Tarleton State Claims Historic No. 1 Spot in Latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll After SDSU Stunner

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State has achieved a monumental milestone in program history, seizing the No. 1 ranking in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Top 25 Coaches Poll. Following a shocking 21-10 defeat suffered by previous top-ranked South Dakota State at the hands of North Dakota, the undefeated Texans (7-0) commanded 24 of 26 first-place votes to earn 648 total points and solidify their position at the pinnacle of Division I FCS football for the very first time.

Week 8 is in the books, but the road to the playoffs is getting narrower each week. Who will separate themselves from the pack in Week 9?

Explosive Offense Powers Texan Dominance

Head coach Todd Whitten’s squad is not merely winning; they are validating their top ranking by overwhelming opponents week in and week out. Tarleton State enters the week leading all of the FCS in total offense, churning out an explosive 509.3 yards per game and averaging 40.86 points per contest.

Senior quarterback Kaden Anderson has been the calm, decisive maestro behind center, orchestrating the nation’s most potent attack with 1,972 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and just two interceptions through seven games while compiling a 172.69 passer rating. On the ground, explosive running back Tylan Hines has carved up opposing defenses for 672 yards and four touchdowns on an astonishing 7.7 yards per carry. Freshman back Bryce Green adds lethal finishing ability near the goal line with a team-high five rushing touchdowns, making the Texans an absolute nightmare to defend in two-minute and red-zone situations.

Lumberjacks & Big Sky Contenders Pressure the Top Spot

Breathing directly down the Texans’ neck is another Lone Star juggernaut: Stephen F. Austin. Sitting at No. 2 with 623 points and claiming the remaining two first-place votes, the 7-0 Lumberjacks are putting together their finest regular-season start in decades, setting up a thrilling narrative for Texas college football.

Rounding out the top four are Big Sky powerhouse Montana State (6-1, 591 points) at No. 3 and Youngstown State (6-2, 567 points) moving up to No. 4.

POV: You’re undefeated 8-0 for the first time in program history 🤩

#FCS x 📸 @SFA_Football https://t.co/olR9hiIbef

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) October 25, 2026

The Upset That Shook FCS Football: How North Dakota Downed SDSU

The seismic shift atop the national rankings was set off at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, where defending national champion South Dakota State saw its reign halted in a 21-10 defeat.

Fighting Hawks quarterback Jerry Kaminski delivered timely throws, tossing two touchdown passes, but the game-breaking moment unfolded on the third snap of the second half. Holding a tight 10-7 advantage, North Dakota running back James Basinger burst through a gap off left tackle and raced 63 yards to the end zone for a backbreaking touchdown. Basinger finished with a game-high 101 rushing yards, complemented by Matt Lawson’s 99 rushing yards, as UND’s physical ground game controlled the clock.

Concurrently, North Dakota’s defense completely erased South Dakota State’s rhythm. Jackrabbits quarterback Chase Mason was held to 14-of-33 passing for 169 yards as SDSU was shut out across the final two quarters. The loss dropped the Jackrabbits to No. 5 (520 points), while North Dakota surged seven spots up to No. 8 (457 points).

Top 25 Shakeup & Looking Ahead

The lower half of the poll experienced substantial turnover as recent shaky outings forced a total exit for four notable programs: Colgate, Idaho State, Yale, and Northern Iowa all slid completely out of the Top 25.

Capitalizing on the vacancies, Jackson State (6-1) surged into the rankings at No. 22, joined by West Florida (4-2) at No. 23, Southeastern Louisiana (4-3) at No. 24, and South Carolina State (5-2) at No. 25.

With November fast approaching, Tarleton State holds complete control of its national championship destiny. However, with Stephen F. Austin right behind them and hungry Big Sky and MVFC contenders eager to strike, the race for the national title has never been more open.