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AFCA Coaches Poll
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the second time this season, 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 are receiving four votes in the week 6 poll after previously receiving five in the week 4 poll. UTRGV is 5-1, with the lone loss coming to Southeastern, which is receiving 52 votes, the most among any team not in the top 25.
The Vaqueros are off to one of the best 6-game starts by a brand new Division I FCS program since 2008, matching Kennesaw State (5-1 in 2015) and one game behind South Alabama (6-0 in 2009), who did not play any Division I competition that season.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 6, 2025
Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week 6 Next Game
1 North Dakota St. (26) 5-0 650 1 D. No. 6 Illinois St., 33-16 Oct. 11 vs. No. 9 Southern Illinois
2 South Dakota St. 5-0 621 2 D. No. 18 Youngstown St., 35-30 Oct. 11 vs. Northern Iowa
3 Tarleton St. 6-0 574 3 D. Southern Utah, 52-42 Oct. 11 at Utah Tech
4 Montana 5-0 567 4 D. Idaho St., 42-38 Oct. 11 vs. Cal Poly
5 Montana St. 4-2 530 5 D. No. 13 Northern Arizona, 34-10 Oct. 11 vs. Idaho St.
6 UC Davis 4-1 499 7 D. Cal Poly, 34-27 Oct. 11 vs. No. 16 Northern Arizona
7 Tennessee Tech 5-0 455 9 D. Western Illinois, 66-20 Oct. 11 at Charleston Southern
8 Lehigh 6-0 452 8 D. Yale, 31-13 Oct. 11 at Columbia
9 Southern Illinois 4-1 406 11 D. Indiana St., 55-27 Oct. 11 at No. 1 North Dakota St.
10 Illinois St. 3-2 399 6 Lost to No. 1 North Dakota St., 33-16 Oct. 11 at Murray St.
11 Monmouth (N.J.) 4-1 383 12 D. Delaware St., 49-38 Oct. 11 at Towson
12 North Dakota 3-2 359 14 D. Northern Iowa, 35-7 Oct. 11 vs. No. 20 Youngstown St.
13 Idaho 2-3 306 15 Idle Oct. 11 vs. Northern Colorado
14 Jackson St. 4-1 269 17 D. Alabama A&M, 57-24 Oct. 11 vs. Alabama St.
15 Austin Peay 4-2 224 21 D. No. 16 West Georgia, 44-30 Oct. 11 at Eastern Kentucky
16 Northern Arizona 4-2 221 13 Lost to No. 5 Montana St., 34-10 Oct. 11 at No. 6 UC Davis
17 Villanova 3-2 211 19 D. New Hampshire, 37-7 Oct. 11 at Elon
18 Rhode Island 4-2 203 10 Lost to Brown, 28-21 Oct. 11 vs. New Hampshire
19 Mercer 4-1 164 22 D. Samford, 45-21 Oct. 11 at Princeton
20 Youngstown St. 3-2 162 18 Lost to No. 2 South Dakota St., 35-30 Oct. 11 at No. 12 North Dakota
21t. ACU 3-3 140 23 D. North Alabama, 52-23 Oct. 11 at No. 21t West Georgia
21t. West Georgia 5-1 140 16 Lost to No. 21 Austin Peay, 44-30 Oct. 11 vs. No. 21t ACU
23 Presbyterian 5-0 130 24 Idle Oct. 11 at Butler
24 Lamar 4-1 111 25 D. Nicholls, 24-17 Oct. 11 at East Texas A&M
25 Harvard 3-0 64 NR D. Holy Cross, 59-24 Oct. 10 vs. Cornell
Dropped Out: UIW (20)
Others Receiving Votes: Southeastern Louisiana, 52; Furman, 38; Stephen F. Austin, 33; South Dakota, 21; UIW, 19; Gardner-Webb, 12; Alabama St., 9; Brown, 6; Elon, 6; North Carolina Central, 5; UT Rio Grande Valley, 4; Lafayette, 3; Cal Poly, 2.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently leads the FCS in four statistical categories, ranks in the top five in 18 categories, and the top 25 in 27 categories:
Category Value FCS Rank SLC Rank
Blocked Kicks Allowed 0 1 1
Blocked Punts Allowed 0 1 1
Total Yards Per Game 532.5 2 1
Turnovers Gained 13 2 1
Fumbles Recovered 7 2 1
Points Per Game 48.7 3 1
Rushing Yards Per Game 256.3 3 1
