Back in October, Tarleton State University announced that they are moving their football program from Division II up to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Tarleton State University, located in Stephenville, Texas, will begin competing as an FCS Independent beginning with the 2020 season. The Texans have been playing as a member of the Lone Star Conference since 1995.
As a result of moving up to the FCS as an Independent, the Texans will need to schedule 11 opponents per season. In some seasons when the calendar allows for it, Tarleton State can schedule up to 12 opponents (2024 and 2025 are the next years when FCS teams can schedule 12 games).
On Wednesday, we learned of Tarleton State’s first scheduled game against an opponent from the FCS. The Murray State Racers released their 2020 schedule, which includes a home contest against Tarleton State on Sept. 12.
According to copies of contracts obtained from Tarleton State University via a Texas Public Information Act request, the Texans have added several other future football opponents, mainly for the 2020 season.
Per the documents, Tarleton State has added games against Dixie State, South Dakota State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Western New Mexico, and Western Oregon to their future football schedules.
Below are the four opponents Tarleton State has scheduled with details on each game and/or series:
Dixie State
Tarleton State and Dixie State have entered into an agreement, with GRIDIRON acting as the intermediary, for the Texans to replace Dixie State in a game at South Dakota State on Nov. 14, 2020. As a result, Tarleton will receive the $200,000 guarantee in the SDSU-Dixie contract.
Further to the agreement, Tarleton State and Dixie State will play a home-and-home football series. Tarleton State will host Dixie State at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, on Nov. 28, 2020 (DSU will receive a $200,000 guarantee) and the Texans will will return the game at Trailblazer Stadium in St. George, Utah, on either Oct. 16, 2021 or Oct. 22, 2022 with no guarantee.
South Dakota State
As mentioned above, Tarleton State will travel to play the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, S.D., on Nov. 14, 2020 and the Texans will receive a $200,000 guarantee for the game.
The combined Dixie State-South Dakota State agreement is subject to Tarleton State counting toward FCS Playoff qualification in 2020, which is pending.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Tarleton State has scheduled a single home game against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas for Oct. 17, 2020. The Texans will pay the Javelinas a $25,000 guarantee.
Western New Mexico
The Tarleton State Texans will host the Western New Mexico Mustangs in a single contest in Stephenville on Nov. 7, 2020. Tarleton State will pay WNMU a $25,000 guarantee for the game.
Western Oregon
Tarleton State and Western Oregon have scheduled a home-and-home football series. Tarleton State will host Western Oregon on Oct. 31, 2020 and will return the game at McArthur Field in Monmouth, Ore., on Oct. 30, 2021.
Future Tarleton State Football Schedules
I don’t think Tarleton State’s membership in the WAC will last too long.
Because of high travel costs I’m willing to bet they’ll be in the Southland by the end of the 2020s