Central Arkansas Bears

The Central Arkansas Bears have a golden-era pedigree in small-college football, representing the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Known for a dominant run through the 1980s and steady Southland Conference competitiveness since moving up to FCS, the purple and gray Bears carry one of the more decorated championship histories among Southland programs.

Central Arkansas fielded its first football team in 1908 and won three NAIA national championships in 1984, 1985, and 1991. From 1979 to 1992, the Bears won or shared 13 of 14 conference titles in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference, including 12 straight from 1981-1992. Since moving to FCS and the Southland Conference, UCA has won conference titles in 2008, 2012, 2017, and 2019, along with five FCS playoff appearances, notching its first playoff win in 2011.