2015 Central Arkansas Bears football team

The 2015 Central Arkansas Bears football team represented the University of Central Arkansas in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by second-year head coach Steve Campbell and played their home games at Estes Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 7–4, 7–2 in Southland play to finish in a tie for second place. They were not invited to the FCS Playoffs.

2015 Central Arkansas Bears football
Conference	Southland Conference
2015 record	7–4 (7–2 Southland)
Head coach	Steve Campbell (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Nathan Brown (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Greg Stewart (2nd season)
Home stadium	Estes Stadium (Capacity: 10,000)

2015 Southland Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 7 McNeese State $^		9	–	0					10	–	1
No. 3 Sam Houston State ^		7	–	2					11	–	4
Central Arkansas		7	–	2					7	–	4
Incarnate Word*		5	–	4					6	–	5
Northwestern State		4	–	5					4	–	7
Lamar		4	–	5					5	–	6
Stephen F. Austin		4	–	5					4	–	7
Nicholls State		3	–	6					3	–	8
Abilene Christian*		3	–	6					3	–	8
SE Louisiana		3	–	6					4	–	7
Houston Baptist		0	–	8					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word ineligible for FCS Playoffs due to transition from Division II Rankings from STATS FCS Poll

Previous season

The Bears finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 6–6 and a Southland Conference record of 5–3 under first-year head coach. Steve Campbell. In 2015, the Bears finished the season 7–4 overall and 7–2 in the conference.

Schedule

Source: [1]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	6:00 pm	at Samford*	Seibert Stadium Homewood, AL	ESPN3	L 16–45	6,259
September 12	6:30 pm	at Oklahoma State*	Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK	FSN FCS Atlantic	L 8–32	56,262
September 26	6:00 pm	at Northwestern State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	ESPN3	W 49–21	10,725
October 3	6:00 pm	Abilene Christian	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ESPN3	W 42–14	9,427
October 10	2:30 pm	at Houston Baptist	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ASN	W 43–7	2,217
October 17	6:00 pm	No. 15 McNeese State	Estes Stadium Conway, AR (Red Beans and Rice Bowl)	ESPN3	L 13–28	10,527
October 24	6:00 pm	at Lamar	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN3	W 35–17	6,476
October 31	7:00 pm	Southeastern Louisiana	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ESPN3	W 21–16	7,427
November 7	3:00 pm	Stephen F. Austin	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ASN	W 36–24	6,157
November 14	3:00 pm	at Nicholls State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	SLDN	W 34–31	5,002
November 21	5:00 pm	No. 10 Sam Houston State	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	SLDN	L 13–42	5,117
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS FCS Poll released prior to game Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

*-Indicates Game Broadcast via Tape Delay

Game summaries

@ Samford

Central Arkansas at Samford

1 2 3 4 Total Bears 7 6 0 3 16 • Bulldogs 7 21 3 14 45 Date: September 3 Location: Seibert Stadium Homewood, AL Game start: 6:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:37 Game attendance: 6,259 Game weather: 86°F • NW 6 • Partly Cloudy Referee: Marshall Lewis Television network: ESPN3 Sources:

Scoring summary 1 5:48 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 29 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 1:29 7–0 1 5:03 Samford Karel Hamilton 55 yard pass from Michael Eubank (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 3 plays, 64 yards, 0:38 7–7 2 10:56 Samford Vaquan Small 35 yard pass from Michael Eubank (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 4 plays, 53 yards, 1:24 7–14 2 9:09 Samford Denzel Williams 49 yard run (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 3 plays, 82 yards, 0:39 7–21 2 6:24 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 26 yard field goal, Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:40 10–21 2 1:18 Samford Kelvin McKnight 66 yard pass from Michael Eubank (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 0:40 10–28 2 0:00 Central Arkansas Matt Cummins 50 yard field goal, Drive: 8 plays, 25 yards, 1:12 13–28 3 4:55 Samford Anthony Pistelli 21 yard field goal, Drive: 13 plays, 83 yards, 3:36 13–31 4 13:33 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 34 yard field goal, Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 2:12 16–31 4 12:41 Samford K'rondis Larry 54 yard run (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 5 plays, 83 yards, 0:47 16–38 4 9:13 Samford Denzel Williams 16 yard pass from Michael Eubank (Anthony Pistelli kick), Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 1:45 16–45

