Every Monday, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) releases its list of the top 25 Division II football teams across the nation. On Sept. 23, Tarleton State University found itself on the list for the first time in quite awhile.

“It is an honor to earn a national ranking,” said Tarleton’s Head Coach Cary Fowler, referring to Tarleton’s 25^th ranking position out of 148 football playing Division II schools in the United States. 

Tarleton’s upset win over then #13 Midwestern State University, along with a last second win over division rival Angelo State University, helped push Tarleton up the rankings.

The Texans have a lot of momentum swaying into this week’s neutral site game against Abilene Christian University, and Fowler has said that he isn’t going to let the Texans get too big in the head.

“It’s early in the season and we have not discussed the national ranking as a coaching staff or a team,” Fowler said. “Polls are a guess of the top teams in the country. Our focus as a team is the task at hand. That task is to get better with each play, each and every day and to play better this week than we did last week.”

A win over ACU would look to bump the Texans into the high teens, depending on how well other teams perform this week.

The neutral site for the game this Saturday will be at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., as the Texans will look to up their ranking, and their record to 3-0.