| 1984 | Harold Horton | NAIA Playoffs | 10–2–1 | Won NAIA Championship |
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| 1985 | Harold Horton | NAIA Playoffs | 10–2–1 | Won NAIA Championship |
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| 1991 | Mike Isom | NAIA Playoffs | 9–2–2 | Won NAIA Championship |
=Conference championships=
Central Arkansas has won 28 conference championships in the programs history.
- 22 in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC)
- 4 in the Southland Conference
- 1 in the Gulf South Conference
- 1 in the ASUN conference
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|Year|Coach|Conference|Overall record|Conference record}} | ||||
| 1936 | rowspan="4"|Warren B. Woodson | rowspan="22"|Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference | 8–0 | 6–0 |
| 1937 | 8–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 1938 | 7–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 1940 | 8–1–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 1959† | rowspan="2"|Frank Koon | 8–0–1 | 5–0–1 | |
| 1962 | 8–2 | 7–0 | ||
| 1965† | rowspan="2"|Raymond Bright | 7–1–1 | 5–1–1 | |
| 1966† | 5–4 | 4–2 | ||
| 1976† | rowspan="4"|Ken Stephens | 9–3 | 5–1 | |
| 1978 | 9–2 | 6–0 | ||
| 1980 | 9–1 | 6–0 | ||
| 1981 | 8–3 | 6–0 | ||
| 1983 | rowspan="7"|Harold Horton | 11–1 | 6–0 | |
| 1984 | 10–2–1 | 6–0 | ||
| 1985† | 10–2–1 | 6–1 | ||
| 1986 | 9–2 | 7–0 | ||
| 1987 | 11–1 | 6–0 | ||
| 1988 | 10–1 | 6–0 | ||
| 1989† | 9–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 1990 | rowspan="3"|Mike Isom | 8–4 | 6–0 | |
| 1991 | 9–2–2 | 5–0–1 | ||
| 1992 | 9–2–1 | 6–0 | ||
| 2005 | rowspan="3"|Clint Conque | Gulf South Conference | 11–3 | 8–1 |
| 2008 | rowspan="4"|Southland Conference | 10–2 | 6–1 | |
| 2012† | 9–3 | 6–1 | ||
| 2017 | Steve Campbell | 10–2 | 9–0 | |
| 2019† | Nathan Brown | 9–4 | 7–2 | |
| 2022† | rowspan="2"|Nathan Brown | ASUN Conference | 5–6 | 3–2 |
† Co-champions
Playoff appearances
=NCAA Division I-AA/FCS=
The Bears have appeared in the FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 2–5.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
| 2011 | First Round Second Round | Tennessee Tech Montana | W 34–14 L 14–41 |
| align="center"
| 2012 | Second Round | Georgia Southern | L 16–24 |
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| 2016 | First Round Second Round | Illinois State Eastern Washington | W 31–24 L 14–31 |
| align="center"
| 2017 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 15–21 |
| align="center"
| 2019 | Second Round | Illinois State | L 14–24 |
=NCAA Division II=
The Bears have appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
| 2001 | First Round | Catawba | L 34–35 |
| align="center"
| 2005 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Albany State (GA) Presbyterian North Alabama | W 28–20 W 52–28 L 38–41 |
=NAIA=
The Bears have appeared in the NAIA playoffs 13 times with an overall record of 12–10–2. They are three time NAIA National Champions (1984, 1985, 1991), with 1984 and 1985 being Co–Champions after ending in a tie in the National Championship Game.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
| 1976 | Semifinals National Championship Game | Elon Texas A&M-Kingsville | W 10–7 L 0–26 |
| align="center"
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | Western State | L 17–22 |
| align="center"
| 1980 | Quarterfinals | Texas A&M-Commerce | L 21–27 |
| align="center"
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Cameron | L 27–48 |
| align="center"
| 1983 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State | W 18–7 L 17–34 |
| align="center"
| 1984 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Moorhead State (MN) Central Washington Carson-Newman | W 30–6 W 44–6 T 19–19 |
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| 1985 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Pittsburg State Henderson State Hilldale | W 32–22 W 21–9 T 10–10 |
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| 1986 | Quarterfinals | Cameron | L 34–35 4OT |
| align="center"
| 1987 | First Round Quarterfinals | Northwestern Oklahoma State Cameron | W 31–7 L 7–14 |
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| 1988 | First Round | Southeastern Oklahoma State | L 14–21 |
| align="center"
| 1990 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State | W 26–14 L 9–10 |
| align="center"
| 1991 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Northeastern State (OK) Moorhead State (MN) Central State (OH) | W 30–14 W 38–18 W 19–16 |
| align="center"
| 1992 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Southwestern Oklahoma State Central State (OH) | W 14–2 L 23–30 |
Rivalries
=McNeese=
{{main|Red Beans and Rice Bowl}}
The two teams have met 13 times on the football field with UCA leading the series, 7–6. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2019.
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto" |
| + McNeese–Central Arkansas: All-Time Record
!Games played !First meeting !Last meeting !Central Arkansas wins !Central Arkansas losses !Win % |
| style="text-align:center;"
|13 |September 17, 1994 (lost 7–21) |October 12, 2019 (won 40–31) |7 |6 |{{Winning percentage|6|5}} |
=Arkansas Tech=
The Bears also had a long time rivalry with Arkansas Tech University, located in Russellville, Arkansas, only 45 miles west of Conway along Interstate 40, but that series was discontinued after UCA left the Gulf South Conference, and moved up in competition to the Southland Conference.
Future non-conference opponents
Announced schedules as of May 5, 2025.{{cite web |title=Central Arkansas Bears Football Future Schedules |publisher=FBSchedules.com |url=https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/central-arkansas/ |access-date=May 5, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" |
| {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Arkansas Bears|2025|2026|2027|2028|2030}} |
| at Missouri
| at Northwestern State | at Idaho State |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff
| at Florida State | | | |
| at Sacramento State
| | | | |
| at Lamar
| | | | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Central Arkansas Bears football navbox}}
{{United Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Arkansas Bears Football}}