Preseason Outlook
The latest preseason coaches poll for the United Athletic Conference has named the Abilene Christian Wildcats and the Tarleton State Texans as the early favorites to capture the 2026 championship. Both programs received three first‑place votes, underscoring the confidence placed in their recent dominance.
Abilene Christian enters the poll after back‑to‑back conference titles and consecutive appearances in the FCS Playoffs, finishing the past two seasons with an 18‑10 overall record and a 14‑2 mark in UAC play. Tarleton State, meanwhile, also secured back‑to‑back playoff berths and shared the 2025 conference crown with ACU, posting a 22‑6 overall record and a 13‑3 conference slate.
Game Details
The two teams are scheduled to meet on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, a venue that will host the rivalry renewal that fans have been anticipating.
The matchup not only pits two of the conference’s most consistent programs against each other but also sets the tone for the upcoming season, with both coaching staffs expected to leverage their recent successes in recruiting and strategy.