Tarleton State Texans football

The Tarleton State Texans football program, also known as the Tarleton Texans, is the intercollegiate American football team for Tarleton State University located in the U.S. state of Texas. Through the 2019 season, the team competed in NCAA Division II as members of the Lone Star Conference, but moved to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) beginning in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In fall 2021, Tarleton's full-time home of the Western Athletic Conference revived its football league at the FCS level, with Tarleton as one of the inaugural members.
The WAC and the ASUN Conference entered into a football-only partnership in the 2021 season, renewing it for 2022. Shortly after the 2022 season, the two conferences fully merged their football leagues into what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, with Tarleton as one of the new league's nine inaugural members.
Tarleton's first football team was fielded in 1904. The team plays its home games at the 24,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. The Texans are coached by Todd Whitten.

Championships

Conference championships

† Denotes co-champions

Division championships

† Co-championship

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I FCS

The Texans have made two appearances in the Division I FCS playoffs, with an overall record of 2–2.

2024	First Round Second Round	Drake South Dakota	W, 43–29 L, 31–42
2025	Second Round Quarterfinals	North Dakota Villanova	W, 31–13 L, 21–26

NCAA Division II

The Texans made five appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with an overall record of 4–5.

2001	First Round Quarterfinals	Chadron State UC Davis	W, 28–24 L, 25–42
2003	First Round	Texas A&M–Kingsville	L, 10–34
2009	First Round Second Round	Texas A&M–Kingsville Central Washington	W, 57–56 ^2OT L, 6–27
2018	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Azusa Pacific Texas A&M–Commerce Minnesota State	W, 58–0 W, 34–28 L, 10–13
2019	First Round	Texas A&M–Commerce	L, 16–23

NAIA

Tarleton State made four appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 3–4.

1978	Quarterfinals	Findlay	L, 6–13
1987	First Round Quarterfinals	Bethany (KS) Baker (KS)	W, 38–26 L, 12–13
1989	First Round Quarterfinals	St. Mary of the Plains Westminster (PA)	W, 16–6 L, 0–34
1990	First Round Quarterfinals	St. Mary of the Plains Westminster	W, 24–14 L, 17–19

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:
Richard Bartel, QB: Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Arizona Cardinals. 2007-2012. Offensive coordinator: Atlanta Legends. 2019.
Marv Brown, HB: Detroit Lions. 1957.
Walter Bryan, DB: Baltimore Colts. 1955.
James Dearth, LS: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots. 1999-2011.
Saalim Hakim, WR: New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs. 2012-2015.
Rufus Johnson, DE: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders. 2013-2017.
Garrett Lindholm, K: Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Milwaukee Mustangs, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Rattlers, San Antonio Talons, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Los Angeles KISS. 2010-2016.
Tywain Myles, DT: Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons. 2008-2009.
Deshaun Phillips, CB: Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Renegades. 2014–Present.
Derrick Ross, FB: Kansas City Chiefs, Cologne Centurions, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, San Angelo Stampede Express, Dallas Vigilantes, Philadelphia Soul, Los Angeles KISS, Las Vegas Outlaws, Jacksonville Sharks. 2006-2017.
E.J. Speed, LB: Indianapolis Colts. 2019–Present.
Nick Stephens, QB: Tennessee Titans, Utah Blaze, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, San Jose SaberCats. 2012-2014.
Camp Wilson, FB: Detroit Lions. 1946-1949.
Randy Winkler, OT: Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers. 1968-1971.
Koe Wetzel, LB: American singer/songwriter

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 16, 2026.

Prairie View A&M	at North Texas
at Bowling Green	McNeese
at McNeese	at Prairie View A&M
Merrimack
Chicago State