STEPHENVILLE, Texas — During an opening college football slate of upsets in the FCS, the Texans handled business in their opener, cruising 49-30 over Prairie View A&M on Saturday.
 
Tarleton State maintained its No. 5 ranking in both of the major national polls, No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll and in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
 
In the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, the Texans earned 1,163 points, trailing only No. 1 Montana State (1,425 points), No. 2 South Dakota State (1,333 points), No. 3 Montana (1,303 points), and No. 4 Illinois State (1,228 points). The Texans are one of four UAC teams in the poll now, as West Florida has joined the mix at No. 25. Austin Peay is No. 15 and Abilene Christian No. 20.
 
In the AFCA Coaches Poll, Tarleton State earned 554 points, with No. 1 Montana State at 650 points, No. 2 South Dakota State at 604 points, No. 3 Montana at 599 points and No. 4 Illinois State at 563 points. The Texans are one of four UAC teams in this poll, with Central Arkansas ranked after its upset win. Austin Peay is No. 14, ACU is No. 21 and Central Arkansas is No. 24. The AFCA FCS Coaches Poll is voted on by the panel chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the AFCA their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top-25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second-place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.
 
The Texans have been ranked in 28 straight iterations of the polls, dating back to the preseason polls in 2024. Tarleton State is one of seven teams to have been ranked in each poll over the past three seasons, along with Illinois State, Montana, Montana State, South Dakota State, UC Davis and Villanova.
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll

1. Montana St.
2. South Dakota St.
3. Montana
4. Illinois St.
5. Tarleton St.           
6. Rhode Island
7. UC Davis
8. North Dakota
9. Youngstown State
10. Lehigh
11. South Dakota
12. Tennessee Tech
13. Stephen F. Austin
14. Lamar
15. Austin Peay
16. Yale
17. William & Mary
18. Villanova
19. Mercer
20. Abilene Christian
21. South Carolina State
22. Northern Arizona
23. Idaho State
24. Western Carolina
25. West Florida

 
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll

1. Montana St.
2. South Dakota St.
3. Montana
4. Illinois St.
5. Tarleton St.           
6. UC Davis
7. Youngstown State
8. Rhode Island
9. North Dakota
10. Lehigh
11. Stephen F. Austin
12. South Dakota
13. Tennessee Tech
14. Austin Peay
15. Mercer
16. Lamar
17. Villanova
18. Yale
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Abilene Christian
22. South Carolina State
23. Richmond
24. Central Arkansas
25. Southern Illinois