MIDLAND, Texas (August 30, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin football team kicked off the 2025 season with a "Week 0" nonconference matchup against the No. 5 nationally-ranked University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday at Astound Broadband Stadium. The Falcons outscored the Bronchos 21-0 to end the game and won by a final score of 34-14.

After beating a nationally-ranked team for the first time in program history in 2023 and earning a top-10 win on the road with a 14-13 win at No. 9 Central Washington University in 2024, the Falcons continue to set a new standard under Head Coach Kris McCullough. In addition to being the Falcons' highest-ranked season opening matchup in program history, the win over UCO represents a new highest nationally-ranked win in program history.

"I am so proud of our #FAMILLY," said McCullough. "Everyone bought into the coaching and everyone is fully bought into our culture as a program. That was one of my favorite moments at UTPB and I could not be happier for our team. All three phases of the game played well and we continue to get better."

It was also the first-ever matchup between UTPB and UCO, which was coming off a 2024 season in which the Bronchos finished 11-2 overall and won the MIAA championship before hosting and winning a first-round playoff game. UCO lost in the NCAA Division II Football Championship Super Region III semifinals to eventual national champion Ferris State University. This season, Central Oklahoma was ranked fifth in the AFCA Preseason Top 25, while UTPB was receiving votes. UCO was also third in the D2Football.com Preseason Top 25.

Despite a 62-yard punt to pin the Falcons down to their own three-yard line, UTPB took 7-0 lead late in the first quarter after a 24-yard touchdown pass from junior transfer quarterback Kanon Gibson to senior wide receiver Ben Patterson to cap a big 13-play, 97-yard drive for the first scoring drive of the game.

A big afternoon for sophomore kicker Angel Diaz started with a 20-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 lead for UTPB midway through the second quarter, but UCO answered back on its ensuring possession with a quick two-play, 75-yard drive that lasted just 17 seconds and featured a 71-yard run followed by a four-yard touchdown run, both by Mason Williams.

A 39-yard field goal by Diaz in the final two minutes of the first half followed by a miss from 50 yards out by UCO as time expired helped give the Falcons a 13-7 lead at halftime. However, UCO opened up the second half with another quick scoring drive, this time going 73 yards in just five plays and in just over a minute of clock time as a 35-yard touchdown rush by Jaylen Cottrell gave the Bronchos their only lead of the game at 14-13.

From there, it was all Falcons, who after seeing their defense jam the line of scrimmage to earn a stop on fourth-and-one from the UTPB 24-yard line, took back the lead when backup running back Camden Tyler ran it in from 12 yards out to cap a nine-play, 76-yard scoring drive. UTPB then opted to go for the two-point conversion as freshman punter Jolon Cabello found tight end Caleb Sedegan on a screen pass to cap off the eight-point play.

Tyler's touchdown came with 4:44 left in the third quarter, and then after a quick three-and-out forced by the UTPB defense, Gibson found Traylen Suel deep down field for a 62-yard touchdown bomb with 3:53 on the clock in the period.

That made it a two-touchdown lead (28-14) for UTPB, and scoring two touchdowns in less than two minutes put the pressure on the Bronchos as the next UCO possession ended with an interception by junior linebacker Tristan Exline in Falcon territory and led to another field goal by Diaz. Diaz was able to add to his day with a big 44-yard field in the final minute of the third quarter and a 24-yard field goal in the final minute of the game to round out the scoring.

Gibson finished 17-for-30 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns, but was equally as impressive on the ground, taking off 20 times for 78 yards. Earning the bulk of Gibson's targets was Suel, who hauled in seven receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. Patterson added four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Heston Kelly had three grabs for 39 yards.

UCO led 376-361 in total yardage and 207-145 in yards on the ground, but was done in by a pair of interceptions by quarterback Jett Huff and an 11-1 disadvantage in penalties. In 2024, UCO led the country in total offense at 538 yards per game.

UTPB maintained possession for over 37 minutes, was 3-for-3 on fourth down and was 3-for-3 in the redzone.

It was a dominating season opener defensively for Exline, the 2025 Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year who finished with nine tackles, a sack and an interception.

Kendrick Jones was next with seven tackles and a pair of pass breakups, followed by Jacob Humphrey with six tackles, Kharel Coney with four tackles, Layne Horak with three tackles and a sack, and Caimon Mathis with a game-high three pass breakups.

Cabello punted six times for 231 yards, good for an average of 38.5 yards per kick. His longest punt rolled down for 64 yards and was one of three punts that pinned the Bronchos inside their own 20-yard line.

Diaz would finish 4-for-5 on field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PAT's, and put four of his eight kickoffs through the endzone for a touchback. During UTPB's season opener against Western New Mexico University last season, Diaz, then a freshman, was 4-for-4 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra point kicks.

UT Permian Basin hits the road for the first time this season on Saturday, September 6, taking on Adams State University. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Mountain Time / 7 p.m. Central Time from Rex Stadium in Alamosa, Colorado. Last season at Astound Broadband Stadium, the Falcons defeated the Grizzlies by a final score of 67-14.