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@ Oklahoma State

Central Arkansas at Oklahoma State

1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 8 0 8 • Cowboys 10 0 10 12 32 Date: September 12 Location: Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK Game start: 6:30 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:17 Game attendance: 56,262 Game weather: 77°F • ESE 7 • Clear and comfortable Referee: Reggie Smith Television network: FSN, FCS Atlantic Sources:

Scoring summary 1 7:44 Oklahoma State Ben Grogan 31 yard field goal, Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 2:39 0–3 1 4:17 Oklahoma State Chris Carson 21 yard run (Ben Grogan kick), Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:26 0–10 3 12:23 Oklahoma State David Glidden 67 yard pass from Mason Rudolph (Ben Grogan kick), Drive: 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:49 0–17 3 8:08 Central Arkansas Desmond Smith 39 yard pass from Taylor Reed (Taylor Reed pass to Zach Gougler for two-point conv.), Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:15 8–17 3 3:30 Oklahoma State Ben Grogan 22 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards, 4:38 8–20 4 14:53 Oklahoma State David Glidden 31 yard pass from Mason Rudolph (Ben Grogan kick blocked), Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 0:47 8–26 4 10:56 Oklahoma State Jeremy Seaton 6 yard pass from J. W. Walsh (Ben Grogan kick blocked), Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:39 8–32

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@ Northwestern State

Central Arkansas at Northwestern State

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 18 10 14 7 49 Demons 0 7 7 7 21 Date: September 26 Location: Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA Game start: 6:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:25 Game attendance: 10,725 Game weather: 87°F • NNE 7 • Mostly Sunny Referee: Ross Smith Television network: ESPN3 Sources:

Scoring summary 1 10:17 Central Arkansas Alex Deason 47 yard field goal, Drive: 12 plays, 44 yards, 4:43 3–0 1 6:32 Central Arkansas Desmond Smith 16 yard pass from Taylor Reed (Scott Matiaha run for two-point conv.), Drive: 3 plays, 27 yards, 1:01 11–0 1 2:47 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:32 18–0 2 10:12 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 3 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:43 25–0 2 4:31 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 22 yard field goal, Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:54 28–0 2 1:28 Northwestern State Ed Eagan 6 yard pass from J.D. Almond (Chris Moore kick), Drive: 8 plays, 83 yards, 2:57 28–7 3 10:05 Central Arkansas Jacquez McMillian 45 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards, 3:19 35–7 4 8:12 Northwestern State De'Mar Llorens 4 yard run (Chris Moore kick), Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:53 35–14 4 5:17 Central Arkansas Jatavious Wilson 42 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 1 play, 42 yards, 0:08 42–14 4 12:19 Central Arkansas Blake Gardner 22 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 7 plays, 86 yards, 3:14 49–14 4 8:35 Northwestern State Ed Eagan 28 yard pass from J.D. Almond (Chris Moore kick), Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 3:38 49–21

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Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 0 7 0 7 14 • Bears 18 14 3 7 42 Date: October 3 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 6:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 2:50 Game attendance: 9,427 Referee: D. Lewis Television network: ESPN3 Sources:

Scoring summary 1 13:35 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 1 yard run (Hayden Hildebrand run for two-point conv.), Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:25 8–0 1 7:08 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 27 yard field goal, Drive: 13 plays, 48 yards, 5:33 11–0 1 0:02 Central Arkansas Hayden Hildebrand 53 yard pass complete to Jatavious Wilson (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 2 plays, 53 yards, 0:44 18–0 2 11:44 Central Arkansas Hayden Hildebrand 23 yard pass complete to Justin Dickey (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:01 25–0 2 5:07 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 4 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 4:58 32–0 2 2:07 Abilene Christian Parker McKenzie 10 yard pass complete to Cody Ennis (Zach Lehr kick), Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 2:52 32–7 3 4:18 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 22 yard field goal, Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:35 35–7 4 14:54 Central Arkansas Jatavious Wilson 13 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:47 42–7 4 11:01 Abilene Christian Parker McKenzie 3 yard pass complete to Cedric Gilbert (Zach Lehr kick), Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:48 42–14

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@ Houston Baptist

Central Arkansas at Houston Baptist

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 13 13 7 10 43 Huskies 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 10 Location: Husky Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 2:30 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:03 Game attendance: 2,217 Game weather: 86°F • NNE 7 • Sunny Referee: Vidal Jones Television network: ASN Sources:

