Midwestern State Football Enters AFCA Division II Poll
The Mustangs debut at No. 24 after a 37-14 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, their first national ranking since 2021.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
Midwestern State University football entered the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll at No. 24 on November 2, 2026, following a 37-14 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The team holds a 7-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Lone Star Conference play, with a three-game winning streak.
Why it matters
The ranking marks Midwestern State's first national recognition since 2021 and reflects a strong finish to the regular season for the Wichita Falls program. It places the team in the national conversation during the final stretch of the season.
Kaden Brown completed 27 of 39 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns, while Dominic Cox tied a program single-game record with 14 receptions for 129 yards. Fabian Baez added six catches for 147 yards and two scores, and the outcome of the postseason positioning remains unresolved.
The players
Kaden Brown
Kaden Brown is the Midwestern State quarterback who threw for 337 yards and five touchdowns against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Dominic Cox
Dominic Cox is a Midwestern State wide receiver who tied a program single-game record with 14 receptions in the win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Fabian Baez
Fabian Baez is a Midwestern State receiver who caught two touchdowns and totaled 147 receiving yards against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The details
Midwestern State scored the game's first 30 points and carried a 30-0 lead into halftime against Texas A&M-Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas. Cox and Baez accounted for all five Midwestern State touchdowns in the 37-14 win.
Timeline
2021: Midwestern State last held a national ranking before this season.
September 2026: Brown set a single-game passing record with 475 yards against West Texas A&M.
October 10, 2026: Midwestern State lost 44-29 at Central Washington, its only conference defeat.
October 17, 2026: Midwestern State defeated Angelo State 36-32.
November 2, 2026: Midwestern State entered the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Season Trajectory
The No. 24 debut ends a national-ranking drought that dates to 2021 and places Midwestern State in the Division II postseason discussion. Its 6-1 Lone Star Conference mark and single defeat at Central Washington shape how the remaining schedule affects playoff positioning.
Midwestern State's ranking affects playoff seeding math for the remaining regular-season games in the Lone Star Conference. Fantasy managers tracking Brown, Cox, or Baez should note the recent production spike in receiving and passing output.
The takeaway
A single conference loss and a three-game winning streak have carried Midwestern State into the national poll, and the remaining games will determine how far the ranking climbs. Readers following Lone Star Conference play should watch the Senior Day and season-closing matchups.
What happens next
Midwestern State hosts its Senior Day game at Memorial Stadium and closes the regular season against Eastern New Mexico.
Further reading
Follow more Wichita Falls football coverage as the Mustangs close out their regular season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wichita Falls Times Record News.
