First-year head coach Nathan Brown leads No. 16 Central Arkansas to Nacogdoches, Texas, to meet Southland rival Stephen F. Austin.

Who: Central Arkansas (3-2) vs. Stephen F. Austin (1-4)

When: Saturday, Oct. 13, 2 PM CT

Where: Nacogdoches, Texas, Homer Bryce Stadium

Watch: LIVE on FloFootball

To say it has been a rocky season for the Lumberjacks would be an understatement.

In August, brand new head coach Clint Conque—who, ironically, arrived at SFA by way of Central Arkansas—resigned amid an investigation into “a violation of policy.”

Once the season started, it started at Mississippi State, who throttled the ‘Jacks 63-6. After that, Stephen F. Austin’s week two game against Tarleton State was canceled, followed by losses in four of its next five.

Most recently, after a promising performance at McNeese, the ‘Jacks fell flat in the 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods, losing to Sam Houston State, 54-21, last week.

Central Arkansas also lost to the surging Bearkats two weeks ago—and to Tulsa in its opener—but has been impressive at times this season.

The Bears hammered Houston Baptist, 66-35, last week, thanks, in large part, to 147 rushing yards on just 12 attempts by running back Kierre Crossley.

Bears Led By College Football’s Youngest Coach

Central Arkansas head coach Nathan Brown is just 32 years old, making him the youngest head coach in college football—just months younger than Maine’s Joe Harasymiak and Kent State’s Sean Lewis.

Brown is a local product, having played high school football at nearby Russellville (AR) High School before arriving on campus at UCA as a transcendent talent who would help put the Bears on the national radar.

During his years as quarterbacks coach at UCA, the Bears’ quarterbacks averaged 3,211 passing yards per season, eclipsing the 3,000-yard yard plateau six times, for a total of 25,691 yards. 

He was the SLC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and the SLC Player of the Year in 2008, when he was also a Walter Payton Award finalist. Brown also owns school records for touchdown passes in a game (7) and most yards of total offense (490).

With Brown as the Bears’ offensive coordinator, UCA had 17 All-SLC offensive first or second team selections, including a Freshman, Player and two Offensive Linemen of the Year selections. 

The Bears ranked in the Top 10 in  FCS scoring three times in four years, and ranked seventh in the country in total offense last season.