RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the sixth time this season and fifth 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 previously earned 25 points in the week 9 poll, seven in week 8, 10 in week 7, four in week 6, and five in week 4. UTRGV is 6-3, with the losses coming on the road to No. 14 Southeastern, No. 18 Lamar, and No. 21 Stephen F. Austin.
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 nine games during its inaugural season, along with Kennesaw State (2015, 6-3). 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 – November 3, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 10 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
North Dakota St. (25) |
9-0 |
625 |
1 |
D. No. 19 Youngstown St., 38-30 |
Nov. 8 at No. 15 North Dakota |
| 2 |
Montana |
9-0 |
598 |
3 |
D. Weber St., 38-17 |
Nov. 8 vs. Eastern Washington |
| 3 |
Montana St. |
7-2 |
567 |
4 |
D. Northern Colorado, 55-7 |
Nov. 8 vs. Weber St. |
| 4 |
Lehigh |
9-0 |
521 |
7 |
D. Georgetown, 41-0 |
Nov. 8 vs. Holy Cross |
| 5 |
Tennessee Tech |
9-0 |
488 |
8 |
D. Gardner-Webb, 27-21 |
Nov. 8 at Eastern Illinois |
| 6 |
Monmouth (N.J.) |
8-1 |
485 |
9 |
D. Bryant, 35-7 |
Nov. 8 vs. New Hampshire |
| 7 |
Tarleton St. |
9-1 |
474 |
2 |
Lost to No. 25 ACU, 31-28 |
Nov. 15 vs. North Alabama |
| 8 |
Villanova |
6-2 |
417 |
11 |
Idle |
Nov. 8 at Towson |
| 9 |
South Dakota St. |
7-2 |
389 |
5 |
Lost to Indiana St., 24-12 |
Nov. 8 at No. 25 South Dakota |
| 10t. |
Mercer |
7-1 |
378 |
13 |
D. Furman, 52-28 |
Nov. 8 at No. 24 Western Carolina |
| 10t. |
Rhode Island |
7-2 |
378 |
12 |
Idle |
Nov. 8 at Elon |
| 12 |
UC Davis |
6-2 |
367 |
6 |
Lost to Idaho St., 38-36 |
Nov. 8 at Idaho |
| 13 |
Harvard |
7-0 |
310 |
15 |
D. Dartmouth, 31-10 |
Nov. 7 at Columbia |
| 14 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
7-2 |
298 |
16 |
D. East Texas A&M, 59-14 |
Nov. 8 at No. 18 Lamar |
| 15 |
North Dakota |
6-3 |
263 |
10 |
Lost to South Dakota, 26-21 |
Nov. 8 vs. No. 1 North Dakota St. |
| 16 |
Southern Illinois |
6-3 |
243 |
17 |
D. Murray St., 27-7 |
Nov. 8 at No. 22 Youngstown St. |
| 17 |
Illinois St. |
6-3 |
240 |
18 |
D. Northern Iowa, 31-16 |
Nov. 8 at Indiana St. |
| 18 |
Lamar |
7-2 |
173 |
14 |
Lost to UIW, 24-17 |
Nov. 8 vs. No. 14 Southeastern Louisiana |
| 19 |
Jackson St. |
6-2 |
157 |
20 |
D. Florida A&M, 41-16 |
Nov. 8 at Mississippi Valley St. |
| 20 |
ACU |
5-4 |
156 |
25 |
D. No. 2 Tarleton St., 31-28 |
Nov. 8 vs. Utah Tech |
| 21 |
Stephen F. Austin |
7-2 |
148 |
23 |
D. UT Rio Grande Valley, 41-17 |
Nov. 8 at HCU |
| 22 |
Youngstown St. |
5-4 |
120 |
19 |
Lost to No. 1 North Dakota St., 38-30 |
Nov. 8 vs. No. 16 Southern Illinois |
| 23 |
Presbyterian |
8-1 |
115 |
22 |
D. Valparaiso, 43-14 |
Nov. 8 at Davidson |
| 24 |
Western Carolina |
6-3 |
51 |
NR |
D. Chattanooga, 35-28 |
Nov. 8 vs. No. 10t Mercer |
| 25 |
South Dakota |
6-4 |
36 |
NR |
D. No. 10 North Dakota, 26-21 |
Nov. 8 vs. No. 9 South Dakota St. |
Dropped Out: Northern Arizona (21), Austin Peay (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Lafayette, 29; West Georgia, 27; Alabama St., 12; Sacramento St., 12; Northern Arizona, 10;
UT Rio Grande Valley, 10; Dartmouth, 8; Gardner-Webb, 7; North Carolina Central, 4; Austin Peay, 3; South Carolina St., 2; Yale, 2; Central Connecticut St., 1; Delaware St., 1.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently ranks in the top 10 in the FCS in 10 statistical categories, and the top 30 in 26 categories:
| Category |
Value |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Fumbles Recovered |
10 |
3 |
1 |
| Points Per Game |
42.9 |
3 |
1 |
| Turnovers Gained |
18 |
5 |
2 |
| Defensive Touchdowns |
3 |
6 |
1 |
| Turnover Margin |
1.11 |
6 |
2 |
| Passing Yards Per Completion |
14.31 |
9 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency |
166.75 |
9 |
1 |
| Total Yards Per Game |
461.4 |
12 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game |
203.9 |
13 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense |
118.50 |
17 |
4 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game |
117.8 |
17 |
5 |
| Turnovers Lost |
8 |
19 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Per Game |
257.6 |
19 |
3 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
19.8 |
19 |
3 |
| Team Tackles for Loss Per Game |
7.0 |
19 |
3 |
| Net Punting |
39.31 |
21 |
3 |
| Punt Return Defense |
5.00 |
22 |
4 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game |
