Tarleton State Texans football
College football program representing Tarleton State University
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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]
17th season, 125–58 (.683)
| Tarleton State Texans football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| |||
| First season | 1904 | ||
| Athletic director | Steve Uryasz | ||
| Head coach | Todd Whitten 17th season, 125–58 (.683) | ||
| Location | Stephenville, Texas | ||
| Stadium | Memorial Stadium (capacity: 24,000) | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | UAC | ||
| Colors | Purple and white[1] | ||
| All-time record | 348–327–3 (.515) | ||
| Conference championships | |||
| TIAA: 1977, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 LSC: 2001, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2019 UAC: 2025 | |||
| Division championships | |||
| LSC South: 2001, 2006, 2009 LSC North: 2002, 2003 | |||
| Website | TarletonSports.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]
Tarleton's 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
Championships
Conference championships
| 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 | ||
| 2025† | United Athletic Conference (football) | 7–1 |
† Denotes co-champions[7]
Division championships
| 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
NCAA Division I FCS
The Texans have made two appearances in the Division I FCS playoffs, with an overall record of 2–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | First Round Second Round |
Drake South Dakota |
W, 43–29 L, 31–42 |
| 2025 | Second Round Quarterfinals |
North Dakota Villanova |
W, 31–13 L, 21–26 |
NCAA Division II
The Texans made five appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with an overall 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 |
NAIA
Tarleton State made four appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 3–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | Findlay | L, 6–13 |
| 1987 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Bethany (KS) Baker (KS) |
W, 38–26 L, 12–13 |
| 1989 | First Round Quarterfinals |
St. Mary of the Plains Westminster (PA) |
W, 16–6 L, 0–34 |
| 1990 | First Round Quarterfinals |
St. Mary of the Plains Westminster (PA) |
W, 24–14 L, 17–19 |
Notable former players
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
Announced schedules as of March 9, 2026.[23]
| 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Prairie View A&M | at North Texas |
| at Bowling Green | McNeese |
| at McNeese | at Prairie View A&M |
| Merrimack | |
| Chicago State | |