RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the fourth time this season and third week in a row, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football program is receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl.
The Vaqueros are receiving seven points in the week 8 poll after previously receiving five in the week 4 poll, four in the week 6 poll, and 10 in the week 7 poll. UTRGV is 5-2, with the losses coming on the road to No. 15 Lamar and No. 19 Southeastern.
Of the 11 athletic departments that have started an NCAA Division I football team from scratch at the NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) level since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978, UTRGV is one of four to win at least five of their first seven games, along with Kennesaw State (2015, 5-2), Georgia State (2010, 5-2), and South Alabama (2009, 7-0), the latter of which did not play any Division I competition that season.
UTRGV is one of four Southland Conference institutions ranked or receiving votes, along with No. 15 Lamar, No. 19 Southeastern, and No. 24 Stephen F. Austin.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 20, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 8 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
North Dakota St. (25) |
7-0 |
625 |
1 |
D. Indiana St., 38-7 |
Oct. 25 at No. 2 South Dakota St. |
| 2 |
South Dakota St. |
7-0 |
597 |
2 |
D. Murray St., 35-14 |
Oct. 25 vs. No. 1 North Dakota St. |
| 3 |
Tarleton St. |
8-0 |
578 |
3 |
D. No. 23 West Georgia, 45-10 |
Oct. 25 at Eastern Kentucky |
| 4 |
Montana |
7-0 |
547 |
4 |
D. Sacred Heart, 43-21 |
Oct. 24 at Sacramento St. |
| 5 |
Montana St. |
5-2 |
501 |
5 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 at Cal Poly |
| 6 |
UC Davis |
5-1 |
487 |
6 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 at Northern Colorado |
| 7 |
Lehigh |
7-0 |
465 |
7 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 at Fordham |
| 8 |
Tennessee Tech |
7-0 |
431 |
8 |
D. Lindenwood, 52-28 |
Oct. 25 vs. Southeast Missouri St. |
| 9 |
Monmouth (N.J.) |
6-1 |
417 |
10 |
D. Stony Brook, 49-21 |
Oct. 25 at Hampton |
| 10 |
North Dakota |
5-2 |
398 |
11 |
D. No. 12 Southern Illinois, 38-19 |
Oct. 25 vs. Indiana St. |
| 11 |
Jackson St. |
5-1 |
345 |
13 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 vs. Grambling St. |
| 12 |
Villanova |
5-2 |
322 |
14 |
D. Hampton, 56-14 |
Oct. 25 vs. UAlbany |
| 13 |
Rhode Island |
6-2 |
314 |
15 |
D. UAlbany, 58-17 |
Oct. 25 vs. Bryant |
| 14 |
Mercer |
5-1 |
277 |
16 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 vs. VMI |
| 15 |
Lamar |
6-1 |
268 |
18 |
D. UT Rio Grande Valley, 23-21 |
Oct. 25 at Northwestern St. |
| 16 |
Presbyterian |
7-0 |
241 |
19 |
D. Stetson, 42-7 |
Oct. 25 at Dayton |
| 17 |
Harvard |
5-0 |
198 |
20 |
D. Merrimack, 31-7 |
Oct. 25 at Princeton |
| 18 |
Southern Illinois |
4-3 |
165 |
12 |
Lost to No. 11 North Dakota, 38-19 |
Oct. 25 vs. Northern Iowa |
| 19 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
5-2 |
164 |
22 |
D. Northwestern St., 49-0 |
Oct. 25 at HCU |
| 20 |
Illinois St. |
4-3 |
163 |
9 |
Lost to No. 25 Youngstown St., 40-35 |
Oct. 25 at South Dakota |
| 21 |
Youngstown St. |
4-3 |
155 |
25 |
D. No. 9 Illinois St., 40-35 |
Oct. 25 vs. Murray St. |
| 22 |
Northern Arizona |
4-3 |
124 |
21 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 at Idaho St. |
| 23 |
Austin Peay |
4-3 |
73 |
24 |
Idle |
Oct. 25 vs. North Alabama |
| 24 |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-2 |
64 |
NR |
D. Nicholls, 34-7 |
Oct. 25 at East Texas A&M |
| 25 |
ACU |
4-4 |
48 |
17 |
Lost to Southern Utah, 31-24 |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 3 Tarleton St. |
Dropped Out: West Georgia (25)
Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 32; West Georgia, 29; Western Carolina, 23; North Carolina Central, 17; Lafayette, 13; Penn, 11; Sacramento St., 11;
UT Rio Grande Valley, 7; Central Arkansas, 6; Gardner-Webb, 4; Alabama St., 3; Dartmouth, 1; Duquesne, 1.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently leads the FCS in four statistical categories, ranks in the top 10 in 13 categories, and the top 30 in 25 categories:
| Category |
Value |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fumbles Recovered |
9 |
3 |
1 |
| Turnovers Gained |
16 |
3 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
4 |
1 |
| Points Per Game |
44.7 |
5 |
1 |
| Turnover Margin |
1.43 |
5 |
1 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
15.6 |
6 |
1 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game |
285.4 |
7 |
2 |
| Passing Yards Per Completion |
14.82 |
8 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game |
232.4 |
8 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense |
107.80 |
8 |
1 |
| Total Yards Per Game |
484.3 |
8 |
1 |
| Defensive Touchdowns |
2 |
11 |
3 |
| First Downs Allowed |
108 |
13 |
1 |
| Winning Percentage |
.714 |
17 |
2 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game |
110.9 |
13 |
2 |
| Team Passing Efficiency |
164.84 |
13 |
2 |
| Team Tackles for Loss Per Game |
7.0 |
13 |
2 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game |
174.6 |
16 |
4 |
| Turnovers Lost |
6 |
19 |
1 |
| Punt Return Defense |
