AFCA 2018 Final Poll
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — For the first time in program history, Tarleton State University football is a national Top-5 program.
The Texans were named the No. 5 football team in the nation in the final poll by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Monday morning.
Tarleton just finished arguably the greatest season in school history after winning the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship outright and completing the first undefeated regular season in the program’s NCAA era.
The Texans earned the right to host two playoff games, which they won advancing them to the Super Region IV finals against then-No. 1 Minnesota State. Tarleton fell to the Mavericks 13-10 in the third round of the postseason.
Valdosta State, who won the NCAA Division II National Championship in McKinney last weekend, took over the top spot in the national poll while runner-up Ferris State is at No. 2. Minnesota State and Notre Dame (OH) are just ahead of the Texans in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots of the poll. Tarleton leads all LSC programs in the poll, checking in ahead of Texas A&M-Commerce (9) and MSU Texas (25).
This marks the fifth different season that Tarleton has been ranked under head coach Todd Whitten. The ninth-year leader of the Texans led Tarleton to its first national ranking in 2001 and the highest spot in program history at No. 5 this year.
For the complete national poll, visit AFCA.com. To revisit Tarleton’s historic season, view game statistics and more at www.tarletonsports.com.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
#
Contact: Nathan Bural, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications
254-968-1802
[email protected]
