Tarleton opening football season tonight at home

Tarleton State University’s Texans are scheduled to open the 2022 football campaign under the lights tonight (Thursday, Sept. 1) at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville. Tarleton has posted winning seasons in its first two NCAA Division I campaigns, and will begin its hardest season schedule to date, first drawing Mississippi Valley State from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

THE MATCHUP

This is the first-ever football game between the Texans and Delta Devils, who are part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Tarleton has played just one of the current 12 SWAC teams, last matching up with Prairie View A&M in 1995.

This is the second straight year MVSU is playing a WAC program. In 2021, they lost 58-13 at Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 18.

Last year, MVSU ranked 11th out of 12 SWAC teams in points scored per game at 19.6. The Delta Devils averaged the second-fewest passing yards per game (167.9). Tarleton allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the WAC (189.9).

THE TEXANS

The Texans have won four of their last five home openers, including last year's 54-7 romp over Fort Lewis.

Tarleton head coach Todd Whitten is entering his 13th season at the helm of the Texans. He's already the winningest head coach in program history, with opportunities this season to keep building on his historic career. Since joining the purple and white, Whitten has taken his Texan teams to a 90-45 (.667) record.

In its senior college history, Tarleton is now exactly .500 all-time at 315-315-3. So, Whitten has boosted the Texans from a .455 winning percentage to .500, a hard feat to manage.

Tarleton Football was voted to finish third in the conference by the other WAC head coaches, with five Texans named Preseason All-WAC. Offensive linemen Kendall Dearth and Blake Haynes are on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Offense. Defensive lineman Javier Duran, linebacker D.J. Harris and defensive back Donovan Banks are on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Defense.

The Teams: Tarleton Texans (0-0, 0-0 WAC) vs. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Stephenville

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1

Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, Richard Bartel)

Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM.