The Teams: Tarleton Texans (4-2, 1-1 UAC) at Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-3, 1-0 UAC)
Where: Richmond, Kentucky
Stadium: Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000)
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (Greg Stotelmyer, Jim Tirey, Wes Chandler)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Keltin Wiens, Laura Sadler)
 
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Just two years after facing the Colonels for their homecoming game in Richmond, Kentucky, Tarleton State is back at Eastern Kentucky for another homecoming game, but this time it will be a United Athletic Conference matchup.
 
Tarleton's game, set for 2 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Greg Stotelmyer, Jim Tirey and Wes Chandler on the call. The game can be heard on Tarleton Sports Network at 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas, with Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Keltin Wiens and Laura Sadler leading the broadcast.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the second all-time meeting. The two faced off in Richmond in 2021, with Eastern Kentucky winning 20-3. That marked their homecoming game, which is the case again this Saturday.
• This is the first meeting as conference opponents, both in the UAC.
• After a three-game skid to start the season (with road losses at Cincinnati and Kentucky), EKU has won two straight, beating No. 16 Southeast Missouri State at home and North Alabama on the road.
• EKU was open last week. This is their lone home game in October.
• EKU QB Parker McKinney is in his sixth year. He's played 47 games.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans have started the season 4-2 for the second straight season. They went on to a 5-2 start.
• With a win Saturday, Tarleton would start their six-game road slate 3-1. Their third road win would already mark their most in a season at the NCAA Division I level. They last started 3-1 on the road in 2019 (6-0).
• With a win Saturday, Tarleton would start their conference slate 2-1, which would mark their best start through three conference games since 2019 when they started 3-0 (Tarleton was independent in 2020).
• Tarleton has the tied-best overall record in the United Athletic Conference at 4-2, along with Central Arkansas.
• This is Tarleton's second day game of the year. They won the first 14-13 at Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 30.
• Despite not scoring a defensive touchdown last week, Tarleton still has the most across all of NCAA Division I football with four. Only one team in the FCS has three (UIW), and six teams are tied-first in the FBS with three.
• Tarleton is 4-1 when trailing the time of possession this season, and 0-1 when leading TOP.
• In the 2021 meeting between these two teams, defense ruled the game with one offensive touchdown and one defensive touchdown scored combined. The Texans held EKU QB Parker McKinney to 157 passing yards, the lone time he's finished under 160 passing yards since Sept. 11, 2021 (129 at Louisville). 

 
DEFENSE HOLDING THEIR OWN
The Texan defense has shown to be one of the toughest in the nation, especially as of late. Over the past three games they've allowed just 17.7 points per game and 350.3 yards per contest. Over the three games, they've recorded five takeaways, six sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and scored two defensive touchdowns. In their last road game, a Texan 14-13 victory at Southeastern Louisiana, it marked their fewest amount of points in a win since Oct. 24, 2009, a 13-6 win vs. No. 9 Abilene Christian at home. In that same season, they also won a game 6-0 at Northeastern State. Last week vs. Southern Utah, the Texans allowed just 96 rushing yards -- it marked Tarleton's fourth loss under head coach Todd Whitten when they force their opponent under 100 rushing yards (50-4).
 
In 2023, the Texans have allowed 26.5 points per game, an amazing number when comparing time of possession and opposing plays. Tarleton's defense has defended 486 plays, the most across the entire FCS. The Texan defense has been on the field an average of 33:11, the 17th highest average across the FCS. In the largest difference this season vs. North Alabama, the Lions had the ball for 36:13 compared to the Texans' 23:47. North Alabama ran 109 plays to Tarleton's 56. The Lions averaged just 5.2 yards per play to Tarleton's 8.6. Last week, Southern Utah won time of possession 35:44 to 24:16, running 82 plays to Tarleton's 65, averaging 4.8 yards per play.
 
Yardage has been hard to find by Tarleton's opponents. They're averaging 4.73 yards per play, the tied-16th lowest average across the FCS.
 
The Texan defense has proven to be explosive as well. Through six games, they've forced 12 turnovers, the tied-10th most takeaways across all of FCS. The Texans have forced nine fumbles this season, recovering five, and have had seven interceptions. In four of the six games, Tarleton has scored a defensive touchdown; a 71-yard pick-six by Patrick Jones in the fourth quarter of the season opener at McNeese; a 50-yard pick-six by Robert Rios in the fourth quarter of the home opener vs. North Alabama; a 16-yard pick-six by Ty Rawls in the fourth quarter of the Sept. 23 game vs. Southwest Baptist; a 23-yard pick-six by Blake Smith on the first defensive play of the Sept. 30 game at Southeastern Louisiana. With four defensive touchdowns, they lead the entire FCS in the category by themselves. Only one other team in the FCS has three (UIW). No team in the FBS has four defensive touchdowns either, with six teams earning three.
 
The Texans have also recorded 17 total sacks, the tied-13th most in the nation, and they have 37 tackles for loss, the tied-14th most nationwide.
 
BYE-BYE SCHEDULE
The Texans' 11-game slate alternates between road and home games the entire season, and features no bye week until the final week. This is the first time since 2009 that Tarleton has no consecutive home games or road games. The Texans went 10-3 that year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Of Tarleton's 11 opponents, 10 are NCAA Division I programs, the most they will have ever played against in a single season in program history.
 
With no bye week throughout the season, it's curious to check out when Tarleton's opponents have open weeks. Of Tarleton's 11 opponents, four don't have a game scheduled the week before taking on the Texans. Three of those four have their bye weeks ahead of a matchup with Tarleton; Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin. McNeese counts as the fourth, with the game being the season-opener for both teams.
 
GREAT START OFFENSIVELY FOR…
KAYVON BRITTEN
- Has 425 yards on 87 carries (4.9 yards per rush) and six touchdowns.
- Has seven total touchdowns scored (six rushing, one receiving), the tied-14th most in the FCS, tied-second most in the UAC.
- His six rushing TD's are the tied-11th most in the FCS and the most in conference.
- Scored three touchdowns, rushing for 82 yards and two scores on 19 carries (4.3 YPC), adding 25 yards and a TD on two receptions in the season opener at McNeese.
- Has scored 10 touchdowns over his last seven games.
- Has scored a touchdown in five of Tarleton's six games this season.
DERREL KELLEY III
- Has rushed for 353 yards on 64 attempts (5.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in five games.
- Rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries (7.6 yards per rush) in the season opener, marking his fifth 100+ yard game on the ground in a six-game stretch.
BENJAMIN OMAYEBU
- Leads the team in receptions by a wide margin, recording 40 catches for 336 yards this season. Next closest Texan in receptions is at 11 (Jaden Smith).
- Has the third most receptions across all of the FCS at 40, averaging the ninth most per game (6.7).
- Had 5+ receptions in the first four games this year, and has had 5+ catches in five of Tarleton's six games.
- Had a career-high 12 receptions at Texas Tech, Tarleton's first 12+ reception game in two years.
- Had 21 receptions over two games for 175 yards between Sept. 16-23.
KEYLAN JOHNSON
- Has 306 yards on 10 receptions and five touchdowns.
- Has the tied-eighth most receiving touchdowns in the FCS.
- Had four touchdowns on six receptions, with 219 receiving yards in the home opener. Entered the contest with six receptions for 96 yards and 0 TD in previous 10 games since 2020.
- Was UAC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 2.
 
GREAT START DEFENSIVELY FOR…
PATRICK JONES
- Leads the team in tackles with 48 (33 solo), plus has an INT returned for a touchdown and two pass breakups.
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1.
BLAKE SMITH
- Has the second most tackles on the team (32).
- Had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first defensive play of the game at SLU.
- Had two forced fumbles in the home opener.
D.J. HARRIS
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2.
JALEN CARR
- Leads the team in pass breakups with six, tied-16th most in the FCS.
AHMIR CROWDER
- Has a team-high 4.5 TFL.
KYLE TAYLOR
- Has a tied-team-high three sacks, plus 4.0 TFL, to go with 30 tackles, one FR, two PBUs and three QBH.
O'TAY BAKER
- Has a tied-team-high three sacks, plus 4.0 TFL, to go with 20 tackles, one FF and two QBH.
TY RAWLS
- Had a 16-yard interception return for touchdown vs. Southwest Baptist.
ROBERT RIOS
- Had a 50-yard pick six in the home opener vs. North Alabama.
CAIMYN LAYNE
- Had two sacks in the season opener, the most by a Texan in a game since 2021.
 
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
On Monday, the United Athletic Conference distributed Tarleton their fifth Player of the Week award. Adrian Guzman became the first player in UAC history to receive multiple weekly awards in the same season. Guzman went 4-for-4 on kicks, including 2-of-2 on field goals from 40 yards and 35 yards out, plus had five punts cover 42.6 yards on average against Southern Utah on Saturday. Among his five punts, he had a long boot of 58 yards that pinned SUU inside the 5-yard line, and placed a 40-yard punt to put SUU at the 12-yard line. This was his second weekly award of the year and the fifth of his career. Guzman has not missed a kick this year, going a combined 28-for-28 (7-for-7 FG, 21-for-21 PAT).
 
In Week 2, WR Keylan Johnson was the UAC Offensive Player of the Week and D.J. Harris was the UAC Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson scored four TD's, finishing with 219 receiving yards on six receptions. He tied a program record for TD's scored in a single game at four, and had the fifth most receiving yards in a single game in team history at 219. Johnson has the tied-most receiving TD's in a single game at the FCS level this season, and the tied most across all of NCAA Division I, FBS and FCS. His 219 receiving yards are the fourth most in a single game at the FCS level this season. Johnson has one of only two 200-plus yard, 4-plus TD game across all of D1, FBS and FCS, this season (Chaatanooga's Javin Whatley).
 
Before stat corrections hit, Harris had a team-high 12 tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. It marked his 11th career double-digit tackle game.
 
In Week 1, Texan defensive back Patrick Jones was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week and Guzman was the UAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Jones had a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown that sealed the game in the fourth quarter. He also had a team-high seven tackles and a pass breakup. Jones became the first Texan with a defensive TD scored in the season opener since 2018. Guzman made all eight of his kicks, splitting the uprights on a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, plus he went 7-of-7 on extra points. He also had three punts cover 118 yards (39.3 average), with a long of 45 yards and a punt inside the 20-yard line. Guzman's 41-yard field goal make is his longest since Sept. 10, 2022, at TCU (47 yards).
 
BEST IN TEXAS
Since the start of the 2018 season, Tarleton has been one of the best scholarship football programs in the entire state of Texas. The Texans enter Saturday's game with 44 wins since the start of 2018, the most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program. They have a .721 winning percentage since the start of 2018, the highest mark across all of the NCAA Division I and II programs in the state.  Tarleton is one of two Texas D1 or D2 schools with all five winning seasons since 2018, only joined by Sam Houston. The list of the top scholarship programs in Texas over that span are as follows:
 

#	School	Conf.	Win Pct.
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	.721
2.	Angelo State	LSC	.712
3.	Sam Houston	C-USA	.661
4.	Incarnate Word	SLC	.656
5.	Texas A&M	SEC	.652
6.	Texas	Big 12	.632
7.	Texas A&M-Commerce	SLC	.630
8.	SMU	AAC	.615
9.	Baylor	Big 12	.580
	Midwestern State	LSC	.580

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	44
2.	Texas	Big 12	43
	Texas A&M	SEC	43
4.	Angelo State	LSC	42
5.	Baylor	Big 12	40
	SMU	AAC	40
	Incarnate Word	SLC	40
8.	TCU	Big 12	39
	Sam Houston	C-USA	39
	UTSA	AAC	39

 
FEELING 100
Todd Whitten hit the century mark as the head coach at Tarleton State, winning his 100th game at the helm of the Texans (100-51, .662) on Sept. 30 at Southeastern Louisiana. Already the winningest head coach in program history, Whitten became just the 12th head coach among all current NCAA Division I schools in Texas to reach 100 wins with one program:
1. TCU's Gary Patterson (181-79, 2000-21)
2. Texas' Darrell Royal (167-47-5, 1957-76)
3. Houston's Bill Yeoman (160-108-8, 1962-86)
4. Texas' Mack Brown (158-48, 1998-2013)
5. Rice's Jess Neely (144-124-10, 1940-66)
6. Texas A&M Commerce's Ernest Hawkins (132-92-6, 1964-85)
7. Sam Houston's Ron Randleman (131-125-3, 1982-2004)
8. Baylor's Grant Teaff (128-105-6, 1972-92)
9. Texas A&M's R.C. Slocum (123-47-2, 1989-2002)
10. North Texas' Odus Mitchell (122-85-9, 1946-66)
11. TCU's Dutch Meyer (109-79-13, 1934-52)
12. Tarleton State's Todd Whitten (100-52, 1996, 2000-04, 2016-Present)
 
Among all active head coaches across all three divisions of collegiate football, Whitten has the 69th most wins at the helm with 125. He's one behind Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher and Air Force's Troy Calhoun.
 
NEW CONFERENCE, WHO DIS?
Like most of the nation, you'll almost never know which conference Tarleton Football is in year-to-year. For the fourth time in five seasons, the landscape has changed for the Texans, now members of the United Athletic Conference. The UAC is a brand-new, football-only conference that features both WAC and ASUN programs. There are nine participating teams in 2023, with a 10th program set to start in 2024 (West Georgia) and an 11th program in 2025 (UTRGV); Tarleton State, Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Utah Tech. Before the UAC, Tarleton was in the Western Athletic Conference in 2022 and 2021, independent in 2020, and in the Lone Star Conference in 2019.
 
