ARKADELPHIA -- The Ouachita Tigers football team is back in the playoffs, opening postseason play this Saturday, November 23 at home against Lindenwood. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Cliff Harris Stadium. 

#5 OUACHITA TIGERS
Record: 11-0 (11-0 GAC)
AFCA Top 25 Ranking: 5
Head Coach: Todd Knight
Knight Career: 151-127-2 (27th season)
Knight at OBU: 123-95 (21st season)
Great American Conference Champs

LINDENWOOD LIONS
Record: 8-3 (7-0 GLVC)
AFCA Top 25 Ranking: Receiving Votes
Head Coach: Jed Stugart
Stugart Career: 107-41 (13th season)
Stugart at LU: 15-17 (3rd season)
Great Lakes Valley Conference Champs

THIRD STRAIGHT NCAA PLAYOFF
Ouachita is making its third conecutive NCAA playoff appearance and fourth overall.
2014: vs. Minnesota State (L-OT 48-45)
2017: at Ferris State (L 24-19)
2018: vs. Indianapolis (W 35-7); vs. Ferris State (L 37-14) 

UNDEFEATED
Ouachita is one of nine undefeated teams in D2 football. This is the third time in the Todd Knight era that the Tigers have posted an unbeaten regular season (2014, 2018, 2019).

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK GAC CHAMPS
Ouachita clinched its third consecutive Great American Conference Championship in last Saturday's Battle of the Ravine victory over Henderson State. In addition to conference titles in each of the past three seasons, the Tigers were also the GAC champs in the 2011 inaugural season of the league and again in 2014.

TIGERS LEAD GAC IN ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES
Ouachita led the GAC with a total of 16 players honored on the all-conference teams, including two honored at more than one position. Head Coach Todd Knight also picked up his fifth GAC Coach of the Year award after leading the Tigers to the fifth GAC championship in program history. See all the all-conference selections here. 

NOTABLE OBU STAT RANKINGS - TEAM
NCAA D2 - 1st in 3rd Down Conversions (62.5 percent)
NCAA D2 - 4th in 4th Down Conversions (70 percent)
NCAA D2 - Tied for 1st in Blocked Kicks and Blocked Punts Allowed (0)
NCAA D2 - 1st in Completion Percentage (75.5 percent)
NCAA D2 - 2nd in Interceptions Thrown (2 total this season)
NCAA D2 - 5th in Punt Return Defense (1.50 yards per return)
NCAA D2 - 4th in Scoring Defense (13.8 points allowed per game)
NCAA D2 - 5th in Tackles For Loss Allowed (4 per game)
NCAA D2 - 5th in Turnovers Lost (10 total)
GAC - 2nd in Scoring Defense (13.8 points allowed per game)
GAC - 2nd in Total Defense (301.5 yards allowed per game)
GAC - 2nd in Rushing Offense (234.0 yards per game)
GAC - 2nd in Rushing Defense (123.7 yards allowed per game)
GAC - 1st in Kickoff Coverage (43.1 Net Average)
GAC - 2nd in Field Goals (11-for-13, 84.6 percent)
GAC - 4th in Extra Points (42-for-43)
GAC - 2nd in Sacks (22 for -135 yards)
GAC - 1st in 3rd Down Conversions (62.5 percent)
GAC - 2nd Least Penalized Team (Average of 5.8 penalties and 51.7 yards per game)
GAC - 3rd in Time of Possession (32:06)
GAC - 3rd in Turnover Margin (+4)

NOTABLE OBU STAT RANKINGS - INDIVIDUAL
Brayden Brazeal - 1st in D2 in Completion Percentage (75.8 percent)
Gabe Goodman - 9th in D2 in Field Goal Percentage (84.6 percent)
Keandre Evans - 16th in D2, 1st in GAC in Passes Defended (1.5 per game)
Allie Freeman - 4th in D2, 1st in GAC in Receptions Per Game (7.8 per game)
Brockton Brown - 2nd in D2, 1st in GAC in Rushing Touchdowns (22 total)
Brockton Brown - 3rd in D2, 1st in GAC in Scoring (12 points per game)

RECORD WATCH
Brockton Brown - GAC record 22 rushing touchdowns this season
Brockton Brown - Tied for 3rd in Ouachita history with 40 career rushing touchdowns
Allie Freeman - 4th in GAC history in receiving yards
Allie Freeman - GAC record holder for receptions in a season (86)

OUACHITA GAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1 - Defense - Keandre Evans
Week 1 - Special Teams - Gabe Goodman
Week 4 - Special Teams - Gabe Goodman
Week 9 - Offense - Brockton Brown

FIRST MEETING 
This is the first meeting between Ouachita and Lindenwood in football. The Lions' trip to Arkadelphia checks in at 423 miles from St. Charles, Missouri. It is the third longest road trip for the Lions this season, trailing trips to Cheney, Washington and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

THE OTHER GUYS
Lindenwood is making its first appearance in the NCAA playoffs since becoming a member of D2 in 2012. The Lions have played football since 1990 and are 10 years removed from making the NAIA National Championship game, losing 25-22 to Sioux Falls that year. This season, the Lions posted an overall record of 8-3 during the regular season, including a 7-0 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference games. LU started the season 1-3, but have since rattled off seven straight wins. Five of those seven consecutive wins were one-score victories. The biggest win for the Lions this year was its last outing, a 42-10 victory over Southwest Baptist on the road last Saturday, which led to an outright GLVC championship. The Lions are ranked sixth in D2 in passing offense with just over 312 yards per game through the air. LU quarterback Cade Brister is second in D2 in completions per game at 25.18, 16th in completion percentage (63.2 percent), third in passing touchdowns (36 total), and sixth in passing yards (300.1 yards per game). Brister ranks fifth in D2 in total offense at 340.5 yards per game. Brister's favorite target this season has been Payton Rose, who ranks sixth in D2 in receiving touchdowns (15) and 12th in receiving yards (1,075 total).