Ismael Smith Flores (#8) celebrates a touchdown vs. HCU (10/4/25)
Football
10/13/2025 10:00:00 AM
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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the third time this season and second week in a row, 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 10 points in the week 7 poll after previously receiving five in the week 4 poll and four in the week 6 poll. UTRGV is 5-1, with the lone loss coming to No. 22 Southeastern.
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.
UTRGV is one of four Southland Conference institutions ranked or receiving votes, along with its next opponent, No. 18 Lamar, No. 22 Southeastern, and (RV) Stephen F. Austin.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 13, 2025
Rank
School (1st votes)
Rec.
Pts.
Prev.
Week 7
Next Game
1
North Dakota St. (26)
6-0
650
1
D. No. 9 Southern Illinois, 45-17
Oct. 18 at Indiana St.
2
South Dakota St.
6-0
621
2
D. Northern Iowa, 31-3
Oct. 18 at Murray St.
3
Tarleton St.
7-0
598
3
D. Utah Tech, 41-23
Oct. 18 vs. No. 23 West Georgia
4
Montana
6-0
567
4
D. Cal Poly, 28-9
Oct. 18 vs. Sacred Heart
5
Montana St.
5-2
525
5
D. Idaho St., 48-14
Oct. 25 at Cal Poly
6
UC Davis
5-1
504
6
D. No. 16 Northern Arizona, 45-24
Oct. 25 at Northern Colorado
7
Lehigh
7-0
470
8
D. Columbia, 31-7
Oct. 25 at Fordham
8
Tennessee Tech
6-0
465
7
D. Charleston Southern, 27-13
Oct. 18 at Lindenwood
9
Illinois St.
4-2
431
10
D. Murray St., 46-32
Oct. 18 vs. No. 25 Youngstown St.
10
Monmouth (N.J.)
5-1
410
11
D. Towson, 42-31
Oct. 18 vs. Stony Brook
11
North Dakota
4-2
391
12
D. No. 20 Youngstown St., 35-17
Oct. 18 at No. 12 Southern Illinois
12
Southern Illinois
4-2
323
9
Lost to No. 1 North Dakota St., 45-17
Oct. 18 vs. No. 11 North Dakota
13
Jackson St.
5-1
318
14
D. Alabama St., 38-34
Oct. 25 vs. Grambling St.
14
Villanova
4-2
289
17
D. Elon, 29-21
Oct. 18 vs. Hampton
15
Rhode Island
5-2
267
18
D. New Hampshire, 38-27
Oct. 18 at UAlbany
16
Mercer
5-1
249
19
D. Princeton, 38-14
Oct. 25 vs. VMI
17
ACU
4-3
228
21t
D. No. 21t West Georgia, 30-13
Oct. 18 at Southern Utah
18
Lamar
5-1
203
24
D. East Texas A&M, 33-23
Oct. 18 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley
19
Presbyterian
6-0
176
23
D. Butler, 31-25
Oct. 18 vs. Stetson
20
Harvard
4-0
145
25
D. Cornell, 34-10
Oct. 18 vs. Merrimack
21
Northern Arizona
4-3
100
16
Lost to No. 6 UC Davis, 45-24
Oct. 25 at Idaho St.
22
Southeastern Louisiana
4-2
98
NR
Idle
Oct. 18 vs. Northwestern St.
23
West Georgia
5-2
70
21t
Lost to No. 21t ACU, 30-13
Oct. 18 at No. 3 Tarleton St.
24
Austin Peay
4-3
64
15
Lost to Eastern Kentucky, 34-20
Oct. 25 vs. North Alabama
25
Youngstown St.
3-3
53
20
Lost to No. 12 North Dakota, 35-17
Oct. 18 at No. 9 Illinois St.
