Tarleton State Football tabbed No. 3 in AFCA Coaches Poll

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Football has earned another top five national ranking this week, posting a No. 3 national ranking in the AFCA Coaches Poll that was revealed Tuesday. 

The Texans, who are tied at No. 3 with Montana State, jumped from its No. 8 preseason ranking to No. 3. Tarleton State also received one first-place vote in the poll. 

Only North Dakota State and South Dakota State rank above the Texans in the AFCA Coaches Poll, with the Texans being the highest ranked United Athletic Conference team. UAC rival Abilene Christian is ranked No. 17 in this week’s poll while Austin Peay, Southern Utah and Central Arkansas all received votes. 

The Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week was also ranked No. 5 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll. It is the highest ranking in Tarleton State Football’s Division I era. 
 
Tarleton State is coming off one of its best victories in program history, beating the defending American champions, Army, in West Point on Friday night in double overtime. The Texans won 30-27 on a Brad Larson 37-yard field goal to upset the Black Knights at Michie Stadium in front of 23,032 fans. This was Tarleton State’s first road victory against an FBS program in its fourth try, and second win against an FBS program in five total matchups (New Mexico State, 2021). 

In front of a nationally-televised ESPN2 audience, Tarleton State shut out Portland State 42-0 on the road at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Oregon, in Week 0. It marked Tarleton State’s largest season-opening win since 2002 (62-0). The Texans forced the Vikings’ first FCS shutout loss in nearly 20 years (2006) and first shutout loss at their home field since 2003.
 
Now through two games, the Texans are the lone FCS program 2-0 on the year, and one of five NCAA Division I programs 2-0 across FBS and FCS (Iowa State, Kansas, UNLV and Western Kentucky).
 
The Texans were ranked as high as No. 7 in the AFCA Coaches Poll in Week 9, finishing at No. 12 in the end of the season poll. 
 
Tarleton State returns to Stephenville for its home opener Saturday at Memorial Stadium, taking on Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. Single-game tickets for Saturday’s home opener start at just $16 and can be purchased along with season tickets and mini packs TarletonSports.com/Tickets.