2017 Central Arkansas Bears football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
| mode = football
| year = 2017
| team = Central Arkansas Bears
| image= Central Arkansas Athletics wordmark.svg
| image_size= 250
| conference= Southland Conference
| division=
| short_conf= Southland
| record = 10–2
| conf_record = 9–0
| STATSRank = 10
| FCSCoachRank = 8
| head_coach= Steve Campbell
| hc_year = 4th
| off_coach= Nathan Brown
| oc_year = 4th
| def_coach= Greg Stewart
| dc_year = 4th
| off_scheme=
| def_scheme=
| stadium= Estes Stadium
| champion = Southland Conference champion
| bowl=FCS Playoffs Second Round
| bowl_result = L 15–21 vs. New Hampshire
}}
{{2017 Southland Conference football standings}}
The 2017 Central Arkansas Bears football team represented the University of Central Arkansas in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by fourth-year head coach Steve Campbell and played their home games at Estes Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 10–2, 9–0 in Southland play to be crowned Southland Conference champions. They received the Southland's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost to New Hampshire in the Second Round.
On December 7, head coach Steve Campbell resigned to become the head coach at South Alabama.{{Cite web|url=https://usajaguars.com/news/2017/12/7/south-alabama-names-steve-campbell-head-football-coach.aspx|title = South Alabama Names Steve Campbell Head Football Coach}} He finished at Central Arkansas with a four-year record of 33–15.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2017
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS
| poll = STATS
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 2
| time = 6:10 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 15
| opponent = Kansas State
| opprank = 20 (FBS)
| site_stadium = Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
| site_cityst = Manhattan, KS
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 19–55
| attend = 51,043
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 9
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 15
| opponent = Murray State
| site_stadium = Roy Stewart Stadium
| site_cityst = Murray, KY
| tv = OVCDN
| score = 41–13
| attend = 7,456
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| time = 7:15 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 14
| opponent = Southeastern Louisiana
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| tv = ELVN
| score = 38–6
| attend = 10,237
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 11
| opponent = Sam Houston State
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 41–30
| attend = 11,347
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Houston Baptist
| site_stadium = Husky Stadium
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = FSSW+
| score = 27–7
| attend = 2,543
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 6
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 24–20
| attend = 9,263
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Northwestern State
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv = DemonTV
| score = 45–17
| attend = 8,252
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = McNeese State
| opprank = 20
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| gamename = Red Beans and Rice Bowl
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 47–17
| attend = 9,887
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| time = 6:10 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Lamar
| site_stadium = Provost Umphrey Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 42–14
| attend = 8,417
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Incarnate Word
| site_stadium = Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| tv = UIWtv
| score = 56–10
| attend = 4,652
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = Abilene Christian
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 34–0
| attend = 4,325
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 2
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = New Hampshire
| opprank = 21
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| gamename = NCAA Division I Second Round
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 15–21
| attend = 6,243
}}
}}
Game summaries
=At Kansas State=
{{See also|Kansas State Wildcats football|2017 Kansas State Wildcats football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Kansas State{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2579|title=Football vs Kansas State University on 9/2/2017|accessdate=September 6, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 15 Bears
|V1=10|V2=6|V3=3|V4=0
|Host=No. 20 (FBS) Wildcats
|H1=10|H2=28|H3=10|H4=7
|Date= September 2
|Location= Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Manhattan, KS
|StartTime= 6:10 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 3:11
|Attendance= 51,043
|Weather= {{convert|87|°F|°C|abbr=on}} • WSW 7 • Clear
|Referee= Brandon Cruse
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Brian Smoller Analyst: Travis Tannahill
|TVStation= ESPN3
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=At Murray State=
{{See also|Murray State Racers football|2017 Murray State Racers football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Murray State{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2580|title=Football vs Murray State University on 9/9/2017|accessdate=September 10, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 15 Bears
|V1=10|V2=21|V3=7|V4=3
