The Teams: Tarleton Texans (4-3, 1-2 UAC) vs. Morehead State Eagles (3-3, 2-2 PFL)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (24,000)
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, LaDarrin McLane)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Keltin Wiens, Laura Sadler)
 
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
It's Homecoming Week in Stephenville, as Tarleton State has been celebrating with special activities since Sunday. On Saturday night, Texan Football will culminate the fun.
 
Tarleton's game, set for 6 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with John Liddle and LaDarrin McLane 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.
 
GAME DAY FESTIVITIES
It's a packed day of fun throughout Saturday, so take note of all of the below:
 
Texan Alley opens at 8 a.m. for tailgaters. The Pointe-du-Hoc rally will be at 2:45 p.m. at Rudder Way Statue. Gates will open at 4 p.m.
 
The Sound and the Fury will perform at 5:46 p.m. and the national anthem will begin at 5:51 p.m. Beginning at 5:56 p.m., Sgt. Dana Bowman will leap out of a helicopter and parachute onto the field at Memorial Stadium, one of the best pregame events that Tarleton State has now made a tradition out of the last few years. At 6:01 p.m., the Legend of the Texan Rider is back for the second time this season, and will lead the Texans onto the field on horseback to cement a homecoming action-packed pregame.
 
During the game, Tarleton Athletics is giving away four George Strait tickets to a lucky fan. They will choose contestants at random to participate in a special singing competition that is set in-between the third and fourth quarters. Also, Tarleton State will host its homecoming court presentation at halftime, and this year's homecoming king and queen will be crowned.
 
Single-game tickets can be purchased and claimed at TarletonSports.com/Tickets. For maps of the area and complete tailgating policies, visit TarletonSports.com/TexanAlley.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the first all-time meeting, but Tarleton's second straight game against a program from Kentucky.
• Morehead State is seeking its first three-game winning streak since Oct. 2-23, 2021 (four), also the last time they won consecutive road games. That season marked Rob Tenyer's tied-most wins at MSU (7-4).
• Four of MSU's six games have been one-possession contests.
• MSU ranks No. 15 in the FCS in passing offense at 273.7 yards per. QB Carter Cravens just threw for 396 yards in a 24-21 W vs. Valpo.
• MSU's top-20 in red zone offense (T-8) and red zone defense (T-18).

 
QUICK HITS

• Saturday marks Tarleton State's homecoming game. Over the past six seasons, Tarleton is 5-1 on homecoming.
• In each of Tarleton's last two homecoming games, they set Memorial Stadium attendance records. In 2021, they set a then-record with 16,216 fans at the game, then in 2022, bettered it with 20,237 fans.
• The Texans are going to wear all purple for homecoming; purple helmets, purple jerseys and purple pants. This season, Tarleton State is an undefeated 3-0 when wearing their traditional purple helmets.
• With a win Saturday, Tarleton State would be 5-3 through their first eight games for the second straight year.
• Tarleton's last three games have been decided by one possession; a one-point road win, a one-point home loss, and a double-overtime road loss. The Texans' first four games were each decided by 14-plus points.
• At four, Tarleton State has the tied-second most overall wins in the United Athletic Conference, only behind No. 20 Central Arkansas (5-2), tied with No. 24 Austin Peay (4-2).
• Last week, Tarleton had 316 rushing yards, their most in a game since Sept. 11, 2021, vs. Fort Lewis (347). The Texans also had two players with 100-plus rushing yards for the first time since Sept. 25, 2021 (New Mexico Highlands). Kayvon Britten had 187 yards (10.4 YPC) and a TD; Derrel Kelley III had 102 yards (6.0 YPC) and a TD. 

 
HOME COOKIN'
The Texans suffered a rare loss at home the last time out at Memorial Stadium, because under head coach Todd Whitten, the Texans are nearly unbeatable in Stephenville. Under Whitten's tutelage at Tarleton, the Texans sport a 59-21 (.738) record at Memorial Stadium. Since 2018, the Texans are 27-8 (.771) in Stephenville.
 
OFFENSE BACK ON TRACK
The Texans scored 35 points in their last game, their most points since opening the season with back-to-back 52-point outings. They had 527 total yards of offense, their second most this season, behind their 554 in the season opener at McNeese, and they had 316 rushing yards, their most in a game since Sept. 11, 2021, vs. Fort Lewis (347). Tarleton's previous season-high rushing mark was 210 yards in the season opener. On Saturday, the Texans averaged 7.71 yards per rush, their most in a game since joining the NCAA Division I ranks and their most in a game since Nov. 8, 2019, at William Jewell (9.0 YPC). Kayvon Britten ran for 187 yards on 18 carries (10.4 YPC) and a touchdown, partnered by Derrel Kelley III's 102 yards on 17 carries (6.0 YPC) and a touchdown. Tarleton is now 28th in the FCS in rushing yards per game this season at 180.9, 22nd in the FCS in yards per rush (4.96).
 
It helped on Saturday for Tarleton to get their No. 1 wide receiver back, Darius Cooper. Their top guy has been hobbled with an injury for most of the season, leaving the season opener in the second half and missing the next five games. After re-aggravating the injury in his first game back on Oct. 7, Cooper played his most healthy game last week and it showed. He showed out for six catches, 149 yards and two touchdowns, season-high numbers across the board.
 
Overall this year, Tarleton is now averaging 29.9 points per game, tied-22nd in the FCS in total points at 209. The Texans are 33rd in the FCS in yards per game (392.7). They have 30 red zone attempts this year, tied-ninth most in the nation.
 
DEFENSE HOLDING THEIR OWN
The Texan defense has shown to be one of the toughest in the nation, despite an off game on Saturday. In 2023, the Texans have allowed 28.6 points per game, an amazing number when comparing time of possession and opposing plays. Tarleton's defense has defended 561 plays, the most across the entire FCS by a lot, with the next closest team sitting at 518 (Lehigh). The Texan defense has been on the field an average of 32:55, the 13th 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. In the last home game, Southern Utah won time of possession 35:44 to 24:16, running 82 plays to Tarleton's 65, averaging 4.8 yards per play. Tarleton has trailed the time possession in all but one game this season.
 
Yardage has been hard to find by Tarleton's opponents. They're averaging 4.95 yards per play, the tied-22nd lowest average across the FCS.
 
The Texan defense has proven to be explosive as well. Through seven games, they've forced 12 turnovers, the tied-19th most takeaways across all of FCS. This past game was the first time this season the Texans didn't get a takeaway, snapping a 16-game streak year-over-year, which was tied for their longest streak of games with a takeaway in the past 10 years, the first stretch happening from Oct. 27, 2012, through Sept. 27, 2014. The Texans have forced nine fumbles this season, recovering five, and have had seven interceptions. In four 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 have the tied-most across all of NCAA Division I football, both FBS and FCS, tied with Incarnate Word.
 
The Texans have also recorded 19 total sacks, the tied-eighth most in the FCS, and they have 44 tackles for loss, the tied-20th most nationwide.
 
GREAT START OFFENSIVELY FOR…
KAYVON BRITTEN
- Has 612 yards on 105 carries (5.8 yards per rush) and seven touchdowns.
- Has eight total touchdowns scored (seven rushing, one receiving), the tied-14th most in the FCS, tied-second most in the UAC.
- His seven rushing TD's are the tied-10th 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 11 touchdowns over his last eight games.
- Has scored a touchdown in six of Tarleton's seven games this season.
DERREL KELLEY III
- Has rushed for 455 yards on 81 attempts (5.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns in six 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.
- Just ran for 102 yards, his second 100+ yard game of the season and the seventh of his career.
BENJAMIN OMAYEBU
- Leads the team in receptions by a wide margin, recording 45 catches for 374 yards this season. Next closest Texan in receptions is at 15 (Darius Cooper).
- Has the tied-fifth most receptions across all of the FCS at 45, averaging the tied-11th most per game (6.4).
- Had 5+ receptions in the first four games this year, and has had 5+ catches in six of Tarleton's seven 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-12th 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 53 (37 solo), plus has an INT returned for a touchdown and two pass breakups.
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1.
KYLE TAYLOR
- Has the second most tackles on the team (38), to go with a tied-team-high three sacks, the second most pass breakups (three), and the third most tackles for loss (4.0).
BLAKE SMITH
- 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 seven, tied-12th most in the FCS.
AHMIR CROWDER
- Has a tied-team-high 4.5 TFL.
O'TAY BAKER
- Has a tied-team-high three sacks, plus 4.0 TFL, to go with 22 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
- Has a tied-team-high 4.5 TFL.
- Had two sacks in the season opener, the most by a Texan in a game since 2021.
 
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
On Oct. 9, 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. 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. This was his second weekly award of the year and the fifth of his career. Guzman has missed just one kick this year, going a combined 33-for-34 (7-for-8 FG, 26-for-26 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 (Chattanooga'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.
 
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 .710 winning percentage since the start of 2018, the second 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.	Angelo State	LSC	.717
2.	Tarleton State	UAC	.710
3.	Incarnate Word	SLC	.661
4.	Texas A&M	SEC	.642
5.	Sam Houston	C-USA	.639
6.	Texas	Big 12	.632
7.	SMU	AAC	.621
8.	Texas A&M-Commerce	SLC	.618
9.	Baylor	Big 12	.580
10.	UTSA	C-USA	.571

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	44
2.	Texas	Big 12	43
	Texas A&M	SEC	43
	Angelo State	LSC	43
5.	SMU	AAC	41
	Incarnate Word	SLC	41
7.	Baylor	Big 12	40
	TCU	Big 12	40
	UTSA	AAC	40
10.	Sam Houston	C-USA	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 (100-53, 1996, 2000-04, 2016-Present)
 
Among all active head coaches across all three divisions of collegiate football, Whitten has the tied-69th most wins at the helm with 125. He's one behind Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher.
 
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	.897
2.	North Dakota State	MVFC	.896
3.	Alabama	SEC	.895
4.	Georgia	SEC	.893
5.	Clemson	ACC	.853
6.	James Madison	SBC	.824
7.	Princeton	Ivy	.822
8.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.819
9.	Oklahoma	Big 12	.789
10.	Cincinnati	Big 12	.786
11.	Appalachian State	SBC	.732
12.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.711
13.	Tarleton State	UAC	.710

 
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.
 
7: Kayvon Britten has six rushing touchdowns in seven 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
Following the home-and-road pattern, Tarleton State will play away from Stephenville against potentially a ranked Central Arkansas team. The Bears are currently No. 20 in the Stats Perform FCS Football Rankings. The Texans will battle UCA at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas, on Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. CT.