The Teams: Tarleton Texans (2-1, 1-0 UAC) vs. Southwest Baptist Bearcats (1-2, 0-0 GLVC)
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
The Texans will host Southwest Baptist for the second straight season, this time on Family Weekend, as Tarleton State welcomes all families to campus for the special period.
 
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
Texan Alley opens at 8 a.m. for tailgaters, and all parking lots open at 2 p.m. The Pointe-du-Hoc rally will be at 2:45 p.m. at Rudder Way Statue. Gates will open at 4 p.m.
 
For this Saturday's Texan Tunnel and Sophomore Run, all participants should arrive to the stadium's southwest gate at 5:30 p.m. to get organized. The Sound and the Fury will perform at 5:45 p.m., the national anthem will begin at 5:51 p.m., and then the Sophomore Run will follow on the field at 5:53 p.m.
 
Also, the Legend of the Texan Rider is returning for Family Weekend. The legendary Texan Rider will lead the Texan Football team onto the field on horseback. Since the Texan Rider became the official mascot of Tarleton State University in the 1970s, the Texan Rider often commenced football games by riding onto the field. Saturday will mark rider's return to Stephenville for the first time since 2014.
 
Reserved tickets and RV/tailgate are sold out. Other 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 fourth all-time meeting and second straight season these two have met. Tarleton leads 2-1 after winning 24-10 last year.
• The Bearcats are 1-0 on the road, beating Oklahoma Panhandle State 65-7 in the season opener. Last week they got trounced at home by UTPB 86-7. SBU had 21 rushing yards on 31 attempts (0.7 YPC).
• SBU won three straight to end 2022 to post their first winning season since 2016 (6-5).
• SBU HC Robert Clardy became the winningest coach in program history on Sept. 3, 2022, with a 44-17 win over UTPB.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans have started the season 2-1 for the second straight season. They began 2022 4-1.
• Tarleton has won two straight at home and are looking to start 2-0 at Memorial for the third straight season. Under head coach Todd Whitten, the Texans are 58-20 (.744) at home.
• Last year on Family Weekend, Tarleton State beat Eastern New Mexico 41-6. The Texans are 7-0 on Family Weekend since head coach Todd Whitten returned to Stephenville in 2016.
• Saturday will be Todd Whitten's 150th game as the head coach at Tarleton State (98-51, .658).
• Against non-Power Five teams, the Texans have scored 104 points over two games, going for 52 in each. Even with last week's three-point game at Texas Tech, Tarleton is still tied-17th in scoring in the FCS at 35.7 PPG.
• Tarleton has yet to lead at halftime. In second halves, Tarleton has outscored opponents 73-37.
• Tarleton is 2-0 when trailing the time of possession this season, and 0-1 when leading TOP.
• In their last home game, the Texans set a new home opener attendance record, hosting 20,127 fans.
• On Saturday, Benjamin Omayebu had 12 of Tarleton's 24 receptions. It was the first 12+ reception game by a Texan since Tariq Bitson had 12 vs. Dixie State (now Utah Tech) on March 13, 2021.

 
OFFENSE WAS ROLLIN'
Before facing Power Five competition at Texas Tech, Tarleton's offense had been nearly impossible to slow down. They scored 104 points over the first 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.
 
Before the Texas Tech game, the Texans were averaging 517.5 total yards per game, the second most across all of the FCS at the time, only behind North Dakota (548.5). Now they're still in the top-10, averaging 459.0 yards per game, ninth best in the FCS.
 
Tarleton doesn't rank high in first downs because they tend to show an explosive offense that gets big chunk plays. Through the first two games, they 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
Although they've allowed 35.3 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 lost the time of possession battle in each of the first two games, including a wide margin 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 4.80 yards per play, the 18th lowest average across the FCS.
 
Tarleton's pass defense has been special, as the Texans didn't allow a passing touchdown in the first two games. Opposing quarterbacks have combined for 138 pass attempts, completing 72-of-138 (.522) for 727 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. That's 10.1 yards per completion, the 20th lowest mark in the country.
 
Like the Tarleton offense, the Texan defense has proved to be explosive as well. Through three games, they've forced seven turnovers, the tied-eighth most takeaways across all of FCS. The Texans have forced seven fumbles this season, recovering five, and have had three interceptions. In each of the first two games Tarleton 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 11 total sacks, the tied-sixth most in the nation, and have had the tied-26th most tackles for loss per game at 7.0.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Derrel Kelley III scored a "hat trick", rushing for three touchdowns in the Texans' 24-10 win over Southwest Baptist at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 22, 2022. Kelley scored a career-high three touchdowns on what was otherwise a defensive battle. Both teams scored TDs on their opening drives and not much after, with Tarleton shutting down SBU for six straight drives before allowing just a field goal in the fourth quarter. Kelley scored a TD in each of the first, third and fourth quarters, with Adrian Guzman providing the Texans the other points in the second quarter on a 30-yard field goal. Kelley finished with 117 yards rushing on 18 carries (6.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, the first 3+ rushing TD performance for the Texans since Daniel McCants had four at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 26, 2019.
 
