By DAVID SALLEY | HSU Sports Network

Henderson State’s 2023 slate of football games is officially set.

The three-time Great American Conference Champion Reddies released their complete schedule for this fall on Thursday morning. HSU will play five home games at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and GeoSurfaces Field and will go on the road six times, including in the 96th Battle of the Ravine.

Henderson, who has won 26 games in the last three seasons and returns 16 of 22 starters, will open the 2023 campaign in Arkadelphia when it hosts East Central on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. After back-to-back road trips to Southeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas Tech, the Reddies return home on Saturday, Sept. 23 for Family Day in a pivotal clash with perennial contender Harding under the lights at 6 p.m.

The Reddies will play at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium three times in the month of October. HSU will recognize its 2023 Hall of Honor class on Saturday, Oct. 7 when it takes on Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m. and then will host regional rival Southern Arkansas for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. 

Henderson’s final home game of the year comes on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. against Northwestern Oklahoma, which will serve as both Senior Day and Military/First Responders Appreciation Day. All active or retired military personnel and first responders and their families will receive free entry to the game. 

The regular season culminates as it always does for HSU when it takes on Ouachita Baptist in the 96th Battle of the Ravine at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. This year’s edition of the greatest rivalry in college football will be played across the street at Cliff Harris Stadium, allowing the Reddies and their fans the opportunity to walk across Highway 7 prior to the game.