The Teams: No. 13 Tarleton State Texans (8-2, 5-1 UAC) vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats (7-3, 6-1 UAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (24,000)
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, LaDarrin McLane, Kendra Sheehan)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, RJ Choppy, Bobby Belt, Keltin Wiens, Ty Walker)
 
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
There are a lot of postseason and conference championship implications on the line Saturday as Tarleton State hosts Abilene Christian.
 
Tarleton's game, set for 6 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with John Liddle, LaDarrin McLane and Kendra Sheehan on the call. The game can be heard on Tarleton Sports Network at 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas, with Byron Anderson, RJ Choppy, Bobby Belt, Keltin Wiens and Ty Walker leading the broadcast.
 
GAME DAY FESTIVITIES
Texan Alley opens at 8 a.m. for tailgaters. The Pointe-du-Hoc rally will be at 2:40 p.m. at Rudder Way Statue. Memorial Stadium gates will open at 4 p.m., and at 4:30 p.m., Tarleton's free Chick-fil-A to the first 1,000 students in the gates promotion will begin.
 
On the field pregame, there will be a mini cheer performance at 5:42 p.m., the Sound and the Fury will perform at 5:46 p.m., followed by the national anthem. The Texan Rider will lead the Texans onto the field at 5:57 p.m., and kickoff is scheduled for 6:02 p.m.
 
The Legends Game promotion will feature Tarleton State's 2003 Softball team, who will be honored during the second quarter. Throughout the game, Tarleton will announce the five 2025 Tarleton Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.  
 
Single-game tickets can be purchased and claimed at TarletonSports.com/Tickets. Tarleton State students, fans and staff can also show their Texan card at the gate to gain entry. For maps of the area and complete tailgating policies, visit TarletonSports.com/TexanAlley.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the 39th all-time meeting. This will tie the most games Tarleton has played against a single opponent (McMurry, 39).
• Last year, Tarleton scored 17 unanswered in the fourth quarter to win by a point, 31-30. Kayvon Britten rushed for 3 TD and 176 yards.
• This is a top-15 ranked matchup; No. 13 Tarleton vs. No. 14 ACU. This is the highest ranked opponent for the Texans in their D1 era, their second ranked opponent overall. They beat No. 18 UCA last year 25-23.
• Nationally, ACU is No. 2 in total offense (491.9 YPG), No. 2 in passing offense (321.3 YPG) and 11th in scoring offense (36.4 PPG).

 
QUICK HITS

• The winner of Saturday's game clinches at least a share of the conference championship. If Tarleton wins, they clinch a share with a chance to win an outright UAC championship next week vs. Central Arkansas. If ACU wins, they clinch the outright UAC championship and the automatic qualifier FCS Playoffs bid. Eastern Kentucky plays at Austin Peay at 2 p.m. on Saturday -- if the Colonels lose and Tarleton then wins, Tarleton clinches the AQ bid.
• Tarleton is a win away on Saturday from its third conference championship in the past seven seasons. It would mark Tarleton's sixth conference championship as an NCAA institution. Tarleton could become the second team over the past 20 years to win a conference championship and clinch an FCS Playoff spot in its first year of postseason eligibility following reclassification (South Dakota State in 2009).
• With a win Saturday, Tarleton would set its most wins in its D1 era at nine. The nine wins would mark head coach Todd Whitten's fifth time reaching nine wins at Tarleton in his 15 seasons at the helm.
• Tarleton is No. 12 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 13th in the Stats Perform FCS Poll. ACU is No. 15 and No. 14, respectively.
• With 66 more yards, Kayvon Britten will set a new program single-season rushing record. Britten is currently at 1,495 rushing yards (second most in FCS). Derrick Ross owns the program single-season record at 1,560 (2004).
• Tarleton State is now 15-4 when Victor Gabalis starts at QB, dating back to last season.  

 
CONFERENCE TITLE ON THE LINE
It's only fitting that the United Athletic Conference championship is coming down to the biggest rivalry in the UAC, Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. The winner of Saturday's game will clinch at least a share of the conference championship. With no regard to other UAC results Saturday, Tarleton clinches a share of the championship with a win. No matter what, Tarleton cannot clinch an outright UAC championship on Saturday -- the Texans need to win Saturday and next Saturday vs. Central Arkansas to be outright champions. However, Tarleton could clinch the conference's automatic qualifying bid on Saturday with a win and an Eastern Kentucky loss. The Colonels play at Austin Peay at 2 p.m. on Saturday. If EKU were to lose, Tarleton would clinch the bid with a win Saturday since the worst they could finish is 6-2, along with ACU and Southern Utah, who Tarleton is 2-0 against. If Abilene Christian wins on Saturday, the Wildcats clinch the outright conference championship and the automatic qualifying FCS Playoff bid, and Tarleton would be taking on Central Arkansas next week with hopes of an at-large bid.
 
