12000 fans were in attendance to witness a 47-yard field goal, which helped Abilene Christian beat Tarleton State. It also broke the Texans’ perfect 2025 campaign and snapped a nine-game winning streak for the program. The Wildcats weren’t done rubbing salt in their opponents’ wounds on social media.  However, that backfired as they had to apologize for the “unprofessional” jab.

ACU shared the apology tweet on X, which already crossed 1 million views. “Many of you saw a post after ACU’s football win over Tarleton State. The post was not only unprofessional, but it was also inconsistent with the values of ACU.” They removed the previous content and offered an apology. “The content has been removed because it fell short of our standards, and we apologize to anyone who may have been hurt or offended. Our standards are higher than what was conveyed in that post, and we will ensure you experience that moving forward.”

Fans found an issue with the now-deleted tweet, which had some strong words in fine print. ACU had posted a poster with their win score of 31-28 and wrote, “Tarleton is not a state.” This move instantly drew backlashes from fans, as they took it as an offense against their favorite team. But the banter from Abilene Christian did not end here.

“Let’s call it what it is: Abilene Christian reminded everyone who’s in charge. ACU had already proven it can win on bigger stages, compete with ranked programs, and attract national attention”. In the fine print, there were more shots fired.” While Tarleton is still trying to convince people they belong. This game isn’t just about bragging rights, it’s about reminding everyone that Abilene Christian sets the standard, and Tarleton is still playing catch-up.”

The banter is understandable when the home team dominated from the start. Abilene Christian took a 28-10 lead into the fourth after their QB1 Stone Earle ran it in from the 9 as time expired to end the third quarter. Wildcats pulled off an incredible upset against Tarleton State as kicker Brandon Perez nailed his 47-yard field goal and gave them their biggest win since the team moved to Division I. The rivalry matchup had enough spice on the field.

After going scoreless in the first and third quarters, Tarleton State finally fought back, scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter and trying to tie the game at 28, but with less than a minute remaining, QB Stone Earle connected with Itty Henry for a 38-yard gain that set up Perez’s game-winning kick. This win becomes a turning point for ACU.

What does this victory mean to the Wildcats?

The Wildcats’ performance against tough competition has been turning heads lately; they’ve now won seven of their last nine games against Top 25 teams and have beaten five ranked opponents in a row at home. Now, their home field has become a true advantage, with eight straight wins, something the team hasn’t done since 2007–08. That streak also ranks among the top eight longest active home winning streaks in the FCS. Literally summed up the perks of playing in front of the squad.

Apart from that, this is the first time in 16 years that ACU has beaten a team ranked No. 2 in the nation. Matching a huge win back in 2009 against Northwest Missouri State. They still have a few more celebrations left to do. This weekend, on November 8th, the Wildcats are set to celebrate their senior players. This is also a “Sideline Scholars” event, which likely means they’ll be recognizing students for their achievements in academics as well as athletics.

Last time was the third sellout in Wildcat Stadium history. The team didn’t disappoint on the field. They will hope to continue the performance as they are hosting Utah Tech. The Trailblazers have won just 1 in the last five, so ACU will be locked in for another home win.