| Tarleton State Texans football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1904; 121 years ago (1904) | ||
| Athletic director | Steve Uryasz | ||
| Head coach | Todd Whitten 15th season, 113–56 (.669) | ||
| Stadium | Memorial Stadium (capacity: 24,000) | ||
| Location | Stephenville, Texas | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | United Athletic Conference | ||
| All-time record | 336–325–3 (.508) | ||
| Conference titles | |||
| 11 (6 TIAA, 5 LSC) | |||
| Conference division titles | |||
| 5 (3 LSC North, 2 LSC South) | |||
| Colors | Purple and white[1] | ||
| Website | TarletonSports.com | ||
TheTarleton State Texans football program, also known as theTarleton Texans, is the intercollegiateAmerican football team forTarleton State University located in the U.S. state ofTexas.[2] Through the 2019 season, the team competed inNCAA Division II as members of theLone Star Conference, but moved to theNCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) beginning in the2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In fall 2021, Tarleton's full-time home of theWestern Athletic Conference revived itsfootball league at the FCS level, with Tarleton as one of the inaugural members.[3]
The WAC and theASUN 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 theUnited 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-seatMemorial Stadium inStephenville, Texas. The Texans are coached byTodd Whitten.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(February 2020) |
| 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]
| 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
The Texans have made one appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. They had a combined record of 1–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | First Round Second Round | Drake South Dakota | W, 43–29 L, 31–42 |
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, 57–562OT 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 alumni include:
| This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(February 2020) |
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]
Announced schedules as of November 6, 2025.[23]
| 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|
| atBowling Green | atNorth Texas |
| atMcNeese | McNeese |
| Prairie View A&M | atPrairie View A&M |
