FCS Power Poll: Top 4 Clash Could Shake Things Up

Four of the 10 FCS teams in Texas are ranked in the most recent Top 25, including No. 1 Tarleton State and No. 2 SFA. Those four teams play in two clashes that will decided two conference races this weekend when Tarleton State hosts Abilene Christian in an important UAC game, while SFA travels to Lamar in a heavyweight battle in the SLC.  

Not much has changed at the top of the state of Texas power poll in the FCS ranks, but there was some shuffling in the back half of the rankings as Prairie View A&M rebounds and UTRGV continues to struggle through a sophomore slump.   

1. Tarleton State (9-0)  

Last week: beat Eastern Kentucky, 28-24 
This week: vs. ACU   
Prev. ranking: No. 1  

The No. 1 ranked team in the FCS can clinch an outright UAC championship with a home win over ACU this weekend. The Texans survived a scare against Eastern Kentucky last weekend thanks to a 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Kaden Anderson to WR B.J. Fleming with 1:54 left in the game. Anderson has thrown for 26 touchdowns to four interceptions this season.  

2. SFA (9-0)  

Last week: beat HCU, 37-6 
This week: at Lamar  
Prev. ranking: No. 2  

The Lumberjacks have been the most dominant team in the state of Texas regardless of division this season and look like legit national championship contenders. They enter a pivotal matchup with Lamar as the No. 2 ranked team in the entire FCS. The winner of this game will be the Southland Conference champion, something that SFA claimed last year.  

3. Lamar (7-2) 

Last week: beat UTRGV, 52-23  
This week: vs. SFA  
Prev. ranking: No. 3 

The Cardinals have a chance to upset SFA this weekend and elevate themselves to the top of the Southland Conference. They already beat nationally ranked ACU at home earlier this season. Pete Rossomando’s crew became the first team to ever beat UTRGV in Edinburg, knocking off the Vaqueros by nearly 30 points last weekend. Lamar currently ranks No. 12 in the FCS.  

4. ACU (5-4)  

Last week: beat West Georgia, 59-0  
This week: at Tarleton State  
Prev. ranking: No. 4  

Abilene Christian has won four in a row and five of its last six games following an 0-3 start to the season that included losses to Lamar, SFA, and Texas Tech. The Wildcats have climbed back into the FCS Top 25, tied at 22^nd nationally with Harvard. An upset over Tarleton would give ACU sole possession of first place in the UAC with two games left in the season.   

5. UIW (5-4)  

Last week: beat Northwestern State, 66-14 
This week: at Southeastern Louisiana  
Prev. ranking: No. 5  

Clint Killough’s bunch has quietly put together an impressive season in Tier 2 of the Southland Conference. The only two conference losses are to SFA and Lamar, both on the road. The other two loses were at NAU – ranked sixth in the FCS right now – and at Texas State. The Cardinals are on a three-game winning streak and are on pace to finish 8-4 on the year.   

6. HCU (4-5) 

Last week: lost to SFA, 37-6 
This week: vs. McNeese  
Prev. ranking: No. 6  

Houston Christian is another team that is posting an impressive campaign even if the overall record is misleading. The Huskies have lost five games but four of those were against two FBS teams – Rice and North Texas – and two nationally ranked FCS squads – Lamar and SFA. All four of those were on the road. The fifth loss was in overtime and on the road against UIW.  

7. Prairie View A&M (4-5)  

Last week: Idle  
This week: vs. Alabama A&M  
Prev. ranking: No. 9  

The season hasn’t gone as planned for the Panthers, who entered the season as a SWAC favorite and with hopes of claiming the Black national championship. But the win over a solid East Texas A&M squad gave them a win over an FCS team in the Southland and they’re tied for first place in the SWAC West Division. PVAMU has won two straight and is coming of an open date.  

8. East Texas A&M  

Last week: beat Southeastern Louisiana, 10-7  
This week: at Nicholls  
Prev. ranking: No. 7   

Beating Southeastern Louisiana, typically one of the contenders in the Southland Conference, was a nice feather in the cap for the Lions. But the trip to Nicholls this weekend feels like the last winnable contest of the season because East Texas AA&M has Lamar and UIW to finish the season.  

9. UTRGV  

Last week: lost to Lamar, 52-23 
This week: vs. Northwestern State  
Prev. ranking: No. 8  

The sophomore slump continues for UTRGV with the Vaqueros staring at a potential losing season after the incredible debut season in 2025. UTRGV lost to Lamar at home the last time out, the first home loss in program history. Northwestern State offers a get-right game, but the season closes with SFA and a surprising HCU team.  

10. Texas Southern  

Last week: beat Grambling, 23-20 (OT)  
This week: vs. Alabama State  
Prev. ranking: No. 10  

Texas Southern is on a two-game win streak after some coaching and roster shakeups in the open week a few weekends ago. The latest victory was an overtime thriller against Grambling in front of over 7,000 spectators.