RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football program received the most points of any team outside the top 25 in the week 9 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, garnering 25 points, just behind No. 25 Abilene Christian, which has 36 points, on Monday.
UTRGV is receiving votes totaling four points in the
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, marking the first time the Vaqueros have been named on two or more ballots in that poll. FCS Nation Radio also announced that
they have UTRGV ranked 25th.
This is the fifth time this season and fourth week in a row that UTRGV has been receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
The Vaqueros previously earned seven points in the week 8 poll, 10 in week 7, four in week 6, and five in week 4. UTRGV is 6-2, with the losses coming on the road to No. 14 Lamar and No. 16 Southeastern. UTRGV's next game is at No. 23 Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 6 p.m., marking UTRGV's fourth game against a team currently ranked or receiving votes, all of which have been on the road. UTRGV beat Prairie View A&M, which is receiving votes in this week's poll, 27-21 on Sept. 6.
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 two programs to win six of its first eight games during its inaugural season, along with Kennesaw State (2015, 6-2). Only one of the 11 teams won seven games during its inaugural season – South Alabama (2009, 7-0), which didn't play any NCAA Division I competition.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 27, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 8 |
Next Game |
|
| 1 |
North Dakota St. (25) |
8-0 |
625 |
1 |
D. No. 2 South Dakota St., 38-7 |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 19 Youngstown St. |
| 2 |
Tarleton St. |
9-0 |
598 |
3 |
D. Eastern Kentucky, 31-7 |
Nov. 1 at No. 25 ACU |
| 3 |
Montana |
8-0 |
575 |
4 |
D. Sacramento St., 49-35 |
Nov. 1 at Weber St. |
| 4 |
Montana St. |
6-2 |
529 |
5 |
D. Cal Poly, 34-17 |
Nov. 1 at Northern Colorado |
| 5 |
South Dakota St. |
7-1 |
525 |
2 |
Lost to No. 1 North Dakota St., 38-7 |
Nov. 1 vs. Indiana St. |
| 6 |
UC Davis |
6-1 |
495 |
6 |
D. Northern Colorado, 27-16 |
Nov. 1 vs. Idaho St. |
| 7 |
Lehigh |
8-0 |
461 |
7 |
D. Fordham, 27-6 |
Nov. 1 vs. Georgetown |
| 8 |
Tennessee Tech |
8-0 |
433 |
8 |
D. Southeast Missouri St., 42-23 |
Nov. 1 vs. Gardner-Webb |
| 9 |
Monmouth (N.J.) |
7-1 |
423 |
9 |
D. Hampton, 28-10 |
Nov. 1 at Bryant |
| 10 |
North Dakota |
6-2 |
401 |
10 |
D. Indiana St., 46-17 |
Nov. 1 at South Dakota |
| 11 |
Villanova |
6-2 |
350 |
12 |
D. UAlbany, 29-16 |
Nov. 8 at Towson |
| 12 |
Rhode Island |
7-2 |
340 |
13 |
D. Bryant, 38-17 |
Nov. 8 at Elon |
| 13 |
Mercer |
6-1 |
323 |
14 |
D. VMI, 62-0 |
Nov. 1 at Furman |
| 14 |
Lamar |
7-1 |
314 |
15 |
D. Northwestern St., 41-14 |
Nov. 1 at UIW |
| 15 |
Harvard |
6-0 |
248 |
17 |
D. Princeton, 35-14 |
Nov. 1 vs. Dartmouth |
| 16 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-2 |
235 |
19 |
D. HCU, 38-14 |
Nov. 1 vs. East Texas A&M |
| 17 |
Southern Illinois |
5-3 |
224 |
18 |
D. Northern Iowa, 31-17 |
Nov. 1 at Murray St. |
| 18 |
Illinois St. |
5-3 |
192 |
20 |
D. South Dakota, 21-13 |
Nov. 1 vs. Northern Iowa |
| 19 |
Youngstown St. |
5-3 |
181 |
21 |
D. Murray St., 51-17 |
Nov. 1 at No. 1 North Dakota St. |
| 20 |
Jackson St. |
5-2 |
126 |
11 |
Lost to Grambling St., 26-24 |
Nov. 1 at Florida A&M |
| 21 |
Northern Arizona |
5-3 |
108 |
22 |
D. Idaho St., 31-18 |
Oct. 31 vs. Idaho |
| 22 |
Presbyterian |
7-1 |
99 |
16 |
Lost to Dayton, 35-19 |
Nov. 1 vs. Valparaiso |
| 23 |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-2 |
89 |
24 |
D. East Texas A&M, 31-21 |
Nov. 1 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley |
| 24 |
Austin Peay |
5-3 |
78 |
23 |
D. North Alabama, 56-28 |
Nov. 1 at Southern Utah |
| 25 |
ACU |
4-4 |
36 |
25 |
Idle |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 2 Tarleton St. |
Dropped Out: None
Others Receiving Votes: UT Rio Grande Valley, 25; Western Carolina, 21; West Georgia, 18; Dartmouth, 12; Lafayette, 12; Gardner-Webb, 10; South Dakota, 9; Sacramento St., 4; Prairie View A&M, 3; Alabama St., 2; Central Connecticut St., 1.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently ranks in the top 10 in the FCS in 12 statistical categories, and the top 30 in 27 categories:
| Category |
Value |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Points Per Game |
46.1 |
2 |
1 |
| Fumbles Recovered |
10 |
3 |
1 |
| Turnovers Gained |
18 |
3 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
4 |
1 |
| Turnover Margin |
1.50 |
4 |
1 |
| Total Yards Per Game |
492.3 |
4 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency |
174.78 |
4 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Per Completion |
15.09 |
5 |
1 |
| Defensive Touchdowns |
3 |
5 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game |
109.6 |
9 |
2 |
| Passing Yards Per Game |
275.4 |
11 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game |