Tarleton is vying for its sixth conference championship at the NCAA level. The Texans won five during their NCAA Division II days in 2019, 2018, 2013, 2009 and 2001. They played in the NCAA Division II Playoffs five times, (2019, 2018, 2009, 2003 and 2001), not including their two bowl invitations during the D2 days in 2017 and 2013. ACU, meanwhile, hasn't won a conference title since 2010, back when the Wildcats' D2 days, as well. They've won 12 conference titles all-time.
 
EYES ON THE PLAYOFFS
The Texans are in great shape with two games to make the FCS Playoffs in their first year eligible. Tarleton is slated at No. 13 in the Stats Perform FCS Poll and No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, the highest ranked UAC team.
In some of the metrics used by the FCS Playoff Committee, here's where the Texans stand nationally:
- W/L record: 8-2 with the tied-fifth most wins and the tied-ninth best winning percentage (.800)
- Massey Ratings: 17th
- KPI: 23rd
- Strength of Schedule: 49th
Since the start of 2023, the Texans are 16-5 (.762) overall, and 16-3 (.842) against non-FBS opponents. The Texans have won 12 of their last 14 games overall. Tarleton State has the tied-12th best winning percentage across FCS, with the tied-fifth fewest amount of losses.
 
DEFENSE DOMINATING
Tarleton State's defense has shined over Tarleton's past four games, pitching a shutout on homecoming to lead the Texans to a 42-0 win against Utah Tech on Oct. 12, allowing just 17 points at Austin Peay in a 27-17 win, allowing just 17 points in a 17-13 loss to Eastern Kentucky, and giving up 21 points at West Georgia en route to a 38-21 win. Over those four games, the Texans have averaged just 13.8 PPG allowed and 283.5 YPG allowed, while posting nine takeaways and eight sacks.
 
Conference-wise, the Texans have the best group in the UAC. Tarleton State is first in points allowed (22.5), red zone defense (.722), and takeaways (24), plus second in total defense (361.4 YPG allowed).
 
Tarleton's defense has been a strong group generally all season. Across 10 games, Tarleton has allowed under 20 points in half of those games, and under 24 points in seven games. The Texans are 37th nationally in scoring defense at 22.5 PPG allowed -- the lowest in Tarleton's D1 era is 21.8 PPG. In takeaways, Tarleton is third best in the country with 24 on the year.
 
Now the Texans will have a tall task, facing off against the No. 2 ranked total offense (491.9 YPG), the No. 2 ranked passing offense (321.3 YPG) and the No. 11 ranked scoring offense (36.4 PPG) in the FCS. ACU's season-low in points scored is 24, a total that Tarleton hasn't allowed since Oct. 5. Last year playing against ACU QB Maverick McIvor, the Texans limited him to just one touchdown and 172 passing yards on 18-of-26 passing. That was the last time he's thrown for fewer than 200 yards against an FCS opponent.
 
As strong as ACU's offense has been this season, the Wildcats have been susceptible to turnovers, giving it away 13 times this season (eight fumbles, five interceptions).
 
WHITTEN THE WINNER
Tarleton State Football head coach Todd Whitten does one thing better than most -- win. The Texans are now 8-2 on the season, the tied-most wins Tarleton has secured in its D1 era, with two games to play. Tarleton has already locked up its seventh straight winning season, and across Whitten's 15 years at the helm of the Texans, he's taken his team to .500 or better 14 times. Whitten is now 137-83 (.623) across 20 seasons as a collegiate football head coach, owning the 46th most wins among all active NCAA football head coaches, with the next man in front at 139 wins (New Mexico head coach Bronco Mendenhall).
 
Already the winningest head coach in program history, Whitten is now second by himself in winning percentage in his Tarleton tenure at .671.
 
BRITTEN CLOSE TO HISTORY
Tarleton State running back Kayvon Britten is close to setting a new rushing record in Texan Football history. He is just 65 rushing yards away from the all-time single-season record in program history, 66 from owning the record himself. He currently has the third most in a single-season in program history:
1. Derrick Ross with 1,560 (156.0/game) in 2004
2. Derrick Ross with 1,512 (151.2/game) in 2005
3. Kayvon Britten with 1,495 (149.5/game) in 2024
4. Xavier Turner with 1,469 (113.0/game) in 2018
5. Daniel McCants with 1,457 (145.7/game) in 2019
 
Britten is already one of three players in program history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He now has 2,645 career rushing yards in his two seasons at Tarleton.
 
