RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Week 1 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll was released Tuesday and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros football team is receiving votes for the second consecutive week.
UTRGV received 15 votes, eighth-most among those receiving votes outside of the top 25, up from 13 votes in the Week 0 poll. UTRGV boasts the No. 1 total offense (548.5 yards/game) and passing offense (324.5 yards/game) in the Southland Conference (SLC), ranking eighth and fifth in the nation, respectively. The Vaqueros defense leads the conference in third and fourth-down conversion percentage defense. UTRGV also received 12 points in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll released Monday.
The SLC has four teams recognized in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, including No. 9 Stephen F. Austin, No. 17 Lamar, and (RV) UIW. SFA and Lamar are also ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll at 13
th and 14
th, respectively, while Houston Christian University is receiving points.
The Vaqueros open SLC play Saturday at 6 p.m. at Nicholls.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll – September 8, 2026
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 1 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
Montana St. (25) |
2-0 |
648 |
1 |
D. Butler, 51-24 |
Sept. 12 at Nevada |
| 2 |
Montana |
2-0 |
591 |
3 |
D. Drake, 45-10 |
Sept. 12 vs. Utah Tech |
| 3 |
South Dakota St. (1) |
1-1 |
582 |
2 |
Lost to Northwestern, 34-18 |
Sept. 12 vs. New Haven |
| 4 |
Illinois St. |
2-0 |
575 |
4 |
D. Western Illinois, 41-10 |
Sept. 12 at Northern Illinois |
| 5 |
Tarleton St. |
2-0 |
551 |
5 |
D. Bowling Green, 20-13 |
Sept. 12 at McNeese |
| 6 |
UC Davis |
2-0 |
519 |
6 |
D. San Diego, 49-17 |
Sept. 12 at SMU |
| 7 |
North Dakota |
2-0 |
448 |
9 |
D. St. Thomas (Minn.), 62-26 |
Sept. 12 at Portland St. |
| 8 |
Lehigh |
2-0 |
425 |
10 |
D. Georgetown (D.C.), 45-14 |
Sept. 12 vs. No. 16 William & Mary |
| 9 |
Stephen F. Austin |
2-0 |
417 |
11 |
D. East Texas A&M, 44-7 |
Sept. 12 at No. 25 ACU |
| 10 |
Youngstown St. |
1-1 |
372 |
7 |
Lost to Kentucky, 45-13 |
Sept. 12 vs. Duquesne |
| 11 |
Tennessee Tech |
2-0 |
357 |
13 |
D. Chattanooga, 24-9 |
Sept. 12 vs. Samford |
| 12 |
South Dakota |
2-0 |
352 |
12 |
D. Northern Colorado, 38-23 |
Sept. 12 vs. Eastern Washington |
| 13 |
Rhode Island |
1-1 |
333 |
8 |
Lost to Temple, 38-14 |
Sept. 12 vs. Elon |
| 14 |
Mercer |
2-0 |
316 |
15 |
D. Presbyterian, 62-3 |
Sept. 12 vs. Furman |
| 15 |
Austin Peay |
1-1 |
237 |
14 |
Lost to Vanderbilt, 28-9 |
Sept. 12 vs. Morehead St. |
| 16 |
William & Mary |
2-0 |
216 |
19 |
D. Delaware St., 22-15 |
Sept. 12 at No. 8 Lehigh |
| 17 |
Lamar |
1-1 |
195 |
16 |
Lost to Louisiana, 38-7 |
Sept. 12 at Idaho |
| 18 |
Villanova |
1-1 |
163 |
17 |
D. Bucknell, 17-16 |
Sept. 11 at Louisville |
| 19 |
Yale |
0-0 |
142 |
18 |
Idle |
Sept. 19 at Holy Cross |
| 20 |
South Carolina St. |
2-0 |
132 |
22 |
D. Florida A&M, 31-13 |
Sept. 12 vs. Virginia St. |
| 21 |
Richmond |
2-0 |
130 |
23 |
D. Howard, 28-21 |
Sept. 11 at NC State |
| 22 |
West Florida |
2-0 |
102 |
NR |
D. No. 24 Central Arkansas, 42-14 |
Sept. 19 vs. No. 15 Austin Peay |
| 23 |
Northern Arizona |
1-1 |
101 |
20 |
Lost to Arizona, 35-7 |
Sept. 12 vs. UIW |
| 24 |
Idaho St. |
2-0 |
75 |
NR |
D. Utah St., 29-17 |
Sept. 12 vs. San Diego |
| 25 |
ACU |
0-2 |
71 |
21 |
Lost to Texas Tech, 33-10 |
Sept. 12 vs. No. 9 Stephen F. Austin |
Dropped Out: Central Arkansas (24), Southern Illinois (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Wofford, 53; Cal Poly, 44; Southern Illinois, 41; Prairie View A&M, 32; Elon, 31; Colgate, 25; Campbell, 23;
UTRGV, 15; Alabama St., 13; Jackson St., 13; Robert Morris (Pa.), 13; UIW, 13; Harvard, 12; Furman, 10; Southern Utah, 10; UT Martin, 10; Southeast Missouri St., 8; Central Arkansas, 6; Chattanooga, 6; Portland St., 5; Western Carolina, 5; Dartmouth, 4; Monmouth (N.J.), 4; East Tennessee St., 1; Eastern Washington, 1; San Diego, 1; The Citadel, 1.
Support UTRGV Football |
Become a Fan on Facebook |
Follow us on X |
Follow us on Instagram |
Follow us on YouTube