FACILITY UPGRADES ON UPGRADES
Tarleton State's fieldhouse underwent its final stage of renovation this summer to further enhance recruiting, as well as the student-athlete and coaching experience. Completed additions include a multi-purpose room, nutrition bar, film room, nine coach offices, an academic advisement office and a full service barber shop. In 2021, Tarleton opened its multi-million dollar field house and locker room. The facility also includes a unified locker room, training room, hydro room and equipment space. Memorial Stadium has also undergone major upgrades recently, including new north end zone seating to boost capacity to 24,000 last season. In 2019, a grandstand was built on the west side of the stadium, plus a video board was added on the south side, a $26 million renovation.
 
NEW PLAY CALLER
For the first time in head coach Todd Whitten's time at Tarleton State, he has handed over play calling duties. Whitten hired Mason Miller in January to be his offensive coordinator and to take over the play calling, so Whitten can better serve as "the CEO" of the team. Miller inherits a successful offense from a season ago, a group that led the WAC in yards per game (436.7) and rush yards per game (174.6), finishing second in scoring average (31.0 PPG).
 
This is Miller's fourth season overall with the Texans, but first since 2016. He was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2014-16 at Tarleton, serving under head coach Todd Whitten in 2016. He went on to Nevada (2017), Washington State (2018-19) and Mississippi State (2020-22) before returning home. Miller joined the late Mike Leach's staff as offensive line coach upon his arrival to Mississippi State. Over his final two years, Miller's offensive line ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 15 in the FBS in offensive line efficiency. MSU also led the SEC and ranked No. 3 in the FBS in lowest percentage of tackles for loss allowed during that period. Miller coached left tackle Charles Cross for two seasons before he was selected No. 9 overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
 
At Washington State, the Cougars had the top passing offense in the FBS for both of Miller's seasons, leading the nation with 437.2 passing yards per game. They allowed 20 sacks in 2019 and 13 in 2018, both pacing the Pac-12.
 
At Tarleton State, Miller led his line to third nationally in total offense in 2014, averaging 522.8 yards per game, scoring 43.7 points per game.
 
NIXING THE OFFENSE
Tarleton State's defensive coordinator is back for his second season in Stephenville. The SEC-experienced DC Tyrone Nix had a strong first unit, a defense that held four opponents under 14 points, going 4-0 in those games.
 
The Nix-led defense opened 2022 with a bang, holding Mississippi Valley State to just 13 total points and 273 total yards. The Texans held the Delta Devils to just 73 passing yards and forced six punts. A 41-6 shellacking of Eastern New Mexico saw Nix's defense hold the Greyhounds without a touchdown and limited them to 112 total yards on the day to pair with the Texans forcing three turnovers. A 24-10 win over Southwest Baptist was once again another impressive performance from the Texan defense as they held Southwest Baptist to just 62 yards rushing and intercepted two passes. Tarleton ended the season with a 49-7 win over Houston Christian as Nix's defense held the Huskies to just 10 first downs, -21 net rushing yards and a -0.8 average yards per rush while forcing four turnovers. The Texans also forced a season-high 10 punts to go with nine tackles for loss.
 
Nix helped coach DB Donovan Banks to First Team All-WAC honors as well as linebackers Patrick Jones and Qua'Shawn Washington to the All-WAC Second Team.
 
NATIONAL LEADER
Across the country, only 12 NCAA Division I teams (eight FBS, four FCS) have a better winning percentage than Tarleton since 2018 (Cincinnati, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Appalachian State, North Dakota State, James Madison, Princeton, Dartmouth). So among some of the other elite programs, Tarleton has a higher W% than the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Oregon, Iowa, USC, LSU, etc.
 

#	School	Conf.	Win Pct.
1.	Ohio State	Big 10	.896
2.	North Dakota State	MVFC	.895
3.	Alabama	SEC	.893
4.	Georgia	SEC	.892
5.	Clemson	ACC	.853
6.	Princeton	Ivy	.841
7.	James Madison	SBC	.821
8.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.817
9.	Cincinnati	Big 12	.797
10.	Oklahoma	Big 12	.789
11.	Appalachian State	SBC	.732
12.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.727
13.	Tarleton State	UAC	.721

 
4: Since 2004, only four reclassifying programs have started the period with three straight winning seasons; Tarleton (2020-22), North Dakota State (2005-08),  South Dakota State (2005-08) and Central Arkansas (2006-08).
 
5: Through three years of reclassification by teams since 2004, Tarleton posted the fifth highest winning percentage at .567. Only North Dakota State (.750), Central Arkansas (.630), South Dakota State (.600), and Bryant (.591) had better winning percentages.
 
6: Kayvon Britten has six rushing touchdowns in six games. He already has the tied-second most by a Texan in their NCAA Division I era, only behind Derrel Kelley III's eight in 2022 (tied with Ryheem Skinner, 2020).
 
UP NEXT
The Texans will host their own homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. They'll take on Morehead State, and there will be lots of giveaways and pregame activities. The full homecoming day itinerary will be announced soon.