Nationally, Britten is now second in the country in both total rush yards and rush yards per game, trailing Southern Utah's Targhee Lambson (1,597, 159.7 per) in both categories. Britten is fourth nationally with 15 rushing touchdowns.
 
On Oct. 5 at Southern Utah, Britten crossed the 1,000-yard mark in the sixth game of the year. Only five FCS players have reached 1,000 yards in fewer games; South Dakota State's Zach Zenner in 2012, Portland State's Charles Dunn in 2000, Sacramento State's Charles Roberts in 1999, Siena's Reggie Greene in 1997, and Butler's Arnold Mickens in 1994. Britten became the third running back in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons (Derrick Ross, Daniel McCants).
 
Britten has already set program records this season for most rush yards in a game and for the longest rush. He was named the FCS Offensive National Player of the Week and UAC Offensive Player of the Week against North Alabama after 273 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 13.0 yards per carry. Britten surpassed Derrick Ross' 269 yards rushing vs. Western New Mexico on Sept. 10, 2005. Britten's 273 rushing yards are the most in a single-game across FCS and second most across all of NCAA Division I this season, with the FBS leader at 278 (Auburn's Jarquez Hunter). Britten's four rushing touchdowns are the tied-third most in a game at the FCS level this season. Britten tied the program record in scoring with his four touchdowns, joining six others. Before Britten, the most recent to score four times in a game was Xavier Turner on Oct. 20, 2018. In the second quarter at North Alabama, Britten scored his first touchdown on a 96-yard run, which marked the longest run in program history. It's the third longest rushing play across D1 this year, just a yard short of UIW's Dekalon Taylor (Sept. 21) and Saint Francis' DeMarcus McElroy (Sept. 14).
 
Career-wise, Britten has logged 3,500+ rushing yards between two seasons at Arkansas Pine-Bluff (1,294 in 19 games) and two seasons at Tarleton (2,645 in 21 games). Since Derrel Kelley III has 2,000 rushing yards with the Texans, Britten and Kelley have become the third duo across FCS who each have rushed for 2,000 yards for the same program, joining UCA's ShunDerrick Powell/Darius Hale, and William & Mary's Bronson Yoder/Malachi Imoh.
 
NEAR THE TOP
Tarleton is shining on the national stage, near the top of the nation as a team by placing...
- Tied-2nd in Fumbles Lost (1)
- 3rd in Turnover Margin (+1.3 per)
- 3rd in Turnovers Gained (24)
- 6th in Red Zone Offense (.938)
- 6th in Punt Return Defense (3.0)
- Tied-6th in Interceptions (14)
- Tied-6th in Fumble Recoveries (10)
- Tied-8th in Fumbles Recovered (8)
- 13th in Rushing Offense (204.1 rush yards per game)
- 13th in Kickoff Return Defense (16.4 yds allowed per)
- 14th in Net Punting (41.3 yards)
- 15th in Pass Yards per Completion (13.6)
- 19th in Tackles for Loss Allowed (4.3 per)
- 20th in Sacks Allowed (1.2 per)
- 23rd in Red Zone Defense (.722)
- 33rd in Turnovers Lost (11)
- 37th in Scoring Defense (22.5 PPG Allowed)
- 39th in Scoring Offense (28.6 PPG)
 
Individually, Tarleton has top-25 student athletes at...
- 2nd in Rushing Yards (Kayvon Britten) at 1,4295
- 2nd in Rush Yards Per Game (Kayvon Britten) at 149.4
- Tied-2nd in Fumble Recoveries (Kasyus Kurns) at three
- 4th in Rushing TD's (Kayvon Britten) at 15
- Tied-4th in FF (Kasyus Kurns and Ty Rawls) at three
- 6th in All-Purpose Yards (Kayvon Britten) at 153.8 per
- 8th in Yards Per Completion (Victor Gabalis) at 14.2
- 10th in Receiving Yards (Darius Cooper) at 849
- 15th in Yards Per Reception (Darius Cooper) at 18.9
- 16th in Rush Yards Per Carry (Kayvon Britten) at 6.25
- 16th in Receiving Yards Per (Darius Cooper) at 84.9
- Tied-17th in Interceptions (Blake Smith) at three
- 20th in Tackles for Loss Per (Brandon Tolvert) at 1.3
- 20th in Yards Per Reception (Darius Cooper) at 18.3
- 22nd in Punting (Adrian Guzman) at 42.9 yds per
- 25th in Yards Per Pass Attempt (Victor Gabalis) at 8.1
 
