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Tarleton State University Athletics

Chancellor'sCupRecap
Toby Rhodes
30
Prairie View PVM 0-1 , 0-0
49
Winner Tarleton St. TAR 1-0 , 0-0
Prairie View PVM
0-1 , 0-0
30
Final
49
Tarleton St. TAR
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
PVM Prairie View 7 13 3 7 30
TAR Tarleton St. 14 14 14 7 49

Game Recap: Football | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Football captures inaugural Chancellor’s Cup, defeats Prairie View A&M in 2026 opener

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Football brought home hardware in its first game of the 2026 season, winning the inaugural Chancellor's Cup by defeating Prairie View A&M 49-30 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in front of a nationally-televised audience.

The Texans, the defending United Athletic Conference co-champions, was victorious over its fellow Texas A&M System school for the third time in the all-time series. Tarleton State won its fifth straight season opener with its victory over the 2025 Celebration Bowl participant. 

Prairie View A&M netted 519 yards of total offense to Tarleton State's 505 yards. The No. 5 nationally ranked Texans won the rushing game with 231 yards compared to the Panthers' 188 and had a 70% success rate on third down conversion. 

Tarleton State played in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday night with 24,481 fans. That mark set a new Memorial Stadium attendance record. 

Quarterback Kaden Anderson shined as the opening game starter for the Texans, completing 15-of-21 passes for 224 yards and four total touchdowns. Anderson, a transfer from Wyoming, did not throw an interception in his Texan debut. His four total touchdowns were the most by a Texan quarterback in a season opener since 2009. 

Running back Tylan Hines netted 184 yards with two touchdowns while wide receiver Marquis Willis picked up his third career 100-yard receiving game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night. Fredd Adams and Gerard Culotta led the defense with 10 tackles each. 

"I'm proud of our guys. I thought we played really well on offense and didn't have a turnover on that side of the ball," head coach Todd Whitten said. "Our offense made big plays and really shined tonight. Prairie View A&M is a good team and they are well coached. Getting the first Chancellor's Cup and winning it on our home field in front of a sellout crowd is huge for our program." 

It took just nine plays for Tarleton State to get its first touchdown of 2026, with Anderson connecting with Willis for a seven-yard touchdown four minutes into the game. Prairie View A&M, however, answered on its opening drive. A two-yard run by the Panthers capped off an eight-play, three minute drive to tie the game with 7:39 left in the first quarter. 

As the Texans have done time and time again, the offense scored and scored quickly. Tarleton State took just over a minute to swing the advantage over to the Purple and White's side, scoring off a 40-yard run by Hines. The Texans carried their 14-7 lead through the end of the first quarter. 

After opening the second quarter with a safety, Prairie View A&M converted a 28-yard field goal to make it a two-point game. Tarleton State found a familiar combo to extend its lead, with Anderson finding Willis again for the touchdown. Willis' second touchdown catch of the day made it a 21-12 lead before fellow wide receiver Tanner Schmidt caught his first touchdown as a Texan with 1:19 left in the first half. 

Prairie View A&M managed to cut the deficit just before the half. A four-yard touchdown run capped off a five play, 56-second drive to end the first half and cut Tarleton State's deficit 28-20. 

Hines opened the second half in familiar territory: the endzone. His 63-yard run to the house in the third quarter made it a 15-point lead three minutes into the second half. 

After Hines took the spotlight, Anderson took his turn. Anderson completed two passes and finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown run to put the Texans ahead by 29 points. 

Prairie View A&M converted a field goal in the third quarter, but Tarleton State's response resulted in a touchdown. Quarterback Braedyn Locke found tight end Klein Essler for a seven-yard score in the fourth quarter, marking both players' first touchdowns as Texans. The Texans held onto their lead through the remainder of the game, breaking up a potential Prairie View A&M touchdown pass to take the Chancellor's Cup. 

Tarleton State will face FBS competition next week, traveling to Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 5 for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff. 
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