STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Football is one of eight teams who has been ranked every week over the past two seasons, and the Texans will start 2026 in a similar spot.
 
Tarleton State is ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced on Monday. Last year, the Texans finished No. 6 in both of the final major national polls, the Stats Perform Top 25 Poll and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The Texans rose as high as No. 2 during the season.
 
This marks 27 straight appearances for the Texans in the rankings, dating back to the preseason poll in 2024. Tarleton State is one of eight teams to have been ranked in each poll over the past two seasons, along with Illinois State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UC Davis and Villanova. Seven of the eight programs made the 2026 preseason poll, the outlier North Dakota State, who is now in the FBS.
 
This year, Tarleton State is the highest ranked UAC team in the poll, one of three representatives, with Abilene Christian No. 15 and Austin Peay No. 17. Montana State is No. 1 with 1,425 points, Montana is No. 2 with 1,328 points, South Dakota State No. 3 with 1,266 points, Illinois State No. 4 with 1,231 points, and Tarleton State No. 5 with 1,100 points.
 
Tarleton State and Abilene Christian are tied-atop the 2026 UAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll, following a 2025 campaign with each team winning a share of the UAC championship. Austin Peay finished third in the UAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
The Texans went 12-2 overall and 7-1 in UAC play last year, advancing to the FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals in just their second year of D1 postseason eligibility. This year, the Texans will debut their No. 1 ranked National Signing Day Class.
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (2026 Preseason)
(2025 Record in Parentheses)
 
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0 Big Sky)
Points: 1,425 (57 of 57 first-place votes); Final 2025 Ranking: 1; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Utah Tech
 
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky)
Points: 1,328; Final 2025 Ranking: 3; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Southern Utah
 
3. South Dakota State (9-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 1,266; Final 2025 Ranking: 13; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Stetson
 
4. Illinois State (12-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 1,231; Final 2025 Ranking: 2; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. St. Francis (IL)
 
5. Tarleton State (12-2, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 1,100; Final 2025 Ranking: 6; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Prairie View A&M
 
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 1,063; Final 2025 Ranking: 8; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Portland State
 
7. Rhode Island (11-3, 8-0 CAA)
Points: 1,048; Final 2025 Ranking: 11; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at Merrimack
 
8. Villanova (12-3, 7-1 CAA; Patriot League member in 2026)
Points: 1,008; Final 2025 Ranking: 4 (tie); 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 vs. William & Mary
 
9. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 946; Final 2025 Ranking: 18; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Mercyhurst
 
10. North Dakota (8-6, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 945; Final 2025 Ranking: 14; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. LIU
 
11. Lehigh (12-1, 7-0 Patriot)
Points: 826; Final 2025 Ranking: 10; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Holy Cross
 
12. South Dakota (10-5, 6-2 MVFC)
Points: 783; Final 2025 Ranking: 9; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Central Connecticut State
 
13. Stephen F. Austin (11-3, 8-0 Southland)
Points: 773; Final 2025 Ranking: 7; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at McNeese
 
14. Tennessee Tech (11-2, 8-0 Ohio Valley; SoCon member in 2026)
Points: 594; Final 2025 Ranking: 16; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth
 
15. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 579; Final 2025 Ranking: 12; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Lamar
 
16. Southern Illinois (7-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 509; Final 2025 Ranking: 25; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 at West Florida
 
17. Austin Peay (7-5, 4-4 UAC)
Points: 440; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Gardner-Webb
 
18. Yale (9-3, 6-1 Ivy)
Points: 418; Final 2025 Ranking: 15; 2026 Season Opener: Sept. 19 at Holy Cross
 
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 7-1 Southland)
Points: 392; Final 2025 Ranking: 19; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. HCU
 
20. Lamar (8-5, 5-3 Southland)
Points: 380; Final 2025 Ranking: 24; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Abilene Christian
 
21. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Points: 306; Final 2025 Ranking: 17; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. East Texas A&M
 
22. Monmouth (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
Points: 200; Final 2025 Ranking: 22; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Tennessee Tech
 
23. UT Martin (6-6, 6-2 OCV-Big South; rebranded to Ohio Valley Conference in 2026)
Points: 144; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Central Arkansas
 
24. South Carolina State (10-3, 5-0 MEAC)
Points: 107; Final 2025 Ranking: 21; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Savannah State
 
25. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4 Big Sky)
Points: 103; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Washington