SAU Sports Information
EL DORADO – For the fourth-straight year and fifth out of the last six, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders will play in the Murphy USA Classic at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado. A press conference at the El Dorado Conference Center was held on Tuesday.
“The Murphy USA Classic offers a one-of-a-kind game day experience, bringing two teams together in a town filled with plenty of alumni from both schools,” game chairman John Thomas Shepherd said. “We are thrilled to welcome both of these outstanding teams, along with their fans.”
This year’s game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4 with a kick-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Muleriders will once more serve as the home team on the scoreboard and their opponent will be Ouachita.
"The Murphy USA Classic has become an event and game we look forward to each year and are honored to be a part of it once more," remarked SAU Director of Athletics, Steve Browning. "While we technically lose a home game at Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field, the city of El Dorado and Memorial Stadium feels every bit like home for us and that’s thanks to everyone involved have made the Murphy USA Classic a first-class event."
The Murphy USA Classic will be in its ninth year, and SAU is the team that has played in it the most as 2017 will be the Muleriders' seventh appearance in the game.
The Muleriders played in the inaugural game in 2009 and previously made appearances in 2010 and 2012 before playing in the classic each of the last three years: 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Last year, the Muleriders beat then-ranked Henderson State 50-24. It was the Muleriders second-straight win at the classic after previously losing their first four appearances. SAU’s first win at the Murphy USA Classic came in 2015 against their opponent this year, Ouachita as the Muleriders upended the Tigers, 32-28.
Tickets for the November 4 game will be available at select Murphy USA gas stations throughout the region.
More information on SAU’s pre-game Mulegating activities will be released at a later date.
Murphy USA Classic
All-Time History
2009 - UAM 17, SAU 6
2010 - UAM 28, SAU 23
2011 - OBU, 38, UAM 20
2012 - Harding 23, SAU 20
2013 - HSU 45, ATU 14
2014 - HSU 55, SAU 41
2015 - SAU 32, OBU 28
2016 - SAU 50, HSU 24
Most appearances
in Murphy Classic
Southern Arkansas – 6
Arkansas-Monticello – 3
Henderson State – 3
Ouachita Baptist – 2
Arkansas Tech – 1
Harding University – 1
GAC standings
as of Sept. 16
ATU...................................3-0
SE Okla.............................3-0
UAM...................................2-1
OBU....................................2-1
SAU.....................................2-1
Southern Nazarene........2-1
East Central....................1-2
Henderson State.............1-2
NW Okla...........................1-2
SW Okla............................1-2
Harding.............................0-3
Okla. Baptist....................0-3
Saturday's games
Harding at Oklahoma Baptist, noon
Arkansas Tech at Southern Nazarene, 1 p.m.
Arkansas-Monticello at Southeastern Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
Southern Arkansas at Southwestern Oklahoma, 6 p.m.
Ouachita Baptist at East Central Oklahoma, 6 p.m.
Henderson State at Southwestern Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.