Central Arkansas Bears football

History

The Central Arkansas Bears were formed in 1901 by William Hawkins. Although they finished 1–4–3 in their first season, and have an unusual record of 23–54–22 in its first 20 years of existence, the Bears would play for 7 championships in that span.

UCA would enjoy its greatest success over a 14-year period from 1979 to 1992, when the Bears won or shared 13 of the 14 conference championships, as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC). The AIC included in-state schools such as Arkansas Tech, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During that time frame, UCA won or shared twelve consecutive AIC titles from 1981 to 1992, as well as three NAIA national championships, in 1984, 1985, and 1991. The Bears were consistently present in the NAIA Top 20, and made the playoffs 12 out of 14 seasons.

In 1993, the Bears left the AIC and the NAIA, and moved up in competition to NCAA Division II joining the Gulf South Conference. Central Arkansas would stay in the West Division of the GSC through the 2006 season, winning the GSC title in 2005. Central Arkansas would move up yet again in 2007, joining the Southland Conference and NCAA Division I-AA/FCS. The Bears would win four Southland championships in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019. Central Arkansas would make the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019 (where they earned their first national seed in the playoffs at No. 8) winning their first FCS playoff game in 2011 over Tennessee Tech. The Bears also defeated Illinois State in 2016 before losing the next round at Eastern Washington.

In 2021, UCA accepted an invitation to join the ASUN Conference, ending their membership with the Southland on June 30, 2021. The first year of ASUN conference football was a partnership between the ASUN and the revived football league of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), called the ASUN–WAC Challenge. After the ASUN's first year, more new members joined, and a full slate of ASUN-only conference games was scheduled in 2022, although further conference realignment led to the ASUN and WAC renewing their alliance for that season. The alliance received an NCAA waiver that gave it an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. The two conferences fully merged their football leagues after the 2022 season and became the United Athletic Conference (UAC), beginning in 2023.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

• Nathan Brown
• Dave Burnette
• Monte Coleman
• Tyree Davis
• Willie Davis
• Jacob Ford
• Mike Norvell
• Tremon Smith
• Charlie Strong
• George Odum
• Jonathan Woodard
• David Walker

Championships

National championships

Central Arkansas has won 3 national championships, all on the NAIA level.

Conference championships

Central Arkansas has won 28 conference championships in the programs history.

• 22 in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC)
• 4 in the Southland Conference
• 1 in the Gulf South Conference
• 1 in the ASUN conference

† Co-champions

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Bears have appeared in the FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 2–5.

NCAA Division II

The Bears have appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.

NAIA

The Bears have appeared in the NAIA playoffs 13 times with an overall record of 12–10–2. They are three time NAIA National Champions (1984, 1985, 1991), with 1984 and 1985 being Co–Champions after ending in a tie in the National Championship Game.

Rivalries

McNeese

Main article: Red Beans and Rice Bowl

The Bears and Cowboys have met 13 times on the football field with UCA leading the series, 7–6. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2019.

Arkansas Tech

The Bears also had a long time rivalry with the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys located in Russellville, Arkansas, only 45 miles west of Conway along Interstate 40. But that series was discontinued after UCA left the Division II Gulf South Conference, and moved up in competition to the Southland Conference.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 12, 2026.

References

References

1. (January 29, 2021). "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport". ASUN Conference.
2. (February 23, 2021). "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021". ASUN Conference.
3. (December 20, 2022). "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule". ASUN Conference.
4. (December 20, 2022). "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule". Western Athletic Conference.
5. (April 17, 2023). "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference". ASUN Conference.
6. "Central Arkansas Bears Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.