FCS Power Poll: Clear Separation at the Top

With the FCS programs in Texas starting in Week 0, the teams in Texas that haven’t yet experienced an idle week are already at the halfway point of the season. For the others, the halfway mark will be crossed this weekend.  

We’ve seen clear separation at the top with SFA, Tarleton State, and Lamar all looking like conference championship contention with an inside track to reach the playoffs. The next tier in the FCS ranks here in Texas include Abilene Christian, UIW, and Houston Christian.  

Here is the latest FCS Poll as of Oct. 5.  

1. Tarleton State (5-0)  

Last week: beat Chicago State, 56-21 

This week: at Austin Peay 

The Texans ended non-conference play with a dominant 56-21 win over Chicago State. They’re margin of victory in the 5-0 start is 15.8 points per game. QB Kaden Anderson hasn’t thrown an interception all year on 147 attempts. WR Marquis Willis is averaging nearly 100 yards receiving a game. And running back Tylan Hines is averaging 8.5 yards per run. UAC play starts this weekend at Austin Peay.  

2. SFA (6-0) 

Last week: beat UIW, 28-26  

This week: Idle 

Colby Carthel’s team was finally tested in a two-point win over UIW over the weekend. The Jacks had won their first five games by an average of 27.4 points per game. SFA is also already 3-0 in Southland Conference play and the odds-on favorite to repeat as champions. The defense hasn’t allowed more than 27 points in any game. A much-needed open date is up next.  

3. Lamar (4-1) 

Last week: beat Northwestern State, 42-14 

This week: vs. UIW  

The only loss for Lamar so far this season was to Louisiana, an FBS team in the Sun Belt. The Cardinals improved to 2-0 in Southland Conference play with an easy 42-14 win over Northwestern State a week after beating Nicholls, 49-18. The defense is only allowing 20.2 points per game and quarterback Aiden McCown has thrown for nine touchdowns and is completing over 60 percent of his passes.  

4. ACU (2-4) 

Last week: beat West Florida, 35-7 

This week: vs. Central Arkansas 

The Wildcats were struggling thanks in large part of a brutal early-season schedule that included FCS Top 25 teams Lamar, SFA, and Mercer. The FBS game was a trip to nationally ranked Texas Tech. But with their backs against the wall heading into conference play, ACU answered the bell and knocked off No. 17 West Florida, 35-7, over the weekend. QB Parks Tucker completed 16 of 17 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns while adding 97 yards on the ground in a flawless performance.  

5. UIW (2-3) 

Last week: lost to SFA, 28-26 

This week: at Lamar 

UIW nearly pulled off the upset of the week at the FCS level and would’ve tied the game and sent it into overtime if not for a controversial penalty on the two-point conversion attempt. The Cardinals are better than the 2-3 record suggests. Take away the FBS loss to Texas State and UIW has two losses by a combined 12 points.  

6. Houston Christian (3-3) 

Last week: beat Nicholls, 16-2 

This week: Idle 

The overtime loss to UIW back on Sept. 19 keeps the Huskies outside of the Top 5 in Texas heading into Week 6. But this is still the most improved team in Texas, and one of the most pleasant surprises in the FCS ranks. Two of the three losses – Rice and North Texas – are to FBS teams. The other was in overtime to UIW. HCU didn’t allow an offensive score in the 16-2 win over Nicholls this weekend.  

7. East Texas A&M (2-4) 

Last week: beat UTRGV, 20-17 

This week: Idle 

The Lions and head coach Clint Dolezel needed a signature win to inject some momentum into the program. They got just that this weekend in the win over UTRGV. East Texas A&M is a couple of plays from being 4-2 on the season with one-possession losses to both Mercer and McNeese on the road this year. The program is 2-2 in conference play.  

8. UTRGV (2-3) 

Last week: lost to East Texas A&M, 20-17 

This week: vs. Southeastern Louisiana  

The Vaqueros are experiencing a sophomore slump. They won nine games in the debut season of 2025 and were 5-3 in conference play. UTRGV is off to a 1-2 start in the Southland after falling to East Texas A&M by three points over the weekend. The good news is that next game is at home and the program is 9-0 all-time in Edinburg.  

9. Prairie View A&M (2-4) 

Last week: lost to Mississippi Valley State, 28-27 

This week: vs. Southern 

The Panthers entered the season with hopes of knocking off an FCS giant or two in the non-conference and then marching its way back to the SWAC championship and into the Celebration Bowl. They came up short in non-conference against Tarleton and SFA, but it was the weekend’s loss to Mississippi Valley State that will haunt the program for the rest of the year. PVAMU was leading 24-0 with 9:38 left in the second quarter. They were outscored 28-3 the rest of the way and lost by one point.  

10. Texas Southern (1-4) 

Last week: lost to FAU, 66-10 

This week: vs. Mississippi Valley State  

The Tigers are on a four-game losing streak and are 0-2 in SWAC play with losses to Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State. The other two losses are to FBS programs in UTEP and FAU. The good news for Texas Southern is its next four games are all in Houston.