Dropped Out: Idaho (13)
Others Receiving Votes: Gardner-Webb, 37; South Dakota, 34; Stephen F. Austin, 34; Lafayette, 28; Western Carolina, 19; North Carolina Central, 14; Idaho, 10; Sacramento St., 10; UT Rio Grande Valley, 10; Brown, 8; Dartmouth, 7; Penn, 7; Alabama St., 5; Central Arkansas, 4; Elon, 3; Furman, 3; East Tennessee St., 1; Eastern Kentucky, 1.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently leads the FCS in four statistical categories, ranks in the top 10 in 19 categories, and the top 25 in 25 categories:
Category
Value
FCS Rank
SLC Rank
Blocked Kicks Allowed
0
1
1
Blocked Punts Allowed
0
1
1
Points Per Game
48.7
2
1
Total Yards Per Game
533.5
2
1
Rushing Yards Per Game
257.3
3
1
Fumbles Recovered
7
4
1
Points Allowed Per Game
14.3
4
1
Team Passing Efficiency Defense
101.16
4
1
Fumbles Lost
1
6
1
Passing Yards Per Completion
15.06
6
1
Turnovers Gained
13
6
1
Turnover Margin
1.33
6
1
Total Yards Allowed Per Game
270.5
6
1
First Downs Allowed
88
9
1
Winning Percentage
.833
9
1
Defensive Touchdowns
2
9
3
Passing Yards Per Game
276.2
10
1
Team Passing Efficiency
172.93
10
1
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game
103.5
10
2
Turnovers Lost
5
12
1
Team Tackles for Loss Per Game
7.2
12
2
Third Down Conversion Pct. Defense
.315
13
2
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game
167.0
13
3
Passes Intercepted
6
20
2
Punt Return Defense
5.22
20
3
UTRGV also has 17 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
Player
Stat
Total
FCS Rank
SLC Rank
Eddie Lee Marburger
Passing Yards Per Completion
15.68
3
1
Yards Per Pass Attempt
10.31
3
1
Passing Efficiency
180.4
6
1
Passing Touchdowns
14
10
1
Points Responsible For Per Game
17.0
10
1
Points Responsible For
102
11
1
Total Yards Per Game
280.7
11
1
Passing Yards Per Game
245.7
15
1
Passing Yards
1,474
16
1
Completion Percentage
.657
25
3
Completions Per Game
15.67
53
4
Rushing Touchdowns
3
114
6
Rushing Yards Per Game
35.0
185
12
Rushing Yards
210
200
13
Xayvion Noland
Yards Per Reception
30.17
1
1
Receiving Yards
543
12
1
Receiving Yards Per Game
90.5
12
1
Receiving Touchdowns
4
33
3
All Purpose Yards Per Game
113.67
29
2
Total Touchdowns
4
122
7
Kick Return Yards
139
106
6
Receptions Per Game
3.00
174
11
Tony Diaz
Receiving Touchdowns
5
13
1
Receiving Yards Per Game
65.2
56
4
Receptions Per Game
4.50
56
4
Receiving Yards
391
60
3
Total Touchdowns
5
70
2
Yards Per Reception
14.48
114
6
Scoring
5.0
147
8
TJ Dement
Rushing Touchdowns
5
44
2
Total Touchdowns
5
70
2
Rushing Yards Per Game
40.5
152
8
Scoring
5.0
157
8
Rushing Yards
243
160
7
Brysen Gardner
Field Goals Per Game
1.33
12
1
Scoring
8.0
20
1
Field Goal Percentage
.800
23
3
Points Responsible For Per Game
8.0
81
6
Points Responsible For
48
90
6
Fabian Garcia
Rushing Touchdowns
3
114
6
Rushing Yards Per Game
42.6
142
7
Rushing Yards
213
193
11
Alijah Prosser
Forced Fumbles
0.33
11
3
Passes Defended Per Game
1.00
41
2
Interceptions Per Game
0.17
146
15
Elijah Graham
Fumble Recoveries
2
2
1
Interceptions Per Game
0.33
27
2
Jaiden Haygood
Fumble Recoveries
1
34
4
Total Tackles
7.5
83
12
Logic Hudgens
Interceptions Per Game
0.33
27
2
Fumble Recoveries
1
34
4
Percy Jackson III
Forced Fumbles Per Game
0.40
10
2
Fumble Recoveries
1
34
4
Ian Box
Sacks Per Game
0.50
57
5
Abdon Mata
Sacks Per Game
0.50
57
5
Amari Pouncy
Fumble Recoveries
1
34
4
Spencer Rich
Fumble Recoveries
1
34
4
Djouvensky Schlenbaker
Rushing Touchdowns
3
114
6
Ismael Smith Flores
Receiving Touchdowns
3
66
6
Up Next
UTRGV resumes action on Saturday at 3 p.m. at No. 18 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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