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 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 the only Texas D1 or D2 institution with all six winning seasons since 2018. They have 56 wins since the start of 2018, the tied-second most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program, behind Texas (who has played 10 more games). The list of the top scholarship programs in Texas over that span:
 

#	School	Conf.	Win Pct.
1.	Tarleton State	UAC	.737
2.	Angelo State	LSC	.730
3.	Incarnate Word	SLC	.688
4.	Texas	SEC	.682
5.	SMU	AAC	.675
6.	Sam Houston	C-USA	.653
7.	Texas A&M	SEC	.646
8.	UTSA	C-USA	.581
9.	TCU	Big 12	.560
10.	Baylor	Big 12	.548

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Texas	SEC	58
2.	Tarleton State	UAC	56
	SMU	AAC	56
4.	Angelo State	LSC	54
5.	Texas A&M	SEC	53
	Incarnate Word	SLC	53
7.	UTSA	AAC	50
8.	Sam Houston	C-USA	49
9.	TCU	Big 12	47
10.	Baylor	Big 12	46

 
LAST TIME OUT
Tarleton State Football rebounded from a rare loss with one of its most complete games of the season. The Texans set a new NCAA Division I program record for road wins, finishing their regular season 5-1 away from Stephenville, following their 38-21 win at West Georgia on Saturday in Carrollton. 
 
Tarleton played a well-rounded game throughout the contest at University Stadium, with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, one defensive touchdown, four takeaways, one sack, six tackles for loss, 6-for-6 on kicks and a 50-yard punt average. The Texans commanded the time of possession, holding the ball for 36:36 compared to UWG's 23:24. Tarleton was penalized just twice and outgained West Georgia 391-312.
 
This marked the tied-second-most points Tarleton has scored on the season, and the tied-most on the road.
 
On Saturday, Tramaine Chism and Bam Smith gave Tarleton State a fast start with a scoop and score on the third play of the game. Chism forced Rajaez Mosley to fumble, and Smith picked it up at the UWG 18-yard line and housed it to put Tarleton ahead 7-0. On the Wolves' next drive, Tarleton forced another takeaway via fumble, as linebacker Ty Rawls forced T.J. Lockley to cough it up, recovered by Donta Stuart. In the second frame, Texan DB Omar Emmons earned his second interception of the season, giving Tarleton great field position at the UWG 32-yard line. Texan RB Kayvon Britten later cashed in a 4-yard touchdown rush to lift Tarleton up 14-7. Britten again scored on Tarleton's next drive, a 12-play 84-yard march. He scored from a yard out for his 15th rushing touchdown of the season to make it 21-7 Tarleton State.
 
To open the second half, Tarleton struck quickly, as Gabalis found a streaking Darius Cooper for a 42-yard touchdown to make it 28-14.  The Texans scored on their first drive in the fourth quarter, a Corbin Poston 42-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game, 31-21. The Texan defense then stood tall immediately, forcing a turnover on downs on the first set of downs, getting the offense the ball back at the West Georgia 34-yard line. Tarleton took advantage, with Gabalis lobbing a 17-yard touchdown to Cody Jackson to make it 38-21. That essentially iced the game, with Tarleton forcing two more three-and-outs to win by 17.
 
Gabalis finished 20-of-28 for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Britten rushed for a pair of scores, seeing his streak of 100-yard rushing games end at seven, finishing with 75 yards on 26 carries. Cooper recorded his third 100-yard game over the past four contests with 117 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Jackson added a touchdown and 38 yards on four receptions
 
UAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tarleton has garnered five UAC Player of the Week awards through Week 10.
 
In Week 0, Texan running back Kayvon Britten and punter Adrian Guzman were named the UAC Offensive and Special Teams players of the week, respectively, while defensive back Kasyus Kurns was named the UAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Britten rushed for the second most yards across all of college football, finishing with 164 yards on 25 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He was three yards short of the highest rushing total in the nation. Kurns had one of the best defensive games a player can have in Week 0, scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery, recovering two fumbles in total, forcing one fumble, adding a tackle for loss and six total tackles. His scoop and score marked the first fumble return touchdown by a Texan since March 6, 2021, vs. Mississippi College (both Zech Hopkins and Benjie Franklin). He also became the first Tarleton State player since 2014 to come up with two takeaways and a touchdown in the same game (Devin Figures vs. McMurry on Oct. 25). Kurns added an interception in Week 1 and now has the most takeaways across the FCS with three. Guzman had a solid day punting in Week 0, averaging 46.3 yards across his six boots, launching two 50+ yards and two inside the 20.
 
