Gardner-Webb football began the 2025 campaign off the radar of most pundits, picked in a tie for sixth place in the OVC/Big South preseason poll. But the Runnin’ Bulldogs have shown themselves an overachieving bunch thus far, beginning with a massive comeback from a 35-7 deficit at Western Carolina on opening night.
Entering homecoming weekend, the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in conference play (2-0) and have yet to lose to an FCS opponent (4-0). Saturday’s contest against UT Martin brings another chance to prove that coach Cris Reisert’s rebuild after the departure of Tre Lamb two years ago is right on schedule, or maybe even ahead of most projected timelines.
Only FBS losses to Ohio and Georgia Tech blemish the résumé—games in which the Bulldogs actually led early. Saturday’s visit from UT Martin (2-5, 2-1) is another chance to show Gardner-Webb rightfully belongs among the league’s contenders, with Tennessee Tech (6-0, 3-0) currently setting the pace.
🏈 Game Vitals
Matchup: UT Martin (2-5, 2-1 OVC/Big South) at Gardner-Webb (4-2, 2-0)
Where: Spangler Stadium | Boiling Springs, N.C.
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 | 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Last Meeting: UT Martin 35, Gardner-Webb 17 (2024)
𝟏-𝟎 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐘#EDGE | #SkoDawgs pic.twitter.com/Svg3WRauhK — Gardner-Webb Football (@GWUFootball) October 15, 2025
🔥 5 Things to Know
- Establishing Championship Culture — Gardner-Webb got a taste of conference championships under Lamb, now head coach at Tulsa. The Bulldogs won the Big South in 2022 and the newly formed OVC/Big South Football Association in 2023, only the fifth and sixth conference titles in school history. Reisert, who guided Division II Tiffin to three league titles and two runner-up finishes before coming to Boiling Springs, has quickly positioned the Bulldogs back into that same conversation.
- Balanced, Explosive Offense — GWU averages 450 yards per game, with Nate Hampton throwing for 1,245 yards and 10 TDs and backs Carson Gresock (467 yards, 9.0 ypc) and Quasean Holmes (453 yards) providing punch on the ground.
- Elite Special Teams — Punter Brady Braun leads all of FCS with a 49.6-yard average, flipping field position almost single-handedly when he steps on the field. He has had 12 punts this season of 50+ yards.
- Defensive Standouts — Linebacker Cahari Haynes (42 tackles, 7.5 TFL) just earned OVC/Big South Defensive Player of the Week after GWU’s eight-sack performance at Eastern Illinois. Haynes has 7.5 tackles-for-loss this season. Teammate Robert Holtz has 10 TFLs and 6.0 sacks. Antonio O’Berry has recovered two fumbles.
- Scouting UT Martin — The Skyhawks have faced three FBS opponents this season, losing to all three (Oklahoma State, UTEP and recent FCS call-up Missouri State). They’ve won two of their last three against FCS teams, though, including a 32-31 win over Western Illinois last Saturday. QB Jase Bauer (1,212 yards, 5 TDs, 70%) leads an offense averaging 17.7 points per game, while safety Jacob Stevenson anchors a defense allowing 31 points per contest.
🔮 What to Expect / Prediction
This looks like a winnable game for Gardner-Webb. The Massey Ratings call it a virtual draw, with a slight edge to GWU. If the defense continues to evolve, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs can, well, run the football strong enough to compliment the aerial attack, it should be a happy homecoming in Boiling Springs.
Our pick: Gardner-Webb 29, UT Martin 27
