SWOSU Football will look to start a winning streak when it plays host to Oklahoma Baptist (1-2) this Saturday on Family Day at Milam Stadium.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 35-14 victory over Southeastern — their first against the Savage Storm since 2019 — and now look to erase the sting of last season's 35-17 loss at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.

SWOSU's last win over the Bison came in 2022, a gritty 38-31 overtime battle in Shawnee. Since 2015, Oklahoma Baptist has held a 6-3 advantage in the series. In Weatherford, the Bulldogs are 1-3 against the Bison, with their lone home win coming on a dramatic Hail Mary in 2016.

Last week the Dawgs used big plays to pull away from Southeastern, earning their first win of the season. Plays of 44, 66, and 54 yards highlighted the performance, and they won the turnover battle 3-0, capped by a game-sealing pick-six in the final minutes.

On SWOSU's Side

The Bulldogs boast one of the top passing defenses in the nation through three weeks, allowing only 117.7 yards per game through the air (second in the GAC, fifth nationally), a mark bested only by ECU (104.3, first nationally).

Against the run, SWOSU ranks last in the conference at 274.7 yards allowed per game, skewed heavily by the 436 yards Harding—Division II's top rushing team at 451 yards per game—put up. In the Bulldogs' other two matchups they've allowed just 194 rushing yards per game, which would place them eighth in the GAC.

Through three games the Dawgs have yet to record a sack and remain the only team in the conference without one. Felipe Tristan leads the team in tackles for loss with 3.5, tied for third best in the GAC.

Three Bulldogs have interceptions this season—Jalen Bryant, Jamori Ray, and Aza'in Brown. Brown returned his for a touchdown last week, SWOSU's only defensive score of the year.

Freshman running back Red Martel has energized the offense, totaling 287 rushing yards and two touchdowns in three games. His 66-yard touchdown run against Southeastern was the second-longest in the GAC this season. He averages 95.7 yards per game, 24th best in Division II.

Quarterback MJ Rivers has settled in as the starter. Last week he went 11-of-15 for 179 yards and two scores. He's averaging 109.3 passing yards per game—ninth in the GAC—with a 68.5 percent completion rate, second in the conference behind OBU starter Chad Mascoe (70.3 percent after two games). Rivers is also a factor on the ground, averaging over 32 rushing yards per contest.

Baylor Nash emerged as one of Rivers' top targets last week, finishing with a team-high 108 receiving yards after catches of 34 and 54 yards, the latter going for a touchdown. Elijah Reed has 10 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown through three games, while Isaac Norris has six catches for 86 yards. Nash's 108-yard game was the most by a Bulldog receiver since Oct. 1, 2022 (Deshon Moreaux, 117 yards).

Scouting OBU

The Bison are also coming off their first win of the season after defeating Northwestern 16-8 in Shawnee.

OBU brings a high-powered passing offense that averages 265.7 yards per game, but turnovers have been an issue. In the first two weeks they threw seven interceptions, ranking among the bottom five in Division II. Last week, however, they avoided turnovers against the Rangers.

It's a balanced attack through the air: seven different receivers had at least one 10-yard catch last week, and their top two wideouts have combined for 24 receptions and 396 yards over three games.

On the ground, OBU averages 92.3 rushing yards per game, 10th in the league. Running back Deuce Wise leads with 165 yards on 48 carries (3.4 average) and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Bison rank last in total defense (464.3 yards per game) and pass defense (266.0). Their total defense number sits 145th out of 157 Division II teams. They have forced four turnovers—two interceptions and two fumbles.

Both teams allow 22 first downs per game. SWOSU ranks last in fourth-down conversions (1-of-5), while OBU is last in fourth-down defense, giving up five conversions on six attempts.