FCS Tarleton State pulls off major Week 1 upset, stuns Army in double OT
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
We’re barely through Week 1 of the 2025 college football season, and already there’s been a massive FCS vs. FBS upset.
Tarleton State, a preseason Top 10 team in both FCS polls, upset Army 30-27 in West Point on Friday. Army was the defending American Conference champion and ranked No. 22 in the final College Football Playoff rankings of 2024.
The Texans cashed in on a Black Knights turnover with just over 9 minutes remaining in regulation. After they recovered an Army fumble at the Black Knights’ 16, Victor Gabalis connected with Dawson Hearne from 15 yards out to make it 24-24.
With 9 seconds left, Army’s Dawson Jones had a chance at a game-winning field goal, but his try from 43 yards out was no good, sending it to overtime.
After both teams traded field goals in the first extra session, Jones was called on again for a 35-yarder but missed that one wide left. That left it to Brad Larson, who hit the game-winner in the second OT to hand the Texans their biggest-ever win.
Army outgained Tarleton State 411-344 but turned the ball over 3 times — none bigger than the one that set up Tarleton State’s tying score.
It was the second-ever victory over an FBS opponent for Tarleton State. In Feb. 2021, it knocked off New Mexico State 43-17 in El Paso.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
