The Southern Arkansas Muleriders received more nationally recognition on Tuesday as D2Football.com released its latest Division II Top 25 Poll, which has the Muleriders slotted at No. 24 in the country as the third weekend of the season nears.
Earlier in the week, SAU climbed into the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Division II Top 25 Poll at No. 25.
The last appearance for the Muleriders in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll came last season when the program was ranked No. 24 in the outlet’s preseason poll.
Southern Arkansas (2-0, 2-0 GAC), after impressive wins over Arkansas Tech and then No. 7 Harding, travels to Great American Conference clash with Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-1, 1-1 GAC) on Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
SWOSU enters the game following a 41-8 defeat at No. 19 Ouachita last Saturday, while SAU entered the national rankings following an upset road win at Harding on Sunday.
The Bulldogs are 1-0 at home and Saturday will be Parents Day at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
SAU has controlled the series against the Bulldogs since the two schools helped establish the GAC, with the Muleriders holding a 6-1 advantage in the series.
SAU has won the last three meetings in the series, including a 21-17 victory in their last trip to Weatherford in 2016.
The Bulldogs lone victory came in 2014 with a 27-24 come-from-behind victory.
Last season, SAU scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter and defeated SWOSU 38-14 in Magnolia.
SWOSU is ranked fourth in the GAC in total offense, averaging 412.5 yards per game through two weeks.
The Bulldogs have done the bulk of their damage through the air, throwing for 273.5 yards per game while rushing for 139.0 yards per contest.
All eight of SWOSU’s scoring plays this season have been passes of at least 22 yards and QB Casey Freeman leads the GAC with eight touchdown passes.