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Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Vito Tisdale running with the ball vs. Utah Tech

Football

Colonels to Host No. 3 Tarleton State for Homecoming

RICHMOND, Ky. – For the second time in 2025, Eastern Kentucky University football will welcome a ranked opponent into Roy Kidd Stadium, as the Colonels will face No. 3 Tarleton State on Saturday.

 

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium for EKU’s annual Homecoming game.

The last two meetings between the two programs have been thrillers, in 2024, EKU upset then No. 7 TSU, 17-13 on the road thanks to a late touchdown run by Joshua Carter, and in 2023, the Colonels came out on top 41-35 in double overtime.

The Colonels are 3-0 all-time against the Texans, with TSU currently entering the contents a perfect, 8-0 on the year.

Saturday also marks the first time the Colonels have hosted a top-five ranked team since 2014 when they hosted then No. 4 Jacksonville State.

A win on Saturday would see EKU improve its home win streak to 11 dating back to the end of the 2023 season and would also be the program’s highest ranked home win since defeating No. 2 Jacksonville State in 2010

The Colonels

The Colonels return home after falling on the road to EKU, 35-14 to North Alabama last week.

Running back, Brady Hensley has broken out over the last three games for EKU with 299 yards on 27 carries averaging 11.07 yards per carry including three long touchdown runs (68 yards vs. Nicholls, 72 yards vs. Austin Peay, and 32 yards at UNA).

The Maroon Doom defense has been ball hawking all season with four defensive touchdowns this season, tying with TSU for the most in the country.

Defensive back Vito Tisdale Jr. has accounted for two of those defensive touchdowns while recording the fifth highest interceptions per game average in all of FCS with 0.57.

Fellow defensive back Jaheim Ward leads the team in tackles with an average of 8 per game.

Scouting the Texans

The Texans have been lethal offensively this season scoring 40+ points in each of its last six games, most recently defeating West Georgia, 45-10.

Statistically, TSU is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring with 47.1 points per game, No. 4 in team passing efficiency (176.8), No. 7 in rushing offense (234.0 yards per game), No. 10 in total offense (473.4 YPG), and tied-17th in sacks allowed (1.25 per game). 

The Texans have just four turnovers on the year, tied-seventh fewest in the FCS. Tarleton State has thrown just two interceptions this season, tied-fifth fewest in the FCS.

On defense, the Texans lead the nation with 24 takeaways with an average turnover margin of +2.50.

They are the No. 11 team in the nation in scoring defense this season allowing only 17.4 points per game while holding teams to only 328.4 yards per game.

Players Mentioned

Joshua Carter

#8 Joshua Carter

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Brady Hensley

#42 Brady Hensley

RB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Vito Tisdale Jr.

#6 Vito Tisdale Jr.

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Jaheim Ward

#9 Jaheim Ward

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Joshua Carter

#8 Joshua Carter

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Brady Hensley

#42 Brady Hensley

5' 11"
Sophomore
RB
Vito Tisdale Jr.

#6 Vito Tisdale Jr.

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Jaheim Ward

#9 Jaheim Ward

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DB