SEARCY – The Harding football team will open its 2019 season playing four consecutive games against teams selected in the top five in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll, released Tuesday by the conference office.

The GAC's coaches selected Harding second in the poll with three of the 12 first-place votes and 113 total poll points. Ouachita, Harding's opponent in week 1, is the preseason favorite. The Tigers had eighth first-place votes and 118 points.

Southern Arkansas, Harding's foe in week 3, was third in the poll with one first-place vote and 93 points. Harding will play No. 4 Henderson State in its fourth game of the season and will take on No. 5 Arkansas-Monticello on Sept. 14, in the first home game.

Southeastern Oklahoma is sixth in the poll, followed by Northwestern Oklahoma, Arkansas Tech, Oklahoma Baptist, Southwestern Oklahoma, East Central and Southern Nazarene.

Harding and Ouachita Baptist kickoff Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m., in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.