OUAZ has accomplished just about everything an NAIA college football program can in just six short years: multiple conference championships, several playoff appearances and even a home bowl game.
But the one thing that has eluded the Spirit as they start their 2025 season on Saturday is a playoff win.
New coach Reilly Murphy takes over for the Surprise university after Mike Nesbitt built the team into a perennial winner right away. Before leaving in the offseason to become an offensive coordinator at NCAA Division I Houston Baptist, Nesbitt guided OUAZ to a 51-14 overall record, including a 28-6 all-time mark in front of a hometown Surprise crowd.
