Opening Statement
The Texans opened the 2026 season with a 49-30 victory over Prairie View A&M, a performance that immediately placed them in the national conversation.
Ranking Details
In the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll the team collected 1,163 points, landing fifth behind Montana State, South Dakota State, Montana and Illinois State. The AFCA coaches poll mirrored the position, awarding 554 points and again ranking the squad fifth, with Montana State topping the chart at 650 points.
The win also extended Tarleton State’s streak of 28 consecutive appearances in the FCS rankings, one of only seven programs to have been ranked in every poll over the past three seasons.
The Texans share the top 25 with three other United Athletic Conference members — West Florida, Austin Peay and Abilene Christian — underscoring the league’s growing depth.
Looking Ahead
With the early victory secured, the team now turns to a schedule that includes several other highly ranked opponents, a slate that promises further opportunities to climb the polls and reinforce the program’s momentum.