216.9 |
11 |
1 |
| Turnovers Lost |
6 |
11 |
1 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game |
304.8 |
11 |
3 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
17.1 |
12 |
2 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense |
113.18 |
12 |
2 |
| First Downs Allowed |
129 |
15 |
1 |
| Winning Percentage |
.750 |
15 |
2 |
| Passes Intercepted |
8 |
16 |
3 |
| Punt Return Defense |
4.82 |
19 |
4 |
| Team Tackles for Loss Per Game |
6.6 |
21 |
3 |
| Net Punting |
38.88 |
23 |
3 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. Defense |
.347 |
24 |
5 |
| Fewest Penalties Per Game |
5.25 |
29 |
1 |
| Team Sacks |
2.25 |
29 |
3 |
UTRGV also has 20 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
| Player |
Stat |
Total |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Eddie Lee Marburger |
Passing Touchdowns |
22 |
2 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Completion |
15.66 |
2 |
1 |
|
Yards Per Pass Attempt |
10.10 |
3 |
1 |
|
Passing Efficiency |
181.6 |
4 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For |
156 |
4 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
19.5 |
5 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards |
2,020 |
8 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
252.5 |
11 |
1 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
280.0 |
12 |
1 |
|
Completion Percentage |
.645 |
40 |
4 |
|
Completions Per Game |
16.13 |
52 |
4 |
|
Rushing Touchdowns |
4 |
106 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Xayvion Noland |
Yards Per Reception |
30.13 |
1 |
1 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
7 |
6 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards |
723 |
7 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
90.4 |
11 |
1 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
110.50 |
32 |
2 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
7 |
50 |
3 |
|
Total Points Scored |
42 |
114 |
9 |
|
Kick Return Yards |
161 |
118 |
9 |
|
Scoring |
5.3 |
136 |
9 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
3.00 |
185 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tony Diaz |
Receptions Per Game |
5.88 |
12 |
2 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
6 |
14 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards |
614 |
24 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
76.8 |
27 |
3 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
6 |
80 |
6 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
78.38 |
125 |
9 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
13.06 |
171 |
8 |
|
Scoring |
4.5 |
179 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brysen Gardner |
Field Goal Percentage |
.800 |
24 |
3 |
|
Total Points Scored |
59 |
27 |
1 |
|
Scoring |
7.4 |
32 |
3 |
|
Field Goals Per Game |
1.00 |
42 |
4 |
|
Points Responsible For |
59 |
102 |
7 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
7.4 |
112 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Dement |
Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
77 |
4 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
120 |
8 |
|
Rushing Yards |
272 |
197 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elijah Graham |
Fumble Recoveries |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.38 |
21 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jaiden Haygood |
Total Tackles Per Game |
9.0 |
24 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Logic Hudgens |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.25 |
57 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percy Jackson III |
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.29 |
21 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spencer Rich |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
Total Tackles Per Game |
6.6 |
142 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ismael Smith Flores |
Receiving Touchdowns |
5 |
32 |
5 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
120 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ian Box |
Sacks Per Game |
0.38 |
120 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hank Filamar |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fabian Garcia |
Rushing Yards Per Game |
35.5 |
200 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jayden House |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Abdon Mata |
Sacks Per Game |
0.38 |
120 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Neal |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Amari Pouncy |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alijah Prosser |
Forced Fumbles |
0.25 |
34 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nathaniel Wallce-Dilling |
Punting Average |
43.8 |
19 |
1 |
Up Next
UTRGV visits No. 23 Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 6 p.m. Fans can watch online via
ESPN+. Fans can also listen locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the
Radio Para Mi app.
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