The Tarleton State Texans football program, also known as the Tarleton Texans, is the intercollegiate American football team for Tarleton State University located in the U.S. state of Texas.[2] Through the 2019 season, the team competed in NCAA Division II as members of the Lone Star Conference, but moved to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) beginning in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In fall 2021, Tarleton's full-time home of the Western Athletic Conference revived its football league at the FCS level, with Tarleton as one of the inaugural members.[3]

Tarleton State Texans football
2024 Tarleton State Texans football team
First season1904; 120 years ago (1904)
Athletic directorSteve Uryasz
Head coachTodd Whitten
15th season, 113–56 (.669)
StadiumMemorial Stadium
(capacity: 24,000)
LocationStephenville, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceUnited Athletic Conference
All-time record336–325–3 (.508)
Conference titles11 (6 TIAA, 5 LSC)
Division titles5 (3 LSC North, 2 LSC South)
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
WebsiteTarletonSports.com

The WAC and the ASUN Conference entered into a football-only partnership in the 2021 season, renewing it for 2022. Shortly after the 2022 season, the two conferences fully merged their football leagues into what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, with Tarleton as one of the new league's nine inaugural members.[4][5][6]

The Texans are ineligible for FCS Playoff competition until 2024 due to NCAA transfer rules. Tarleton first football team was fielded in 1904. The team plays its home games at the 24,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. The Texans are coached by Todd Whitten.

History

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Championships

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Conference championships

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Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1977 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Buddy Fornes 7–4 4–0
1978 8–1–1 7–0–1
1986 Bill Pringle 9–1–1 6–0
1987 9–3–1 6–0
1989 Hal McAfee 9–3 8–2
1990 11–1 6–0
2001† Lone Star Conference Todd Whitten 10–3 8–1
2009† Sam McElroy 10–3 7–2
2013† Cary Fowler 7–3 5–1
2018 Todd Whitten 12–1 8–0
2019 11–1 8–0

† Denotes co-champions[7]

Division championships

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Season Division Coach Overall Record Conference Record
2001† LSC South Todd Whitten 10–3 8–1
2002 LSC North 9–2 6–2
2003 8–4 6–2
2006† LSC South Sam McElroy 6–4 6–3
2009† 10–3 7–2

† Co-championship

Playoff appearances

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NCAA Division I FCS

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The Texans have made one appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. They had a combined record of 0–0.

Year Round Opponent Result
2024 First Round Drake TBD

NCAA Division II

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The Texans made five appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. They had a combined record of 4–5.

Year Round Opponent Result
2001 First Round
Quarterfinals
Chadron State
UC Davis
W, 28–24
L, 25–42
2003 First Round Texas A&M–Kingsville L, 10–34
2009 First Round
Second Round
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Central Washington
W, 57–56 2OT
L, 6–27
2018 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Azusa Pacific
Texas A&M–Commerce
Minnesota State
W, 58–0
W, 34–28
L, 10–13
2019 First Round Texas A&M–Commerce L, 16–23

Notable former players

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Notable alumni include:

Richard Bartel, QB: Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Arizona Cardinals. 2007-2012. Offensive coordinator: Atlanta Legends. 2019.[8]

Marv Brown, HB: Detroit Lions. 1957.[9]

Walter Bryan, DB: Baltimore Colts. 1955.[10]

James Dearth, LS: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots. 1999-2011.[11]

Saalim Hakim, WR: New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs. 2012-2015.[12]

Rufus Johnson, DE: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders. 2013-2017.[13]

Garrett Lindholm, K: Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Milwaukee Mustangs, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Rattlers, San Antonio Talons, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Los Angeles KISS. 2010-2016.[14]

Tywain Myles, DT: Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons. 2008-2009.[15]

Deshaun Phillips, CB: Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Renegades. 2014–Present.[16]

Derrick Ross, FB: Kansas City Chiefs, Cologne Centurions, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, San Angelo Stampede Express, Dallas Vigilantes, Philadelphia Soul, Los Angeles KISS, Las Vegas Outlaws, Jacksonville Sharks. 2006-2017.[17]

E.J. Speed, LB: Indianapolis Colts. 2019–Present.[18]

Nick Stephens, QB: Tennessee Titans, Utah Blaze, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, San Jose SaberCats. 2012-2014.[19]

Camp Wilson, FB: Detroit Lions. 1946-1949.[20]

Randy Winkler, OT: Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers. 1968-1971.[21]

Koe Wetzel, LB: American singer/songwriter[22]

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024.[23]

2024 2025 2026 2027
McNeese South Dakota State at North Texas
at Baylor at Texas A&M
at Houston Christian
Southeastern Louisiana

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Media Relations". TarletonSports.com. August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Tarleton State University Athletics - Official Athletics Website". tarletonsports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule" (Press release). ASUN Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "2021 Tarleton Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Richard Bartel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Marv Brown Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "Walter Bryan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "James Dearth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "Saalim Hakim Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Rufus Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "Garrett Lindholm". www.nfl.com. NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tywain Myles". www.nfl.com. NFL.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dashaun Phillips Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "Derrick Ross Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "E.J. Speed Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  19. ^ "Nick Stephens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Camp Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  21. ^ "Randy Winkler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "Koe Wetzel - Football". Tarleton State University Athletics. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Tarleton State Texans Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
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