Tarleton State University's football team saw its dream season end in dramatic fashion today, as Villanova rallied from a 14-point deficit to win 26-21 in the NCAA FCS playoffs quarterfinals. Played before a packed crowd of 19,126 at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, the loss drops the No. 4-seeded Texans to 12-2 on the year.
This upset marks Villanova's first semifinal appearance since 2010, extending their win streak to 11 games.
Epic Comeback Crushes Texans' Hopes
The Texans jumped out to a commanding lead, but Villanova's defense clamped down, holding Tarleton to just seven points after the early surge. Freshman wide receiver
Braden Reed snagged the game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass from Pat McQuaide with 12:49 left, flipping the script.
Villanova dominated possession (33:41 time of ball control) and racked up 426 total yards, while stuffing Tarleton's high-powered offense—averaging a nation-leading
44.1 points per game—to a season-low 266 yards.
Tarleton entered the quarterfinals on fire after a dominant 31-13 home win over North Dakota in the second round on December 6, improving to 11-1 and topping the United Athletic Conference at 7-1.
Graduation Glory Amid Gridiron Heartache
Just one day prior, on December 12, Tarleton celebrated its fall 2025 graduates with back-to-back ceremonies at the EECU Center. President
Dr. James Hurley presided over the events: 10 a.m. for business, science/math, and health sciences grads; 3 p.m. for agriculture, education, engineering, and liberal arts.
Live streams and campus maps were available, capping a record-breaking year for the Texas A&M System member serving over
21,000 students across multiple campuses and online.
Broader Wins Keep Momentum Rolling
Beyond the field, Tarleton's making waves elsewhere. The university joined the
Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub to boost regional tech, earned spots in the
2025-26 Colleges of Distinction, and hosted career fairs like the Mayfield College of Engineering event.
Dr. Barry Lambert stepped in as
Interim Provost, signaling steady leadership amid growth.
What’s Next for Tarleton?
Football fans mourn the playoff exit, but the Texans' 12-2 campaign cements them as a rising power in FCS. With enrollment booming and accolades piling up, expect bigger things—perhaps a deeper playoff run in 2026.
For students and alumni, today's graduation triumph offers perfect symmetry to the season's bittersweet close. Tarleton's story? Far from over.
Sources
1. Tarleton State Fall Commencement Ceremonies Set for Dec. 12
2. Tarleton State Online | Tarleton News - Tarleton State University
3. Latest Stories | Tarleton News
4. Tarleton State 31-13 North Dakota (Dec 6, 2025) Final Score - ESPN
5. Villanova Rallies Past Tarleton State, 26-21, To Reach Semifinals Of FCS Playoffs For First Time Since 2010
6. Football vs Villanova on 12/13/2025 - Box Score
