ODESSA, Texas (August 20, 2024) – UT Permian Basin Football has been ranked No. 16 in the 2024 D2Football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Falcons ended at No. 17 in the same poll last season and achieved a national ranking as high as No. 10 after defeating Central Washington University in the Lone Star Conference Championship game.

UTPB first entered the top 25 last season on October 16 after getting off to a 6-1 start with a 52-29 win over Eastern New Mexico University.

The Falcons then proceeded to climb the rankings each week, moving up to No. 19 on October 23 following a 28-23 win at No. 18 Angelo State University, going to No. 18 on October 30 after a 28-16 Homecoming win over Western Oregon University, and rising to No. 16 on November 6 following a 56-3 victory at Western New Mexico University in their final road game of the season.

In the final game of the regular season, UTPB claimed its first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship with a huge 42-14 victory over No. 22 Central Washington. That vaulted the Falcons into a top-10 national ranking on November 13.

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Defending National Champion Harding tops the D2Football.com preseason Top 25 poll. The Bisons were a unanimous pick for No. 1 in the poll, earning the top spot on every ballot. 2023 MIAA co-champions Central Missouri and Pittsburg State take the second and fourth positions. GLIAC heavyweights Ferris State and Grand Valley State complete the top five at positions three and five, respectively.