Scoring summary 1 8:22 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 6 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Cody Dauksch two-point conv. intercepted), Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 2:31 6–0 1 1:58 Central Arkansas Brandon Cox 93 yard punt return (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 9 plays, 43 yards, 6:18 13–0 2 12:18 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 3 yard run (Jace Denker kick failed), Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 2:30 19–0 2 2:26 Houston Baptist Ricardo Barnett 18 yard pass from Max Staver (Travis Shinn kick), Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:30 19–7 2 1:01 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 6 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 1:25 26–7 3 7:53 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 11 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:51 33–7 4 11:05 Central Arkansas Roman Gordon 12 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 2:45 40–7 4 1:04 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 22 yard field goal, Drive: 15 plays, 58 yards, 7:11 43–7

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McNeese State

McNeese State at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total • #15 Cowboys 0 0 7 21 28 Bears 0 3 10 0 13 Date: October 17 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 6:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:27 Game attendance: 10,527 Game weather: 66°F • Clear Referee: K. Boitman Sources:

Scoring summary 2 3:13 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 42 yard field goal, Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:43 3–0 3 12:22 McNeese State Daniel Sams 5 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:08 3–7 3 6:42 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 12 plays, 78 yards, 5:32 10–7 3 3:13 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 44 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:08 13–7 4 14:50 McNeese State Wallace Scott 45 yard fumble return (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 5 plays, 10 yards, 2:16 13–14 4 9:47 McNeese State Ryan Ross 10 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:24 13–21 4 6:56 McNeese State Daniel Sams 2 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards, 1:56 13–28

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@ Lamar

Central Arkansas at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 15 6 7 7 35 Cardinals 0 3 14 0 17 Date: October 24 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 6:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:03 Game attendance: 6,476 Game weather: 74°F • Rain Referee: Ross Smith TV announcers (ESPN3): Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker Sources:[2]

Scoring summary 1 4:50 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 1 yard run (Scott Matiaha run for two-point conv.), Drive: 11 plays, 85 yards, 4:37 8–0 1 0:50 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 14 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 1:53 15–0 2 7:59 Lamar Alex Ball 23 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:02 15–3 2 1:46 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 21 yard field goal, Drive: 14 plays, 58 yards, 6:06 18–3 2 0:00 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 21 yard field goal, Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, 1:04 21–3 3 12:38 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 56 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:02 28–3 3 12:28 Lamar Kade Harrington 65 yard run (Alex Ball kick), Drive: 1 play, 65 yards, 0:10 28–10 3 1:44 Lamar Kade Harrington 50 yard run (Alex Ball kick), Drive: 5 play, 80 yards, 1:50 28–17 4 12:38 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 19 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 2 plays, 22 yards, 0:44 35–17

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Southeastern Louisiana (Homecoming)

Southeastern Louisiana at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 3 6 7 16 • Bears 7 7 0 7 21 Date: October 31 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 7:00 PM CDT Elapsed time: 3:07 Game attendance: 7,427 Game weather: 60°F • Cloudy Referee: M. Defee Sources:[3]

Scoring summary 1 11:28 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 8 plays, 81 yards, 3:32 7–0 2 8:08 Southeastern Louisiana Jonathon Tatum 25 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 87 yards, 3:29 7–3 2 2:37 Central Arkansas Kirk Baugh 10 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 1:25 14–3 3 12:06 Southeastern Louisiana Jonathon Tatum 38 yard field goal, Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 2:46 14–6 3 5:58 Southeastern Louisiana Jonathon Tatum 40 yard field goal, Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:31 14–9 4 14:18 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 45 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 3:15 21–9 4 9:12 Southeastern Louisiana Julius Maraclin 7 yard run (Jonathon Tatum kick), Drive: 3 plays, 52 yards, 1:18 21–16

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Stephen F. Austin

Stephen F. Austin at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total Lumberjacks 0 13 11 0 24 • Bears 10 7 12 7 36 Date: November 7 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 3:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 2:26 Game attendance: 6,157 Referee: M. Defee Sources:

Scoring summary 1 6:30 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 32 yard field goal, Drive: 15 plays, 61 yards, 6:17 3–0 1 4:42 Central Arkansas Jeff Anderson 55 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 1 play, 55 yards, 0:11 10–0 2 14:55 Stephen F. Austin Mason Juhl 33 yard field goal, Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 4:45 10–3 2 12:37 Stephen F. Austin Zach Conque 1 yard run (Mason Juhl kick), Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:14 10–10 2 7:04 Stephen F. Austin Mason Juhl 27 yard field goal, Drive: 7 plays, 11 yards, 1:51 10–13 2 2:10 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 4:17 17–13 3 12:34 Stephen F. Austin Mason Juhl 25 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:21 17–16 3 3:28 Stephen F. Austin Joshawa West 45 yard pass from Zach Conque (Zach Conque run for two-point conv.), Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:34 17–24 3 2:24 Central Arkansas Jatavious Wilson 38 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick blocked), Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:03 23–24 3 1:08 Central Arkansas Kelton Warren 37 yard run (two-point conv. failed), Drive: 3 plays, 52 yards, 1:14 29–24 4 9:54 Central Arkansas Kelton Warren 21 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 10 plays, 91 yards, 4:27 36–24

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@ Nicholls

Central Arkansas at Nicholls

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 3 14 10 7 34 Colonels 0 10 7 14 31 Date: November 14 Location: John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA Game start: 3:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:27 Game attendance: 5,002 Game weather: 60°F • NE 4 • Clear Referee: Dan Lewis Television network: SLDN Sources:

Scoring summary 1 0:11 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 30 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 3:43 3–0 2 10:32 Nicholls C.J. Bates 15 yard pass from Landry Klann (Francisco Condado kick), Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:39 3–7 2 10:17 Central Arkansas Jatavious Wilson 22 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 1 play, 22 yards, 0:08 10–7 2 4:05 Nicholls Francisco Condado 23 yard field goal, Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 6:01 10–10 2 2:37 Central Arkansas Justin Dickey 27 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 2 plays, 27 yards, 0:14 17–10 3 13:36 Nicholls C.J. Bates 9 yard pass from Landry Klann (Francisco Condado kick), Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 0:42 17–17 3 8:49 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 33 yard field goal, Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 4:41 20–17 3 7:39 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 6 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 1 play, 6 yards, 0:04 27–17 4 13:34 Central Arkansas Blake Veasley 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 14 plays, 92 yards, 6:05 34–17 4 10:22 Nicholls Terry Lucas 51 yard pass from Landry Klann (Francisco Condado kick), Drive: 1 play, 51 yards, 0:11 34–24 4 6:13 Nicholls Stephe LeBouef 17 yard pass from Landry Klann (Francisco Condado kick), Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:30 34–31

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Sam Houston State

Sam Houston State at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total • #10 Bearkats 14 21 7 0 42 Bears 6 0 7 0 13 Date: November 21 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 7:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:21 Game attendance: 3,575 Referee: D. Alvarez Television network: SLDN Sources:

Scoring summary 1 12:20 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 45 yard field goal, Drive: 5 plays, 38 yards, 1:22 3–0 1 11:01 Sam Houston State Jalen Overstreet 13 yard run (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 1:11 3–7 1 6:49 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 35 yard field goal, Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 4:05 6–7 1 2:39 Sam Houston State Corey Avery 45 yard run (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 1 play, 45 yards, 0:07 6–14 2 10:09 Sam Houston State Corey Avery 3 yard run (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:10 6–21 2 1:37 Sam Houston State Gerald Thomas 50 yard pass from Jared Johnson (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 3 plays, 53 yards, 0:41 6–28 2 0:21 Sam Houston State LaDarius Brown 3 yard pass from Jared Johnson (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 3 plays, 62 yards, 0:21 6–35 3 11:42 Sam Houston State Jalen Overstreet 30 yard run (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 1:57 6–42 3 2:00 Central Arkansas Jatavious Wilson 28 yard pass from Hayden Hildebrand (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:14 13–42

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Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV
Coaches	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	NR	RV	RV	RV	25	RV

References

1. "2015 Football Schedule". University of Central Arkansas Department of Athletics. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
2. "Central Arkansas (4–3 , 4–1) -VS- Lamar University (3–4 , 2–3)". Lamar Cardinals Athletics. October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
3. "Southeastern LA (4–4, 3–3) -vs- Central Arkansas (5–3, 5–1)". University of Central Arkansas Department of Athletics. Retrieved November 1, 2015.