Besides Tarleton's lead back, the defenses feasted on both sides. Tarleton allowed 288 total yards, just 62 total on the ground, forcing SBU to just 1.8 yards per rush. The Texans picked off SBU QB Cooper Callis twice, Jaylen Jackson taking the first, and Tayvis Coleman getting the second. Segun Ijiyera practically lived in the backfield with two sacks and three tackles for loss total, finishing with seven tackles on the night. Tarleton had four sacks, with Donovan Banks earning one, and Coleman plus Prince Umanmielen combined for the other. Patrick Jones led the purple and white with 10 total tackles.
 
For SBU, they allowed just 84 Tarleton passing yards, the Texans' lowest total in seven years. Tarleton had 291 total yards, but zero turnovers certainly helped their cause. Another non-offensive bright spot for Tarleton was punter Jake Walrath, who had three of his five punts put Southwest Baptist inside the 20-yard-line, twice pinning them inside their own 10.
 
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
Through the first two weeks and the first six total United Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards, Tarleton won four of the six.
 
In Week 2, 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 tied-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 fifth 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. 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
- Threw four touchdowns in the last home game, the tied-11th most in a game at the FCS level this year and the tied-second most by a UAC QB.
- His 344 yards passing in the season opener mark the most in a Tarleton season-opener since Ben Holmes had 375 at Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 7, 2019. It was his fourth career 300+ yard game.
DERREL KELLEY III
- Has rushed for 237 yards on 39 attempts (6.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.
- Is 26th in the FCS, second in the UAC, in yards per rush.
- Has the fourth most rushing yards in the UAC.
- 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 five games.
KAYVON BRITTEN
- Has 191 yards on 42 carries (4.5 yards per rush) and three touchdowns.
- Has four total touchdowns scored (three rushing, one receiving), the tied-17th most in the FCS, tied-most in the UAC.
- His three rushing TD's are the tied-25th most in the FCS and the tied-second 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 four games with 351 rushing yards.
KEYLAN JOHNSON
- Has 255 yards on seven receptions and four touchdowns.
- Has the tied-second most receiving touchdowns in the FCS.
- Has the 17th most receiving yards in the FCS and the third most in the UAC.
- Had four touchdowns on six receptions, with 219 receiving yards in the last home game. 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.
BENJAMIN OMAYEBU
- Leads the team in receptions by a wide margin, recording 23 catches for 180 yards this season. Next closest Texan in receptions is at seven (Keylan Johnson and Jaden Smith).
- Has had 5+ receptions in all three games this year.
- Just had a career-high 12 receptions, Tarleton's first 12+ reception game in two years.
 
GREAT START DEFENSIVELY FOR…
PATRICK JONES
- Leads the team in tackles with 25 (18 solo), along with an INT returned for a touchdown and two pass breakups.
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1.
D.J. HARRIS
- Was UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2.
QUA'SHAWN WASHINGTON
- Has 18 tackles, two TFL, a FR and two QB hurries.
BLAKE SMITH
- Just had a tied-team-high seven tackles at Texas Tech.
- Had two forced fumbles in the last home game.
JALEN CARR
- Leads the team in pass breakups with three.
O'TAY BAKER
- Has a tied-team high two sacks, plus a tied-team high 3.0 TFL, to go with 12 tackles, one FF and one QBH.
KYLE TAYLOR
- Has a tied-team high two sacks, plus a tied-team high 3.0 TFL, to go with 12 tackles, one FR and one QBH.
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; Caimyn Layne (two), 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 2022 against Houston Christian.
 
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 .724 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	.724
2.	Angelo State	LSC	.702
3.	Sam Houston	C-USA	.696
4.	Texas A&M	SEC	.651
5.	Texas A&M-Commerce	SLC	.647
6.	Incarnate Word	SLC	.644
7.	Texas	Big 12	.631
8.	SMU	AAC	.619
9.	Baylor	Big 12	.591
10.	TCU	Big 12	.585

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	42
2.	Texas	Big 12	41
	Texas A&M	SEC	41
4.	Angelo State	LSC	40
5.	Baylor	Big 12	39
	SMU	AAC	39
	Sam Houston	C-USA	39
8.	TCU	Big 12	38
	UTSA	AAC	38
	Incarnate Word	SLC	38

 
BODY LOOKIN' LIKE MILK
For the first time since 2014, Tarleton donned brand new white helmets in their last game. The Texans had last worn non-purple helmets 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 was a "White Out" for the Texans, as they wore 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	.905
2.	Ohio State	Big 10	.892
3.	Alabama	SEC	.889
4.	Georgia	SEC	.887
5.	Princeton	Ivy	.878
6.	Clemson	ACC	.861
7.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.838
8.	Cincinnati	Big 12	.821
9.	James Madison	SBC	.815
10.	Oklahoma	Big 12	.779
11.	Appalachian State	SBC	.750
12.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.732
13.	Kennesaw State	Ind.	.729
14.	Tarleton State	UAC	.724

 
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 sits in first place in the United Athletic Conference, owning the only win in the very first conference game the UAC has seen. Tarleton also has the tied best overall record at 2-1 with Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian.
 
UP NEXT
The Texans will head back to Louisiana, where they opened 2023, this time to play in Hammond at Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions will be a tough opponent for Tarleton State, coming off of a 2022 NCAA FCS Playoffs second round run. The matchup will be played at Strawberry Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. CT.