The Tarleton State Texans have added the East Central Tigers to their Spring 2021 football schedule, according to their official athletics website.

Tarleton State will host East Central at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, on Thursday, April 1, 2021. The Texans lead the series with the Tigers 2-0 following a 38-6 win in 2008 and a 41-2 victory in 2009.

East Central University is located in Ada, Okla. The Tigers are a member of the Great American Conference in Division II.

On October 23, the Tarleton State Texans announced their Spring 2021 football schedule. The eight-game schedule included a tentative contest at Alabama State on Saturday, April 3, but it appears that the matchup fell through.

The Spring 2021 season will mark the first for Tarleton at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, as the school moves up from Division II. The school will play as an independent this season.

Tarleton State opens the season against McNeese on Saturday, Feb. 13 at home at Memorial Stadium. The following week on Feb. 20, Tarleton State travels to face New Mexico State, which will be their first game against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.

Five of Tarleton’s next six games are at home: Dixie State (Feb. 27), Mississippi College (March 6), Midwestern State (March 20), Northeastern State (March 27), and East Central (April 1). The Texans also travel to Dixie State on March 13 for the second half of an in-season home-and-home series.

Below is the complete Tarleton State football schedule for the Spring 2021 season:

• 02/13 – McNeese
• 02/20 – at New Mexico State
• 02/27 – Dixie State
• 03/06 – Mississippi College
• 03/13 – at Dixie State
• 03/20 – Midwestern State
• 03/27 – Northeastern State
• 04/01 – East Central

Tarleton State finished its final Division II campaign undefeated in 2019, winning the Lone Star Conference. The Texans fell in the Division II Playoffs at home against Texas A&M-Commerce, 23-16.

Tarleton State Football Schedule