UTRGV FOOTBALL ON PRECIPICE OF TOP 25 IN WEEK 9 AFCA FCS COACHES POLL

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football program received the most points of any team outside the top 25 in the week 9 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, garnering 25 points, just behind No. 25 Abilene Christian, which has 36 points, on Monday.

UTRGV is receiving votes totaling four points in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, marking the first time the Vaqueros have been named on two or more ballots in that poll. FCS Nation Radio also announced that they have UTRGV ranked 25th.

This is the fifth time this season and fourth week in a row that UTRGV has been receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.

The Vaqueros previously earned seven points in the week 8 poll, 10 in week 7, four in week 6, and five in week 4. UTRGV is 6-2, with the losses coming on the road to No. 14 Lamar and No. 16 Southeastern. UTRGV’s next game is at No. 23 Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 6 p.m., marking UTRGV’s fourth game against a team currently ranked or receiving votes, all of which have been on the road. UTRGV beat Prairie View A&M, which is receiving votes in this week’s poll, 27-21 on Sept. 6.

Of the 11 athletic departments that have started an NCAA Division I football team from scratch at the NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) level since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978, UTRGV is one of two programs to win six of its first eight games during its inaugural season, along with Kennesaw State (2015, 6-2). Only one of the 11 teams won seven games during its inaugural season – South Alabama (2009, 7-0), which didn’t play any NCAA Division I competition.