In Week 4, Britten earned his second weekly honor of the season after he set the program's single game rushing record with 273 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He broke a nearly 20-year-old program rushing record set by Derrick Ross on Sept. 10, 2005. Britten's four touchdowns were tied for the most by an FCS running back this season and his 273 rushing yards were just four yards shy of his career-high set during his time at Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
 
In Week 5, linebacker Ty Rawls was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week, his first conference weekly award since joining the Texans. Rawls had a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, a tackle for loss and six total tackles in Tarleton State's 36-33 home win vs. Southeastern Louisiana. His forced and recovered fumble marked a crucial part of the game, key to Tarleton's 15-point swing from trailing by five to leading by 10. When the Texans were down 19-14, they scored to go up 22-19, and three plays later, Rawls forced the takeaway. On the very next play, the Texans scored again to lead 29-19. Rawls' fumble recovery was the second of his career, and it marked his first career forced fumble.
 
COOPER ETCHES NAME IN THE BOOKS
Darius Cooper is in the top-five career receiving touchdowns in program history, now at 21, as he just surpassed Will Moody for sole possession of No. 5.
1. Zimari Manning (34, 2018-19)
2. Le'Nard Meyers (27, 2012-15)
3. Devin Guinn (26, 2006-09)
4. Jeremy Madkins (25, 2003-06)
5. Darius Cooper (21, 2020-Present)
 
Cooper also just reached No. 3 in program history in career receiving yards, surpassing Harlan Wunsch, Meyers and Moody (2,566 yards) this past game. He needs 175 more receiving yards to own the most in a Tarleton Texan's career:
1. Clifton Rhodes III (2,757, 2011-14)
2. Devin Guinn (2,613, 2006-09)
3. Darius Cooper (2,583, 2020-Present)
4. Harlan Wunsch (2,582, 1967-69)
5. Le'Nard Meyers (2,580, 2012-15)
 
NATIONAL LEADER
Across the country, only 11 NCAA Division I teams (seven FBS, four FCS) have a better win percentage than Tarleton since 2018 (Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, North Dakota State, James Madison, South Dakota State, Florida A&M, Dartmouth). So among some 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	.881
2.	Alabama	SEC	.880
3.	Georgia	SEC	.879
4.	North Dakota State	MVFC	.875
5.	Clemson	ACC	.835
6.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.826
7.	South Dakota State	MVFC	.813
8.	James Madison	SBC	.810
9.	Florida A&M	SWAC	.746
10.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.741
12.	Oklahoma	SEC	.739
13.	Tarleton State	UAC	.737

 
.750: The Texans and Wildcats enter Saturday's game with a combined winning percentage of .750. It's the best combined mark entering a meeting since 2013, when the 2-0 Texans faced the 3-1 Wildcats (.833).
 
9: This is the ninth top-15 matchup in the FCS this season. Last week, No. 4 UC Davis beat No. 7 Montana 30-14, on Oct. 26, No. 3 South Dakota State beat No. 4 South Dakota 20-17 in OT, on Oct. 19, No. 2 North Dakota State beat No. 1 South Dakota State 13-9, on Oct. 12, No. 3 Montana State beat No. 7 Idaho 38-7, on Oct. 5, No. 2 North Dakota State beat No. 7 North Dakota, on Sept. 28, No. 14 UC Davis beat No. 4 Idaho 28-26, on Sept. 14, No. 9 Southern Illinois defeated No. 12 UIW 35-28, and on Sept. 7, No. 1 South Dakota State defeated No. 12 UIW 45-24.
 
10: Offensive lineman Kariem Al Soufi brings a unique background to Tarleton coming from Germany. Al Soufi is one of just 10 players in FCS who is from Germany, and he is one of three international football players in the United Athletic Conference. He is the only UAC player from Germany, and he is just one of three German FCS players playing for a Texas School (two from Stephen F. Austin).
 
1: Whitten is the only coach at any NCAA level actively coaching in his third stint at his current school. He is just one of 37 coaches at any NCAA level to have three non-consecutive tenures at one school and he is the second coach in with three stints at Tarleton State (W.J. Wisdom, 1920-22, 1924-28, 1930-35).
 
UP NEXT
Tarleton State will play its regular season finale at home against Central Arkansas on Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Depending on Saturday's results, the game could be for a outright conference championship or an FCS Playoff spot.