ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Baptist University football team is set to host Northwest Missouri State University in the first-ever meeting between the two programs this Saturday, November 19 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Kickoff this Saturday is set for 1 p.m. at Cliff Harris Stadium at Benson-Williams Field. The game will be broadcast live on the Ouachita Football Radio Network on affiliate stations across the state of Arkansas. The Ouachita Sports Digital Network will also broadcast the game live on YouTube for free. Links can be found at www.OBUtigers.com/coverage.

The Tigers are making their fifth appearance in the D2 playoffs, while their opposition, the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State, are making their 26th overall appearance and 18th consecutive. Northwest has won six D2 national championships, the last two coming in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016.

Ouachita (11-0) enters the game ranked No. 3 nationally after collecting its fourth undefeated regular season in the modern era with a 40-37 overtime win over Henderson State last week across the street in the 95th Battle of the Ravine. The Tigers won the Great American Conference championship this year, the sixth GAC title for the program in the 11-year history of the league.

Northwest (9-2), the No. 2 team in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association this season, enters Saturday's game ranked No. 8 nationally after winning five straight to end the regular season. The Bearcats picked up a 27-21 road win over No. 22 Emporia State last Saturday to vault the team three spots in the regional rankings and into the playoffs.

The winner of Saturday's game will hit the road next Saturday, November 26 to face the No. 1 team in the nation, Grand Valley State.