RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the ninth time this season and eighth 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 earned 31 points in the final regular season poll after previously receiving 15 points in week 12, nine points in week 11, 10 points in week 10, 25 points in the week 9, seven in week 8, 10 in week 7, four in week 6, and five in week 4.
A final poll will be released after the national championship game.
UTRGV is receiving votes totaling four points in the
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.
At 9-3, UTRGV is the first of the 11 football programs to start from scratch at the NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) level since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978 to win nine games. No other team had ever won more than seven games or six while playing a schedule including NCAA Division I competition.
UTRGV is the first inaugural team to win six games against NCAA DI-AA /FCS competition, breaking the record of five set by Florida International in 2002.
UTRGV is the only inaugural to go undefeated at home, as the Vaqueros finished 7-0.
UTRGV is one of two programs to receive votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll at any point during its inaugural season, along with Kennesaw State, which received two points in the 2015 Week 7 poll. UTRGV is the only program to earn more than two points or receive votes in multiple weeks, receiving votes nine times.
UTRGV is the first inaugural program to score at least 17 points in all its Division I games and the only one to score at least 17 points in all games while playing a schedule that includes NCAA Division I competition. UTRGV is also the only team to score 60+ points three times and 50+ points four times.
UTRGV's only losses were on the road against teams in the FCS Playoffs, including No. 7 seed Stephen F. Austin, No. 6 seed Southeastern, and Lamar.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – November 24, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 13 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
North Dakota St. (24) |
12-0 |
623 |
1 |
D. St. Thomas (Minn.), 62-7 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 2 |
Montana St. (1) |
10-2 |
597 |
3 |
D. No. 2 Montana, 31-28 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 3 |
Lehigh |
12-0 |
557 |
4 |
D. No. 24 Lafayette, 42-32 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 4 |
Montana |
11-1 |
554 |
2 |
Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 31-28 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 5 |
Tarleton St. |
11-1 |
534 |
5 |
D. Austin Peay, 45-44 OT |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 6 |
Villanova |
9-2 |
470 |
7 |
D. Sacred Heart, 34-10 |
Nov. 29 vs. No. 19 Harvard |
| 7 |
Tennessee Tech |
11-1 |
455 |
8 |
D. UT Martin, 20-17 |
Nov. 29 vs. No. 23 North Dakota |
| 8 |
Mercer |
9-2 |
444 |
6 |
Lost to Auburn, 62-17 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 9 |
Rhode Island |
10-2 |
430 |
9 |
D. Hampton, 38-10 |
Nov. 29 vs. Central Connecticut St. |
| 10 |
Stephen F. Austin |
10-2 |
392 |
13 |
D. Northwestern St., 62-14 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 11 |
UC Davis |
8-3 |
348 |
14 |
D. Sacramento St., 31-27 |
Dec. 6 TBD |
| 12 |
Jackson St. |
9-2 |
309 |
15 |
D. Alcorn St., 27-21 |
Dec. 6 vs. Prairie View A&M |
| 13 |
Youngstown St. |
8-4 |
294 |
17 |
D. Northern Iowa, 35-32 |
Nov. 29 vs. No. 21 Yale |
| 14 |
ACU |
8-4 |
265 |
18 |
D. Central Arkansas, 49-28 |
Nov. 29 vs. No. 24 Lamar |
| 15 |
Southeastern |
9-3 |
247 |
20 |
D. Nicholls, 38-26 |
Nov. 29 vs. No. 17 Illinois St. |
| 16 |
Monmouth (N.J.) |
9-3 |
208 |
11t |
Lost to UAlbany, 31-24 |
Season Complete |
| 17 |
Illinois St. |
8-4 |
199 |
11t |
Lost to Southern Illinois, 37-7 |
Nov. 29 at No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana |
| 18 |
South Dakota St. |
8-4 |
182 |
22 |
D. No. 16 North Dakota, 34-31 OT |
Nov. 29 vs. New Hampshire |
| 19 |
Harvard |
9-1 |
175 |
10 |
Lost to No. 25 Yale, 45-28 |
Nov. 29 at No. 6 Villanova |
| 20 |
South Dakota |
8-4 |
173 |
21 |
Idle |
Nov. 29 vs. Drake |
| 21 |
Yale |
8-2 |
136 |
25 |
D. No. 10 Harvard, 45-28 |
Nov. 29 at No. 13 Youngstown St. |
| 22 |
West Georgia |
8-3 |
108 |
23 |
Idle |
Season Complete |
| 23 |
North Dakota |
7-5 |
96 |
16 |
Lost to No. 22 South Dakota St., 34-31 OT |
Nov. 29 at No. 7 Tennessee Tech |
| 24 |
Lamar |
8-4 |
61 |
19 |
Lost to McNeese, 21-19 |
Nov. 29 at No. 14 ACU |
| 25 |
Southern Illinois |
7-5 |
58 |
NR |
D. No. 11t Illinois St., 37-7 |
Season Complete |
Dropped Out: Lafayette (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Alabama St., 52; Lafayette, 40;
UTRGV, 31; New Hampshire, 15; Gardner-Webb, 14; South Carolina St., 12; Presbyterian, 11; Sacramento St., 8; Austin Peay, 7; Richmond, 6; East Tennessee St., 4; Southern Utah, 4; Dartmouth, 3; Central Connecticut St., 1; Drake, 1; North Carolina Central, 1.