Turnover Margin 1.33 4 1
Points Allowed Per Game 14.3 5 1
Total Yards Allowed Per Game 270.5 5 1
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 101.16 5 1
Passing Yards Per Completion 15.06 6 1
Defensive Touchdowns 2 6 2
First Downs Gained 136 7 1
Team Passing Efficiency 172.93 9 1
Winning Percentage .833 9 1
Fumbles Lost 1 9 1
Passes Intercepted 6 11 2
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game 103.5 11 2
Passing Yards Per Game 276.2 12 1
Team Tackles for Loss Per Game 7.2 14 2
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game 167.0 16 2
Third Down Conversion Pct. Defense .420 17 3
Fourth Down Conversion Pct. Defense .375 21 1
First Downs Allowed 88 21 2
Turnovers Lost 5 23 1
Punt Return Defense 5.22 24 3
UTRGV also has 18 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
Player Stat Total FCS Rank SLC Rank
Eddie Lee Marburger Passing Touchdowns 14 3 1
Points Responsible For 102 4 1
Yards Per Pass Attempt 10.31 5 1
Passing Efficiency 180.4 6 1
Passing Yards Per Completion 15.68 6 1
Passing Yards 1,474 7 1
Total Yards Per Game 279.7 11 1
Points Responsible For Per Game 17.0 11 1
Passing Yards Per Game 245.7 15 1
Completion Percentage .657 31 3
Completions Per Game 15.67 58 4
Rushing Touchdowns 3.00 79 6
Rushing Yards 204 168 12
Tony Diaz Receiving Touchdowns 5 12 1
Receiving Yards 391 30 3
Total Touchdowns 5 51 2
Receiving Yards Per Game 65.2 54 4
Receptions Per Game 4.50 61 4
Yards Per Reception 14.48 103 6
Scoring 5.0 148 10
Points Responsible For 30 198 13
Xayvion Noland Yards Per Reception 30.17 1 1
Receiving Yards 543 5 1
Receiving Yards Per Game 90.5 9 1
Receiving Touchdowns 4 21 3
All Purpose Yards Per Game 113.67 27 1
Total Touchdowns 4 87 7
Kick Return Yards 139 92 6
Receptions Per Game 3.00 175 11
TJ Dement Rushing Touchdowns 5 28 2
Total Touchdowns 5 51 2
Rushing Yards 243 117 6
Scoring 5.0 148 10
Rushing Yards Per Game 40.5 154 9
Points Responsible For 30 198 13
Brysen Gardner Field Goals Per Game 1.33 17 1
Field Goal Percentage .800 25 2
Scoring 8.0 26 1
Points Responsible For 48 76 6
Points Responsible For Per Game 8.0 99 7
Fabian Garcia Rushing Touchdowns 3 79 6
Rushing Yards Per Game 42.6 143 8
Total Touchdowns 3 146 12
Rushing Yards 213 157 10
Elijah Graham Fumble Recoveries 2 2 1
Interceptions Per Game 0.33 50 4
Jaiden Haygood Fumble Recoveries 1 23 2
Total Tackles 7.5 89 13
Logic Hudgens Fumble Recoveries 1 23 2
Interceptions Per Game 0.33 50 4
Alijah Prosser Forced Fumbles 0.33 21 3
Passes Defended Per Game 1.00 41 2
Percy Jackson III Forced Fumbles Per Game 0.40 5 1
Fumble Recoveries 1 23 2
Djouvensky Schlenbaker Rushing Touchdowns 3 79 6
Total Touchdowns 3 146 12
Ismael Smith Flores Receiving Touchdowns 3 48 6
Total Touchdowns 3 146 12
Ian Box Sacks Per Game 0.42 96 8
Kyran Lee Kick Return Yards 55 195 19
Abdon Mata Sacks Per Game 0.50 66 5
Amari Pouncy Fumble Recoveries 1 23 2
Spencer Rich Fumble Recoveries 1 23 2
Up Next
Now midway through the season, UTRGV has a bye during week 7 before resuming action on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. at No. 25 Lamar. Fans can watch online domestically on ESPN+ and internationally on Southland International. Fans can also listen locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the Radio Para Mi app.
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