The Teams: Tarleton Texans (2-0, 1-0 UAC) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Where: Lubbock, Texas
Stadium: Jones AT&T Stadium (56,200)
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (Noah Reed, Ryan Leaf, Tori Petry)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Keltin Wiens, Laura Sadler)
 
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
The Texans will be playing their second ever game against a Power Five conference opponent, ready to go against the Red Raiders in Lubbock on Saturday.
 
The game, set for 6 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with Noah Reed, Ryan Leaf and Tori Petry 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
Although it's a road game, the tailgating scene will be live in Lubbock for Texan fans. All Texans participating in the tailgating experience are encouraged to post on social media about it using #TexanTailgate, and Tarleton State Football will share the related posts.  
 
Tarleton State will also be hosting their own tailgate event at McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center from 3-5 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the first all-time matchup between Tarleton and Texas Tech.
• The 2-0 Texans travel to the 0-2 Red Raiders. This is the first time Tarleton has been 2-0 since joining the NCAA Division I level, and it's the first time Texas Tech has started 0-2 since 1990.
• Texas Tech is 26-1 all-time against FCS teams, their only loss coming in 1988 to North Texas 29-24.
• The Red Raiders have suffered two close losses this year; a 35-33 2OT defeat at Wyoming and a 38-30 home defeat to No. 13 Oregon.
• TTU's strengths so far; pass offense (No. 19), first downs (No. 20).

 
QUICK HITS

• This is Tarleton's second ever game against a Power Five conference opponent. Last year, Tarleton lost at TCU 59-17. The Horned Frogs ended up in the College Football Playoff National Championship, finishing 13-2.
• Saturday's uniforms will feature a unique look for both teams. Tarleton will don new white helmets -- they haven't worn white helmets since 2014. Texas Tech will wear a throwback combination inspired from the 1960s.
• The Texans have started 2-0 for the first time in their NCAA Division I era. They last started 2-0 in 2019, a year they began 11-0 on their way to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
• The Texans have scored 104 points over their first two games, going for 52 in each. They've scored the most points in all of FCS and are averaging the most in the nation. Only five teams in the FBS are averaging over 52.0 points per game; Oregon, USC, Syracuse, Florida State and Ole Miss.
• In second halves, Tarleton has scored 70 points. Through their 2-0 start, Tarleton has not led at halftime.
• Through two games, Tarleton has yet to allow a passing TD. Opposing QB's have had 105 pass attempts.
• Defensively, the Texans are only allowing 4.43 yards per play, the tied-15th best average across the FCS.
• Tarleton has won four of the six possible UAC Player of the Week awards through the first two weeks.

 
OFFENSE IS ROLLIN'
Through two weeks, Tarleton's offense has been nearly impossible to slow down. They've scored 104 points over two games, 52 in each game,  their most points over a two-game stretch since Nov. 2-9, 2019, also the last time they had back-to-back 50+ point games.
 
In terms of yardage, they're putting up big numbers on both sides of the ball, averaging 517.5 total yards per game, the second most across all of the FCS, only behind North Dakota (548.5). Tarleton is at 321.5 passing yards per game (sixth most in the FCS) and 196.0 rushing yards per game (25th most in the FCS). They've scored seven passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns. Per play, they're at 8.0 yards on average (fifth in the country), 19.5 yards per completion (first across all of the FCS) and 5.3 yards per rush (24th most).
 
Tarleton doesn't rank high in first downs because they tend to show an explosive offense that gets big chunk plays. Through two games, they've had two plays go for 60+ yards, three plays go for 50+ yards, four plays go 40+ yards, nine plays go for 30+ yards, and 15 plays go 20+ yards.
 
DEFENSE HOLDING THEIR OWN
All the talk has been about the hot Texan offense, but Tarleton's defense has been strong this season as well.
 
Although they've allowed 32.5 points per game, that's largely due to Tarleton's offense that scores quick, giving their opponents many more opportunities, plays and time of possession. In fact, Tarleton has lost the time of possession battle in each of the first two games, including a wide margin last Saturday vs. North Alabama, as the Lions had the ball for 36:13 compared to the Texans' 23:47. North Alabama ran 109 plays to Tarleton's 56, as the Lions averaged just 5.2 yards per play to Tarleton's 8.6.
 
