Tarleton State's football program continues to cement its place among the nation's elite as the 2026 preseason rankings reveal a fifth‑place finish in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
A Historic Preseason Surge
The team earned 527 points in the AFCA poll, placing them fifth overall and marking the highest total among United Athletic Conference programs. This follows a season in which they peaked at No. 2 and finished No. 6 in the previous year's polls, underscoring a steady upward trajectory.
Coach and the staff have built a consistent winning culture, a fact highlighted by the program's 27‑poll streak dating back to 2024. Only eight teams have appeared in every poll over the past two seasons, and Tarleton State remains the top‑ranked member of the UAC.
The AFCA poll is determined by coaches across various conferences, each casting votes that translate into points based on final position. This season, seven of the eight historically ranked teams returned, with North Dakota State notably absent after moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Within the conference, Abilene Christian sits at No. 14 and Austin Peay at No. 18, but Tarleton State's fifth‑place national standing eclipses them all, reinforcing its status as the UAC's flagship program heading into the new campaign.