CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2023 Gardner-Webb

7–⁠5 (4–⁠1 Big South–OVC Football Association).

Schedule and results

Gardner-Webb in 2023, game by game: lost at App State 24–45; won vs. Elon 34–27; lost at Tennessee State 25–27; lost at East Carolina 0–44; won vs. Robert Morris 31–16; lost at Austin Peay 14–41; won vs. Eastern Kentucky 35–32; won vs. UT Martin 38–34; won at Bryant 45–44; won at Tennessee Tech 35–0; won vs. Charleston Southern 34–10; lost at Mercer 7–17+35−44Lost 24–45 at App State-21App StateWon 34–27 vs. Elon+7ElonLost 25–27 at Tennessee State-2Tennessee StateLost 0–44 at East Carolina-44East CarolinaWon 31–16 vs. Robert Morris+15Robert MorrisLost 14–41 at Austin Peay-27Austin PeayWon 35–32 vs. Eastern Kentucky+3Eastern KentuckyWon 38–34 vs. UT Martin+4UT MartinWon 45–44 at Bryant+1BryantWon 35–0 at Tennessee Tech+35Tennessee TechWon 34–10 vs. Charleston Southern+24Charleston Sout…Lost 7–17 at Mercer-10Mercer
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2atApp StateL 24–⁠4521%
Sep 9vsElonW 34–⁠2755%
Sep 16atTennessee StateL 25–⁠2755%
Sep 23atEast CarolinaL 0–⁠4425%
Oct 7vsRobert MorrisW 31–⁠1679%
Oct 14atAustin PeayL 14–⁠4133%
Oct 21vsEastern KentuckyW 35–⁠3252%
Oct 28vsUT MartinW 38–⁠3443%
Nov 4atBryantW 45–⁠4448%
Nov 11atTennessee TechW 35–⁠062%
Nov 18vsCharleston SouthernW 34–⁠1078%
Nov 25Bowls & playoffatMercerFCS Championship – First RoundL 7–⁠1738%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Mercer 17–⁠7 in the FCS Championship – First Round; unranked in the final AP poll; Big South–OVC Football Association champions.

In program history: The best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 24 on file).

Big South–OVC Football Association champions4–⁠1 in the conference, shared with UT Martin

Record
7–⁠5
Conference
4–⁠1 2nd in Big South–OVC Football Association
AP final
Unranked
Points
322–⁠337
Coach
—
Elo
1374 +28 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−24.0 No. 54 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Josh Reardon

Leaders

Passing yardsJaylen King QB1,038 yds
Passing touchdownsJaylen King QB10 TD
Rushing yardsNarii Gaither RB658 yds
Rushing touchdownsBrendan Jackson LB4 TD
Receiving yardsKarim Page WR371 yds
Receiving touchdownsJayden Brown RB5 TD
TacklesWilliam McRainey LB15 tkl
SacksTy French LB2 sacks
InterceptionsJamari Brown DB2 INT

Top recruits in the 2023 class

Giovanni Adopte WR★★★No. 2391
Oscar Colon OT
Luke Rector OL
Ja’Kai Young CB
Will Fitzpatrick OT

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2023 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Receivers13.00.810

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Transfers in 1

The 2023 portal
Nemo Squire RB★★★from East Carolina

Transfers out 1

Clayton Frady OT★★★to Virginia Tech

2023 Big South–OVC Football Association standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
UT Martin5–⁠18–⁠3
Gardner-Webb4–⁠17–⁠5
Eastern Illinois3–⁠28–⁠3
Bryant3–⁠26–⁠5
Southeast Missouri State3–⁠24–⁠7
Charleston Southern2–⁠34–⁠7
Tennessee State2–⁠46–⁠5
Tennessee Tech1–⁠44–⁠7
Lindenwood1–⁠53–⁠7

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.