Yardage has been hard to find by Tarleton's opponents. They're averaging 4.43 yards per play, the tied-15th lowest average across the FCS.
 
Tarleton's pass defense has been special, as the Texans have yet to allow a passing touchdown on the year. Opposing quarterbacks have combined for 105 pass attempts, completing 54-of-105 (.514) for 532 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. That's 9.9 yards per completion, the 19th lowest mark in the country.
 
Like the Tarleton offense, the Texan defense has proved to be explosive as well. Through two games, they've forced six turnovers, the tied-fifth most takeaways across all of FCS. The Texans have forced seven fumbles this season, recovering five, and have had two interceptions. In each of the first two games Tarleton has scored a defensive touchdown, a 71-yard pick-six by Patrick Jones in the fourth quarter of the season opener and a 50-yard pick-six by Robert Rios in the fourth quarter of the home opener. They've also recorded eight total sacks, the tied-fifth most in the nation, and have had the tied-14th most tackles for loss per game at 7.5.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Tarleton couldn't be stopped in the second half for the second straight game, outscoring North Alabama 35-3 in the final 30 minutes to win 52-31. The Texans won the first ever United Athletic Conference game, dropping the Lions for the second time in as many seasons. On Purple Out, the Purple and White scored 52 points for the second straight game, this time in front of 20,127 fans, a new Tarleton State home opener attendance record.
 
Victor Gabalis and Keylan Johnson connected on four TDs, as Johnson tied the program record. He had six receptions for 219 yards, finishing with the fifth most receiving yards in a single-game in team history.
 
Saturday started with a kickoff delay of about 40 minutes due to lightning in the area, the second straight time Tarleton's game has been delayed this season for the same reason. But that didn't deter Texan fans, who turned out in the droves to pack Memorial Stadium to start the 2023 home campaign.
 
After North Alabama led 28-17 at half, it was all Texans from there. Gabalis found Johnson from 64 yards out to make it 28-24, then after a UNA field goal, the two hooked up again from 55 yards out to tie the game 31-31 with eight minutes to go in the third. Kayvon Britten gave the Texans their first lead with an 8-yard scoring rush with 4:17 to play in the third. Early in the fourth, Johnson caught his fourth touchdown from Gabalis to make it 45-31, then Robert Rios' pick-six capped off the 52-31 final.
 
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
Through two weeks and six total United Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards, Tarleton has won four of the six.
 
This past week, wide receiver 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 touchdowns, finishing with 219 receiving yards on six receptions. He tied a program record for touchdowns 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 most receiving touchdowns 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 second most in a single game at the FCS level this season, and the third most across all of D1, FBS and FCS. Johnson has the only 200-plus yard, 4-plus TD game across all of D1, FBS and FCS, this season.
 
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 on Saturday. 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 Texan kicker/punter Adrian Guzman was named 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 touchdown 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).
 
GREAT START OFFENSIVELY FOR…
VICTOR GABALIS
- Has completed 33-of-56 passes for 643 yards and seven touchdowns through two games.
- Threw four touchdowns in the last game, the tied-fifth most in a game at the FCS level this year and the tied-most by a UAC QB.
- His 344 yards passing in the first game mark the most in a Tarleton season-opener since Ben Holmes had 375 at Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 7, 2019.
- He earned his fourth career 300+ yard game in the season opener, just missing it last time out at 299.
- Has thrown for 983 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last three games, vs. North Alabama, at McNeese and at BYU.
DERREL KELLEY III
- Has rushed for 192 yards on 29 attempts (6.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.
- Is 16th in the FCS, first in the UAC, in yards per rush.
- Has the tied-27th most rushing yards in the FCS and the third most in the UAC.
- Has scored a rushing touchdown in each game this year.
- 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.
- Has six rushing TD over his last four games.
KAYVON BRITTEN
- Has 151 yards on 33 carries (4.6 yards per rush) and three touchdowns through the first two games.
- Has four total touchdowns scored (three rushing, one receiving) through two games, the tied-fourth most in the FCS, tied-most in the UAC.
- His three rushing TD's are the tied-sixth most in the FCS and the tied-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 seven touchdowns over his last three games with 311 rushing yards.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
- Has allowed just two sacks through the first two games, one in each game. That's the tied-18th fewest in the FCS this season.
KEYLAN JOHNSON
- Has 255 yards on seven receptions and four touchdowns through two games.
- Has the most receiving touchdowns in the FCS.
- Has the fourth most receiving yards in the FCS and the most in the UAC.
- Had four touchdowns on six receptions, with 219 receiving yards in the last game. Entered the contest with six receptions for 96 yards and 0 TD in previous 10 games since 2020.
 
GREAT START DEFENSIVELY FOR…
PATRICK JONES
- Leads the team in tackles with 18 (12 solo), along with an INT returned for a touchdown and two pass breakups.
D.J. HARRIS
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week last week.
QUA'SHAWN WASHINGTON
- Has 15 tackles, two TFL, a FR and a hurry through two.
BLAKE SMITH
- Had two forced fumbles in the last game.
JALEN CARR
- Leads the team in pass breakups with three, tied-12th most in the FCS.
CAIMYN LAYNE
- Had two sacks in the season opener, the most by a Texan in a game since 2021.
 
SACKSESS
In the season opener, the Texans posted seven sacks between six players; two by Caimyn Layne, one each by Bryson Collins, Brandon Tolvert, Devin Sterling, O'tay Baker and Kyle Taylor. That marks a new program record at the NCAA Division I level for sacks in a game, surpassing their six they had to end the 2022 season against Houston Christian. The Texans also had five sacks against North Alabama and Southwest Baptist last season. Tarleton is averaging the tied-fifth most sacks per game across all of FCS.
 
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 42 wins since the start of 2018, the most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program. They have a .737 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	.737
2.	Angelo State	LSC	.714
3.	Sam Houston	C-USA	.696
4.	Texas A&M-Commerce	SLC	.647
5.	Texas A&M	SEC	.645
6.	Incarnate Word	SLC	.638
7.	Texas	Big 12	.625
8.	SMU	AAC	.613
9.	Midwestern State	LSC	.596
10.	Baylor	Big 12	.585

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	42
2.	Texas	Big 12	40
	Texas A&M	SEC	40
	Angelo State	LSC	40
5.	Sam Houston	C-USA	39
6.	Baylor	Big 12	38
	SMU	AAC	38
	UTSA	AAC	38
9.	TCU	Big 12	37
	Incarnate Word	SLC	37

 
BODY LOOKIN' LIKE MILK
For the first time since 2014, Tarleton will be donning brand new white helmets. The Texans last wore a non-purple helmet in a game in 2014, a year they went back and forth between black and white helmets with their old signature purple "T" Tarleton logo. It will be a "White Out" for the Texans, as they plan to wear white helmets, white jerseys and white pants.
 
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.
 
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.
 
NATIONAL LEADER
Across the country, only 13 NCAA Division I teams (eight FBS, five FCS) have a better winning percentage than Tarleton since 2018 (Cincinnati, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Appalachian State, Kennesaw 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.	North Dakota State	MVFC	.904
2.	Ohio State	Big 10	.891
3.	Alabama	SEC	.887
4.	Georgia	SEC	.886
5.	Princeton	Ivy	.875
6.	Clemson	ACC	.859
7.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.836
8.	Cincinnati	Big 12	.833
9.	James Madison	SBC	.813
10.	Oklahoma	Big 12	.776
11.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.750
12.	Appalachian State	SBC	.746
13.	Kennesaw State	Ind.	.741
14.	Tarleton State	UAC	.737

 
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.
 
10: Tarleton, at 52.0 PPG, is the top scoring team in the conference by a wide margin, averaging more than 10 points per game more than the next closest team in the league (Central Arkansas at 41.5 points per game).
 
UP NEXT
The Texans will be back in Stephenville, Texas, for Family Weekend against the Southwest Baptist Bobcats. Tarleton State defeated Southwest Baptist 24-10 last year at Memorial Stadium.