CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay football team is preparing for its biggest regular-season game in program history scheduled for Saturday. The No. 9 Governors will host No. 3 Tarleton State for one of the year’s most anticipated college football matchups so far.
This game will be the first-ever top 10 regular-season matchup at Fortera Stadium. The Govs enter with a 5-1 overall record, with their lone loss coming at the hands of Vanderbilt, while the Texans are 5-0.
Austin Peay is also 1-0 in conference play, while this will be the first conference game for the Tarleton State. Both teams are coming off of tune-up games, as Austin Peay easily handled New Haven last weekend, while Tarleton State easily handled Chicago State.
This is the third-ever matchup between these two rivals. The Texans won the first two matchups, but both games have been within 10 points. In last year’s game, the Govs fell 45-44 after a failed two-point conversion ended the game. Now, the Govs are looking for revenge in a game that will certainly have postseason implications.
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What to know about Tarleton State
Tarleton State is one of the best FCS programs in the country. The team won at least 10 games and made the FCS Playoffs in both 2024 and 2025 and hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Nov. 1, 2025. So far in 2026, the team has wins over Prairie View A&M, Bowling Green (FBS), McNeese, Merrimack and Chicago State.
The Texans lead all of FCS in total offense so far, averaging 516.2 yards per game. Their offense features one of the best quarterback-running back combos in the country: Kaden Anderson and Tylan Hines. Anderson transferred to Tarleton from Wyoming and has thrown for 1,346 yards with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions so far. Hines, meanwhile, has rushed for 575 yards and four scores in just three games.
Tarleton also leads the UAC in scoring as they are averaging 39.4 points per game. The Texans also top the conference in turnover margin and third-down conversion rate.
However, the Texans have not been as stout on defense in 2026 as they were in previous seasons. Four of the five teams the Texans have played have scored at least 20 points, as the Texans are allowing 413.8 total yards of offense and 21.6 points per game. The Texans also don’t have much of a pass rush, as they’ve only collected three total sacks in five games.
Game prediction: Govs win a thriller
This will easily be the toughest test the Govs have faced in 2026. Tarleton is a top-five team for a reason, and they have one of the best offenses in the country. These teams also know each other well, as they both return a ton of talent from last year’s squads.
For the Govs to win, they’ll need to control the time of possession and avoid turnovers and sacks. This is the type of game that you will lose if you turn the ball over and have quick drives that don’t end in points. Tarleton can score points in a hurry, so the Govs will have to make the most of each offensive possession.
Austin Peay should be able to move the ball on this defense; the only question is whether or not the Govs’ defense will be able to stop the Texans’ offense enough times. If the Govs can force Anderson to throw his first interception of the season, you have to feel good about their chances.
Ultimately, I think the Govs have learned from their previous meetings with Tarleton, and they’ll do enough to win this game. The crowd is expected to be raucous, and that could also make a difference in the end. I’m anticipating the Govs will escape with a close win and will be a top five team in next week’s polls.
The game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville. For tickets, go to the Austin Peay page on Ticketmaster or call 931-221-PEAY (7329).
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