In the National Rankings
The Vaqueros rank in the top 40 in the FCS in 36 statistical categories and lead the Southland Conference in 15 statistical categories.
| Category |
Value |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Fumbles Recovered |
13 |
2 |
1 |
| Turnovers Gained |
25 |
2 |
1 |
| Turnover Margin |
1.33 |
2 |
1 |
| Defensive Touchdowns |
4 |
5 |
1 |
| Points Per Game |
39.6 |
7 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency |
165.52 |
8 |
1 |
| Turnovers Lost |
9 |
12 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Per Completion |
13.72 |
14 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense |
116.93 |
14 |
3 |
| Winning Percentage |
.750 |
16 |
2 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
18.8 |
16 |
3 |
| Total Yards Per Game |
435.2 |
18 |
1 |
| Passes Intercepted |
12 |
19 |
3 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game |
119.3 |
19 |
3 |
| Punt Return Defense |
5.05 |
20 |
3 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game |
328.4 |
21 |
4 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game |
188.3 |
22 |
2 |
| Net Punting |
39.41 |
22 |
3 |
| Passing Yards Per Game |
246.9 |
23 |
2 |
| Tackles for Loss Per Game |
6.5 |
23 |
5 |
| Fewest Penalties Per Game |
5.08 |
24 |
1 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. |
45.0% |
24 |
1 |
| Kickoff Return Defense |
18.19 |
25 |
4 |
| Fewest Penalties |
61 |
26 |
1 |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed Per Game |
4.67 |
30 |
2 |
| Sacks Allowed Per Game |
1.50 |
31 |
2 |
| Red Zone Offense |
86.5% |
32 |
4 |
| Completion Percentage |
64.1% |
33 |
4 |
| Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game |
46.25 |
34 |
3 |
| Sacks Per Game |
2.25 |
36 |
4 |
| Fewest Penalty Yards |
555 |
37 |
3 |
| First Downs Gained |
247 |
38 |
3 |
| Red Zone Defense |
79.3% |
40 |
3 |
UTRGV also has 22 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
| Player |
Stat |
Total |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Eddie Lee Marburger |
Passing Touchdowns |
31 |
3 |
1 |
|
Passing Efficiency |
170.8 |
4 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For |
210 |
5 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
17.5 |
6 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Completion |
13.97 |
9 |
1 |
|
Yards Per Pass Attempt |
9.11 |
9 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards |
2,780 |
14 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
231.7 |
18 |
1 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
257.3 |
18 |
1 |
|
Completion Percentage |
65.2% |
31 |
3 |
|
Completions Per Game |
16.58 |
40 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tony Diaz |
Receiving Touchdowns |
11 |
4 |
1 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
5.67 |
14 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards |
875 |
21 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
72.9 |
32 |
2 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
11 |
40 |
2 |
|
Total Points Scored |
66 |
97 |
8 |
|
Scoring |
5.5 |
107 |
9 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
72.83 |
151 |
12 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
12.87 |
178 |
9 |
|
Points Responsible For |
66 |
196 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Xayvion Noland |
Yards Per Reception |
22.46 |
3 |
1 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
7 |
30 |
5 |
|
Receiving Yards |
831 |
34 |
3 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
69.3 |
43 |
3 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
82.67 |
97 |
5 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
7 |
124 |
9 |
|
Kick Return Yards |
161 |
161 |
14 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
3.08 |
177 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brysen Gardner |
Total Points Scored |
87 |
27 |
1 |
|
Scoring |
7.3 |
33 |
3 |
|
Field Goals Per Game |
1.08 |
35 |
2 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
.765 |
46 |
5 |
|
Points Responsible For |
87 |
105 |
5 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
7.3 |
116 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nathan Denney |
Rushing Yards Per Game |
73.8 |
39 |
3 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
101.89 |
46 |
2 |
|
Rushing Yards Per Carry |
4.68 |
76 |
5 |
|
Rushing Yards |
664 |
81 |
3 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
73.8 |
163 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ian Box |
Sacks Per Game |
0.46 |
78 |
4 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elijah Graham |
Fumble Recoveries |
2 |
12 |
3 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.25 |
57 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jaiden Haygood |
Total Tackles Per Game |
8.5 |
36 |
5 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Logic Hudgens |
Interceptions Per Game |
0.25 |
57 |
7 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spencer Rich |
Fumble Recoveries |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Total Tackles Per Game |
8.2 |
52 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tavian Cord |
Receiving Touchdowns |
4 |
126 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Dement |
Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
136 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hank Filamar |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Carter Hewitt |
Kick Return Yards |
147 |
171 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jayden House |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percy Jackson III |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Abdon Mata |
Sacks Per Game |
0.38 |
127 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Neal |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Amari Pouncy |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
93 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alijah Prosser |
Interceptions Per Game |
0.17 |
144 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ismael Smith Flores |
Receiving Touchdowns |
6 |
57 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nathaniel Wallce-Dilling |
Punting Average |
43.7 |
16 |
2 |
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