|Host=Racers
|H1=0|H2=6|H3=0|H4=7
|Date= September 9
|Location= Roy Stewart Stadium
Murray, KY
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 2:46
|Attendance= 7,456
|Weather=
|Referee= Andrew Faust
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Neal Bradley Analyst: Josh McKeel
|TVStation= OVCDN
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Southeastern Louisiana=
{{See also|Southeastern Louisiana Lions football|2017 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Southeastern Louisiana at Central Arkansas{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2581|title=Football vs Southeastern Louisiana University on 9/16/2017|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}
|Visitor=Lions
|V1=0|V2=3|V3=0|V4=3
|Host=No. 14 Bears
|H1=7|H2=7|H3=21|H4=3
|Date= September 16
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 7:15 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 2:58
|Attendance= 10,237
|Weather=
|Referee= K. Boitman
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Steve Sullivan Analyst: Fitz Hill
|TVStation= ELVN
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Sam Houston State=
{{See also|Sam Houston State Bearkats football|2017 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Sam Houston State at Central Arkansas{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2582|title=Football vs Sam Houston State University on 9/30/2017|accessdate=October 10, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 3 Bearkats
|V1=7|V2=10|V3=7|V4=6
|Host=No. 11 Bears
|H1=14|H2=17|H3=3|H4=7
|Date= September 30
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 3:44
|Attendance= 11,347
|Weather=
|Referee= Brandon Cruise
|TVAnnouncers= Play-By-Play: Randy McIlvoy Analyst: Shea Walker Sideline: Tatum Everett
|TVStation= ESPN3
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=At Houston Baptist=
{{See also|Houston Baptist Huskies football|2017 Houston Baptist Huskies football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Houston Baptist{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2583|title=Football vs Houston Baptist University on 10/7/2017|accessdate=October 10, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 6 Bears
|V1=14 |V2=0 |V3=7 |V4=6
|Host=Huskies
|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=0
|Date= October 7
|Location= Husky Stadium
Houston, TX
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 2:23
|Attendance= 2,543
|Weather= {{convert|87|°F|°C|abbr=on}} • WSW 7 • Clear
|Referee= Dan Lewis
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Tom Franklin Analyst: John Harris Sideline: Maya Golden
|TVStation= FSSW+
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Stephen F. Austin=
{{See also|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football|2017 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Stephen F. Austin at Central Arkansas{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2584|title=Football vs Stephen F. Austin on 10/14/2017|accessdate=November 14, 2017}}
|Visitor=Lumberjacks
|V1=0|V2=14|V3=3|V4=3
|Host=No. 6 Bears
|H1=7|H2=7|H3=3|H4=7
|Date= October 14
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 3:25
|Attendance= 9,263
|Weather=
|Referee= Vidal Jones
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Lincoln Rose Analyst: Nate Griffin
|TVStation= ESPN3
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=At Northwestern State=
{{See also|Northwestern State Demons football|2017 Northwestern State Demons football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Northwestern State{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2585|title=Football vs Northwestern State University on 10/21/2017|accessdate=November 14, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 6 Bears
|V1=10|V2=14|V3=14|V4=7
|Host=Demons
|H1=3|H2=7|H3=7|H4=0
|Date= October 21
|Location= Harry Turpin Stadium
Natchitoches, LA
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 5:06
|Attendance= 8,252
|Weather= {{convert|82|°F|°C|abbr=on}} • SSE 5 • Overcast
|Referee= Ross Smith
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Patrick Netherton Analyst: Richard deVargas Sideline: Tony Taglavore
|TVStation= [http://nsudemons.com/watch/ DTV]
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=McNeese State=
{{See also|McNeese State Cowboys football|2017 McNeese State Cowboys football team|Red Beans and Rice Bowl}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= McNeese State at Central Arkansas<{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2586|title=Football vs McNeese on 10/28/2017|accessdate=November 14, 2017}}
(homecoming)
|Visitor=No. 20 Cowboys
|V1=10|V2=0|V3=7|V4=0
|Host=No. 4 Bears
|H1=9|H2=21|H3=14|H4=3
|Date= October 28
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CDT
|ElapsedTime= 3:30
|Attendance= 9,887
|Weather=
|Referee= Scott Campbell
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Jeff Brightwell Analyst: Stan Humphries Sideline: Tatum Everett
|TVStation= ESPN3
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=At Lamar=
{{See also|Lamar Cardinals football|2017 Lamar Cardinals football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Lamar{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2587|title=Football vs Lamar University on 11/4/2017|accessdate=November 14, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 4 Bears
|V1=14|V2=7|V3=21|V4=0
|Host=Cardinals
|H1=7|H2=0|H3=0|H4=7
|Date= November 4
|Location= Provost Umphrey Stadium
Beaumont, TX
|StartTime= 6:10 p.m.
|TimeZone= CST
|ElapsedTime= 3:03
|Attendance= 8,417
|Weather= {{convert|78|°F|°C|abbr=on}} • S 8 • Partly cloudy
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Dan Gresham Analyst: Lemont Williams
|TVStation= ESPN3
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=At Incarnate Word=
{{See also|Incarnate Word Cardinals football|2017 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Central Arkansas at Incarnate Word{{cite web|url=http://ucasports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=2588|title=Football vs University of the Incarnate Word on 11/11/2017|accessdate=November 14, 2017}}
|Visitor=No. 3 Bears
|V1=14|V2=28|V3=0|V4=14
|Host=Cardinals
|H1=3|H2=0|H3=0|H4=7
|Date= November 11
|Location= Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
San Antonio, TX
|StartTime= 6:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CST
|ElapsedTime= 2:50
|Attendance= 4,652
|Weather= {{convert|67|°F|°C|abbr=on}} • E 7 • Cloudy, showers
|Referee= Ray Edwards
|TVAnnouncers= Play-by-Play: Chris Reyes Analyst: Jaime Valdez
|TVStation= [https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiw/ UIWtv]
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Abilene Christian=
{{See also|Abilene Christian Wildcats football|2017 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= Abilene Christian at Central Arkansas
|Visitor=Wildcats
|V1=0 |V2=0 |V3=0 |V4=0
|Host=No. 3 Bears
|H1=14 |H2=6 |H3=7 |H4=7
|Date= November 18
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 3:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CST
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance= 4,325
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}Sources:
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
FCS Playoffs
=New Hampshire–Second Round=
{{See also|New Hampshire Wildcats football|2017 New Hampshire Wildcats football team}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title= FCS Playoffs Second Round
|Visitor=No. 21 Wildcats
|V1=7|V2=0|V3=7|V4=7
|Host=No. 3 Bears
|H1=7|H2=0|H3=0|H4=8
|Date= December 2
|Location= Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime= 2:00 p.m.
|TimeZone= CST
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=ESPN3
}}Sources:
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
----
Ranking movements
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = STATS FCS
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 13
| poll1_0=15
| poll1_1=15
| poll1_2=14
| poll1_3=12
| poll1_4=11
| poll1_5=6
| poll1_6=6
| poll1_7=6
| poll1_8=4
| poll1_9=4
| poll1_10=3
| poll1_11=3
| poll1_12=3
| poll1_13=10
| poll1_14=
| poll1_15=
| poll1_16=
| poll1_17=
| poll1_18=
| poll1_19=
| poll1_20=
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek = 0
| poll2lastweek = 13
| poll2_0=15
| poll2_1=16
| poll2_2=16
| poll2_3=13
| poll2_4=12
| poll2_5=8
| poll2_6=6
| poll2_7=6
| poll2_8=4
| poll2_9=4
| poll2_10=3
| poll2_11=3
| poll2_12=3
| poll2_13=8
| poll2_14=
| poll2_15=
| poll2_16=
| poll2_17=
| poll2_18=
| poll2_19=
| poll2_20=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Central Arkansas Bears football navbox}}
{{Southland Conference football champions}}
Category:Central Arkansas Bears football seasons