STEPHENVILLE – It was a season to remember for Tarleton State Football, who made a second round playoff run, set numerous program records and had some of the best crowds in the nation. The Texans were always regarded as one of the best teams in the country the entire year, a ranked team every single week, finishing in the top-15 in both major polls.
And they did all that in their very first full-fledged NCAA Division I season.
Tarleton State was named No. 12 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll of the season, and No. 13 in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll of the season, both announced on Tuesday.
North Dakota State took the top spot in both polls after winning the national championship on Monday 38-35 over a then-undefeated Montana State. South Dakota, who narrowly defeated Tarleton State in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on Dec. 7, finished No. 4 in both polls.
Tarleton State was ranked in both polls every single week of the 2024 campaign, from the preseason through the postseason. The Texans were just one of 11 teams nationwide to never leave the polls, joined by Idaho, Illinois State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, UC Davis, UIW and Villanova.
In the AFCA Coaches Poll, the Texans (307 points) were ranked No. 12, just behind No. 11 Rhode Island at 336 points and ahead of No. 13 Montana at 388 points. The Texans rose two spots from the previous poll, which was announced after the regular season, surpassing Richmond and Montana. There were three ranked UAC teams in the final AFCA Coaches Poll; Tarleton State, No. 14 Abilene Christian (252 points) and No. 25 Eastern Kentucky (51 points). The AFCA FCS Coaches Poll is voted on by the panel chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the AFCA their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top-25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second-place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th. Tarleton moved up two spots in this poll, while ACU moved up one.
In the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, the Texans (754 points) were slotted No. 13, just behind No. 12 Villanova (780 points) and ahead of No. 14 Abilene Christian (714 points). Tarleton moved up one spot from the previous poll announced after the regular season, surpassing Richmond. Tarleton and ACU made up two of the three UAC teams in this poll, joined by No. 21 Eastern Kentucky (292 points). A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.
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