5.14 |
21 |
4 |
| Passes Intercepted |
7 |
22 |
2 |
| Passing Yards Per Game |
251.9 |
26 |
3 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. Defense |
.349 |
27 |
5 |
UTRGV also has 19 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
| Player |
Stat |
Total |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Eddie Lee Marburger |
Passing Yards Per Completion |
15.34 |
4 |
1 |
|
Yards Per Pass Attempt |
9.63 |
4 |
1 |
|
Passing Efficiency |
171.0 |
9 |
1 |
|
Passing Touchdowns |
16 |
8 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
16.3 |
11 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For |
114 |
11 |
1 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
255.3 |
23 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
225.7 |
24 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards |
1,580 |
20 |
1 |
|
Completion Percentage |
.628 |
49 |
5 |
|
Completions Per Game |
14.71 |
64 |
5 |
|
Rushing Touchdowns |
3 |
134 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Xayvion Noland |
Yards Per Reception |
28.40 |
1 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards |
568 |
21 |
1 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
5 |
22 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
81.1 |
23 |
1 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
104.14 |
39 |
2 |
|
Kick Return Yards |
161 |
96 |
6 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
99 |
5 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
2.86 |
199 |
13 |
|
Scoring |
4.3 |
200 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tony Diaz |
Receiving Touchdowns |
5 |
22 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards |
442 |
57 |
5 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
63.1 |
60 |
5 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
4.29 |
72 |
4 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
99 |
5 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
14.73 |
106 |
7 |
|
Scoring |
4.3 |
200 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brysen Gardner |
Field Goals Per Game |
1.14 |
25 |
4 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
.800 |
26 |
4 |
|
Scoring |
7.3 |
32 |
2 |
|
Points Responsible For |
51 |
110 |
7 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
7.3 |
110 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Dement |
Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
61 |
3 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
99 |
5 |
|
Rushing Yards Per Game |
36.3 |
181 |
9 |
|
Rushing Yards |
254 |
182 |
11 |
|
Scoring |
4.3 |
200 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elijah Graham |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
34 |
4 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.29 |
42 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jaiden Haygood |
Total Tackles Per Game |
8.9 |
25 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Logic Hudgens |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.29 |
42 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percy Jackson III |
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.33 |
15 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spencer Rich |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
Total Tackles Per Game |
6.3 |
186 |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ian Box |
Sacks Per Game |
0.43 |
84 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hank Filamar |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fabian Garcia |
Rushing Touchdowns |
3 |
134 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Abdon Mata |
Sacks Per Game |
0.50 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Neal |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Amari Pouncy |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alijah Prosser |
Forced Fumbles |
0.29 |
24 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Djouvensky Schlenbaker |
Rushing Touchdowns |
3 |
134 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ismael Smith Flores |
Receiving Touchdowns |
3 |
81 |
7 |
Up Next
UTRGV hosts defending Southland Conference Champion Incarnate Word on Saturday at 7 p.m. for homecoming at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium.
A limited number of individual tickets go on sale Friday at 8 a.m. at
UTRGVTickets.com.
The action starts with KRGV's Vaqueros Game Day at 10 a.m. in Schlotzsky's Vaquero Village at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tailgating at Vackar Stadium begins at 2 p.m. The Vaqueros Walk is at 4:45 p.m. in the H-E-B Tailgate Zone followed by a pep rally in the amphitheater. Fans do not need a game ticket to access Vaqueros Game Day or the tailgating areas.
Gates to Vackar Stadium open at 5:30 p.m.
Fans can learn more about game day, including parking information, maps, and the clear bag policy, by visiting
RallyTheValley.com.
Fans can watch online domestically on
ESPN+ and internationally on
Southland International.
Fans can listen in English locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the
Radio Para Mi app, and in Spanish locally on KYWW 1530 AM Puro Tejano and KGBT-FM 98.5 La Preferida and online via the
Uforia app.
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