STEPHENVILLE – The No. 1 nationally-ranked team was unfazed in the Hundred Mile Showdown, defeating the No. 23 nationally-ranked Abilene Christian Wildcats 40-27 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Tarleton State (10-0, 5-0 UAC) is now in sole possession of first place in the United Athletic Conference standings with the victory over ACU (5-5, 4-1 UAC). A win next Saturday at West Florida clinches at least a share of the UAC title for the Texans.
The Texans are now the only unbeaten FCS team on the year after SFA’s loss to Lamar earlier in the day. The 10-0 start marks the fourth time in program history (2019, 2018, 1990) the Texans started the year with 10 straight wins. It is the first time in the Division I era that has happened for Tarleton State.
Running back Tylan Hines led the Texans offensively with 145 yards off 14 carries and three touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per carry. Wide receiver Marquis Willis hauled in 166 yards off three catches and two touchdowns while quarterback Kaden Anderson completed 7-of-9 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Chris Robinson led the Texans defensively with 13 total tackles, including nine solo stops and one sack.
“I thought our guys played great,” head coach Todd Whitten said. “We played well in all three phases of the game. It’s hard to be 10-0 and it hasn’t always been pretty, but these kids find a way to win. I tip my hat off to them.
“I also can’t say enough good things about our crowd. They stayed through the rain in a big game and they are the absolute best. The way our community, university and student body supports our team inspires our guys.”
It took just 13 seconds for Tarleton State to strike first. Hines had a clear path for 75 yards and went untouched for the game’s first touchdown. After ACU converted a field goal, Tarleton State’s offense returned for a second serving of touchdowns.
Anderson connected with Willis on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second offensive drive for the Texans. The total time of Tarleton State’s first two offensive touchdowns is the fastest Tarleton State has scored two offensive touchdowns at the Division I level (25 seconds).
ACU answered later in the first quarter with a four-yard rushing touchdown, but Tarleton State countered a response to its rival. Anderson found Willis for his second touchdown of the quarter, this time from 41 yards to put the Texans up 21-10.
The Wildcats opened the second quarter by making a 33-yard field goal to cut the Texans’ lead to eight points. Tarleton State’s offensive attack continued in the second quarter, with quarterback turned running back James Paige pounding one yard for the touchdown on the keeper. A sack from Robinson ended ACU’s last offensive drive of the half and allowed the Texans to maintain a 28-13 lead into the locker room.
ACU came out in the second half looking to quickly cut the deficit, doing so on its first offensive drive of the third quarter. The Wildcats capped off a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to make it an eight-point game after the extra point. The Texans held their lead at bay through the remainder of the period, going up 28-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
ACU looked to cut the deficit with under 10 minutes to play with a field goal, but a blocked kick by the Texans on special teams prevented a stop. Tarleton State’s offense marched down the field, with Hines capping off the drive with his second score of the day. The Wildcats looked to answer again on the next offensive drive before Tarleton State made ACU change their plans.
Forcing a fumble at the ACU 12-yard line, the Texans’ defense recovered to give the offense an easy shot at the end zone. Hines finished the job, finding the end zone for the third time to put the Texans up by 20 with just over seven minutes to play. ACU scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to trim the lead, but the deficit was too much for the Wildcats to overcome and allowed Tarleton State to obtain its 10th win of 2026.
Tarleton State plays its last two games of the regular season on the road starting next Saturday at 2 p.m., traveling to Pensacola, Florida, to face West Florida for the first time.
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