320.7 |
22 |
4 |
| Winning Percentage |
.667 |
24 |
4 |
| Fewest Penalties Per Game |
5.22 |
25 |
1 |
| First Downs Allowed |
156 |
25 |
3 |
| Kickoff Return Defense |
18.37 |
25 |
4 |
| Fewest Penalties |
47 |
26 |
1 |
UTRGV also has 18 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
| Player |
Stat |
Total |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Eddie Lee Marburger |
Passing Touchdowns |
23 |
4 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For |
162 |
5 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Completion |
14.72 |
6 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
18.0 |
6 |
1 |
|
Yards Per Pass Attempt |
9.53 |
7 |
1 |
|
Passing Efficiency |
173.3 |
9 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards |
2,135 |
13 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
237.2 |
17 |
1 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
164.4 |
18 |
1 |
|
Completion Percentage |
.647 |
33 |
4 |
|
Completions Per Game |
16.11 |
54 |
3 |
|
Rushing Touchdowns |
4 |
125 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Xayvion Noland |
Yards Per Reception |
28.04 |
1 |
1 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
7 |
8 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards |
729 |
11 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
81.0 |
18 |
1 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
98.89 |
48 |
2 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
7 |
59 |
5 |
|
Kick Return Yards |
161 |
133 |
11 |
|
Total Points Scored |
42 |
137 |
12 |
|
Scoring |
4.7 |
158 |
12 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
2.89 |
192 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tony Diaz |
Receiving Touchdowns |
7 |
8 |
2 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
5.89 |
13 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards |
676 |
22 |
2 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
75.1 |
31 |
2 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
7 |
59 |
5 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
76.56 |
132 |
7 |
|
Total Points Scored |
42.00 |
137 |
12 |
|
Scoring |
4.7 |
158 |
12 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
12.75 |
186 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brysen Gardner |
Field Goal Percentage |
.818 |
25 |
3 |
|
Total Points Scored |
64 |
26 |
1 |
|
Scoring |
7.1 |
36 |
3 |
|
Field Goals Per Game |
1.00 |
40 |
3 |
|
Points Responsible For |
64 |
110 |
7 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
7.1 |
128 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Dement |
Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
92 |
5 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
148 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elijah Graham |
Fumble Recoveries |
2 |
7 |
2 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.33 |
29 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jaiden Haygood |
Total Tackles Per Game |
9.2 |
21 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Logic Hudgens |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.22 |
78 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percy Jackson III |
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.25 |
30 |
2 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spencer Rich |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
Total Tackles Per Game |
6.9 |
128 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ismael Smith Flores |
Receiving Touchdowns |
5 |
39 |
5 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
148 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ian Box |
Sacks Per Game |
0.33 |
161 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hank Filamar |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jayden House |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Abdon Mata |
Sacks Per Game |
0.33 |
161 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Neal |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Amari Pouncy |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nathaniel Wallce-Dilling |
Punting Average |
44.2 |
17 |
1 |
Up Next
UTRGV hosts 2023 Southland Conference Champion Nicholls on Saturday, Nov. 8 at
5 p.m. 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
12 p.m. The Vaqueros Walk is at
2:45 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
3:30 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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