The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros are making headlines as they earn preseason recognition in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, a first in program history.
A Historic Preseason Ranking
The Vaqueros sit at tenth place in points among teams receiving votes outside the top 25, reflecting a program that has rapidly progressed since its inaugural season.
Last year the team posted a 9‑3 record, establishing multiple program benchmarks and defeating opponents that now appear in the preseason poll themselves.
The achievement extends beyond the rankings. The Vaqueros earned votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll ten times during the previous season, including the final nine polls, and were listed in the Stats Perform Top 25 twice throughout the 2025 campaign.
Finishing the 2025 season with nine wins, UTRGV became the first team since the NCAA divided Division I football in 1978 to reach that milestone, a feat no other program had managed in its early years.
The squad also marked its debut as the first inaugural team to win six games against NCAA Division I competition, surpassing Florida International’s 2002 record of five victories.
Home dominance was another hallmark, as the Vaqueros finished the season undefeated on their own turf with a 7‑0 record, the only inaugural team to achieve such a perfect home record.
Their three defeats came on the road against playoff‑bound FCS programs that are now ranked in the preseason poll: Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar.
Overall, the team garnered 20 points in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 voting, appearing on multiple ballots and signaling growing respect across the division.
Looking Ahead
With a foundation built on record‑breaking performances and a schedule that will test their mettle, the Vaqueros enter the upcoming season poised to translate preseason optimism into on‑field success. Coach Craig Haley and his staff are emphasizing continuity, player development and the pursuit of a conference championship that could cement the program’s rapid ascent.