LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — Tarleton State stayed unbeaten Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, rallying for a 27-24 NCAA Football Championship Division win over McNeese State at Navarre Stadium. The visiting Texans improved to 3-0. The host Cowboys dropped to 1-2. Tarleton State scored seven points in the first quarter, seven in the second, six in the third and seven in the fourth. McNeese State scored seven in the first quarter and 17 in the second but was held scoreless after halftime.

McNeese State struck first in the opening quarter. With 7:59 remaining, O.Wiggins rushed left for a 13-yard touchdown, and Deaglan Camron added the extra point. Tarleton State answered with 3:31 left in the quarter when Kaden Anderson rushed left for an 8-yard touchdown. Alejandro De La Poza made the kick, tying the game after one quarter.

The Texans appeared to take the lead early in the second quarter when Anderson completed a short middle pass to B.J. Fleming for an 8-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified by an ineligible downfield penalty against Tarleton State. On the next snap, Tylan Hines rushed left for a 13-yard touchdown, and De La Poza’s kick gave the Texans the advantage. McNeese State responded with a 17-point second quarter to move ahead before halftime. Deaglan Camron missed a 46-yard field goal attempt with 5:10 left in the half. Tarleton State’s De La Poza missed a 42-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining. The Cowboys led at the break.

Tarleton State chipped into the deficit with six points in the third quarter. The Texans completed the comeback with a fourth-quarter touchdown and kept McNeese State off the scoreboard over the final two quarters. The result gave Tarleton State a road win in a Football Championship Division game and kept the Texans perfect through three games.

Kaden Anderson, a 6-foot-4, 221-pound quarterback from Southlake, Texas, was listed first among the game’s key performers. Devin Lippold, a 6-3, 210-pound quarterback from Houston, was listed second for McNeese State. The remaining key performers for Tarleton State, in descending order, were Stephen Woods Jr., Lance Carson, O’Shea Miller, Kaleb Brown, Xavier Potts, Chris Robinson, Jadan Aubert, Avian Rice, Roddrick Roberts, Fredd Adams, Koby Dickens, Mike Hodge, Colton Rodriguez, Cydd Ford, B.J. Fleming, Danny Joiner, Bryce Parker, Tanner Smith, Charlie Mullen, Alejandro De La Poza, Bryce Green, DeAndre Buchannon, Isaiah Johnson, Jeremiah Postell, Marius Landsfeld, Caden Holt, Tylan Hines, Brian Hood, Cayden Cutler, Omar Emmons, Kenyon Rivera, Seven Cloud, Gerard Culotta, Desmond Brown and Kam Robinson.

Several of those Tarleton State players were listed with additional details. Stephen Woods Jr. is a 6-2, 190-pound linebacker from Houston. Kaleb Brown is a 6-2, 235-pound linebacker from La Plata, Maryland. Xavier Potts is a 6-0, 272-pound tackle from Missouri City, Texas. Chris Robinson is a 6-1, 220-pound linebacker from Beaufort, South Carolina. Jadan Aubert is a 5-10, 195-pound defensive back from Vacherie, Louisiana. Avian Rice is a 6-0, 200-pound safety from Fort Myers, Florida. Fredd Adams is a 5-9, 160-pound cornerback from Tupelo, Mississippi. Koby Dickens is a 6-0, 195-pound linebacker from Paradise, Texas. Cydd Ford is a 6-2, 175-pound wide receiver from Arlington, Texas. B.J. Fleming is a 6-0, 175-pound wide receiver from Aledo, Texas. Danny Joiner is a 6-3, 235-pound tight end from Kansas City, Missouri. Bryce Parker is a 5-9, 175-pound wide receiver from Corona, California. Tanner Smith is a 6-0, 175-pound long snapper from Stephenville, Texas. Charlie Mullen is a 6-4, 220-pound punter from Houston. Alejandro De La Poza is a 6-2, 195-pound kicker from Palma De Mallorca, Spain. DeAndre Buchannon is a 5-11, 175-pound wide receiver from Atlanta. Isaiah Johnson is a 6-3, 255-pound defensive end from League City, Texas. Jeremiah Postell is a 6-0, 195-pound punter from Jacksboro, Texas. Marius Landsfeld is a 6-4, 270-pound defensive player from Bruhl, Germany. Caden Holt is a 6-1, 220-pound linebacker from New Braunfels, Texas. Tylan Hines is a 5-7, 170-pound running back from Mount Pleasant, Texas. Cayden Cutler is a 5-11, 190-pound linebacker from Mansfield, Texas. Omar Emmons is a 5-9, 170-pound defensive back from Greenwood, Mississippi. Kenyon Rivera is a 6-2, 225-pound linebacker from Buford, Georgia. Seven Cloud is a 6-4, 300-pound defensive player from Atlanta. Gerard Culotta is a 6-0, 220-pound linebacker from Montgomery, Texas. Kam Robinson is a 6-1, 190-pound defensive back from Dallas.

McNeese State’s other listed performers were Cohen Charles, Royce Maloles, Sentario Willis, Amyrion Mingo, Javon Davis, Emauri Sibley, Morris Taylor, Landon Barrett, Safir Stills-Bey, Mark Fielder, Reed Boyd, Curtis Deville and Elisha Edwards. Cohen Charles is a 6-0, 175-pound cornerback from Iowa, Louisiana. Royce Maloles is a 6-2, 230-pound defensive end from Cypress, Texas. Sentario Willis is a 6-2, 183-pound defensive back from Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Amyrion Mingo is a 6-0, 170-pound defensive back from Alexandria, Louisiana. Javon Davis is a 6-0, 180-pound defensive back from River Ridge, Louisiana. Emauri Sibley is a 6-0, 200-pound linebacker from Zachary, Louisiana. Morris Taylor is a 6-1, 185-pound safety from Houston. Landon Barrett is a 6-0, 215-pound linebacker from Tallahassee, Florida. Safir Stills-Bey is a 6-2, 197-pound cornerback from Oakland, California. Mark Fielder is a 6-2, 270-pound tackle from Denham Springs, Louisiana. Reed Boyd is a 6-1, 230-pound tight end from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Curtis Deville is a 6-2, 212-pound wide receiver from Kinder, Louisiana.

Tarleton State entered the game after a 20-13 win at Bowling Green on Sept. 5 and a 49-30 home win over Prairie View on Aug. 29. McNeese State had beaten Texas Wesleyan 52-0 on Sept. 5 after opening the season with a 38-27 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Aug. 29.

Tarleton State will host Merrimack on Sept. 19. The Texans also have home games scheduled against Chicago State on Oct. 3, Central Arkansas on Oct. 17, Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 31 and Abilene Christian on Nov. 7. Their road schedule includes trips to Austin Peay on Oct. 10, West Georgia on Oct. 24, West Florida on Nov. 14 and North Alabama on Nov. 21.

McNeese State will host Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 26. The Cowboys are scheduled to visit LSU on Oct. 3, Northwestern State on Oct. 17, Incarnate Word on Oct. 24, Houston Christian on Nov. 7 and Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 14. They will host Nicholls State on Oct. 31 and Lamar on Nov. 21.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tarleton State 44, McNeese State 31. The same system’s ELO model gave Tarleton State an 88.8 percent probability to win before kickoff.