SWOSU Football (2-4, 2-4 GAC) faces a quick turnaround in preparation for its Week 7 matchup against Southern Nazarene, set for Thursday night on the road in Bethany.

The Bulldogs will look to wipe the slate clean following a 14-12 loss at (RV) Southern Arkansas last Saturday — a game where they dominated statistically but came up just short on the scoreboard.

The defense was the highlight in Magnolia, limiting the Muleriders to just 156 yards of total offense — the fewest allowed by SWOSU in a decade (152 vs. SNU in 2015). The Dawgs also held SAU, the conference's second-best rushing team, to just 46 yards on the ground — a season low — and only 2.6 yards per carry.

Southern Nazarene enters at 1-5, but has been a tough out all season. The Crimson Storm have been within one score in the fourth quarter of each of their last five games, dating back to Week 2. Their lone win came over a now 4-2 East Central team in Week 3.

Thursday marks the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs. SWOSU holds a 9-4 advantage overall but has dropped its last three trips to Bethany (2023, '21, and '18). Last season's 24-17 win in Weatherford snapped a three-game skid to the Storm. In Bethany, since joining the GAC, SWOSU is 2-3.

In that 2024 matchup, the Dawgs forced four turnovers and rushed for 233 yards on 47 carries. The Storm tied the game midway through the fourth quarter before a 37-yard quarterback touchdown run on the ensuing drive proved to be the difference.

SWOSU's offense has averaged 377 yards over the past four games after totaling just 230 per game through the first two weeks. The Dawgs put up 354 last week, with quarterback MJ Rivers going 20-for-30 for 220 yards — all season highs in attempts, completions, and yards. On the ground, SWOSU rushed for 134 yards, led by Red Martel's 77 on 18 carries.

Martel continues to rank among the GAC's top five rushers, averaging 76.3 yards per game.

Baylor Nash leads the Bulldog receivers with 192 yards this season, including 52 last week against SAU. Three different receivers have matched the team-high of four catches in a single game, while seven Bulldogs have caught at least one touchdown pass. Isaac Norris hauled in his team-leading second of the year last Saturday.

Southern Nazarene features a run-heavy attack, with 208 rushing attempts compared to 107 passes. The Storm rank eighth in the GAC in rushing (144.3 yards per game, 4.2 per carry) and 11th in passing (81.5 yards per game), with just two passing touchdowns all season.

Turnovers have been a problem for SNU, committing two or more in four of six games — including four in two of the last three weeks. Their lone positive turnover margin came in their win over East Central, when they forced four takeaways.