ODESSA, Texas (August 30, 2024) – Coming off the program's first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship, the 2024 University of Texas Permian Basin football season is finally here. The Falcons will begin their quest to repeat as conference champions by kicking the year off at home inside Ratliff Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, against LSC opponent Western New Mexico University. It will be the first time in NCAA history that Division II will feature a "Week 0" of game action.

Kris McCullough is in his second season at the helm of the UT Permian Basin Football program. He was named the second head coach in program history on December 22, 2022. In his first year as head coach in 2023, Kris McCullough and the Falcons finished the season with a program best 10-2 overall record, finished with a perfect LSC record of 8-0 for the first time in program history, and hosted the first round of the NCAA Championships. Subsequently, Coach McCullough was named LSC Coach of The Year, The College Football Network D2 Coach the Year and All-Texas Non-FBS Coach of The Year.

Despite ranking second in the LSC in both rushing yards (226.0) and passing yards (250.0) per game, the Falcons finished the 2023 season with the best scoring offense in the LSC (42.4 points) and had the most yards of offense (476.0) per game. The UTPB defense, meanwhile, was equally as good, leading the conference with 17.3 points and 256.1 yards allowed per game.

Three players earned All-American honors last season, leaving three very large pairs of shoes for the Falcons to try and fill this season. Transfer quarterback Kenny Hrncir was the Offensive Player of the Year in the LSC, was the All-Texas Non-FBS Offensive Player of the Year, and was nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy given to the top NCAA Division II player. Hrncir threw for 2,878 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 682 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground for 3,560 yards of total offense. He set the single-season school records for passing touchdowns, passing yards and total offensive yards. On defense, Hayden Kelly was named the LSC Linebacker of the Year and was a member of both the AP and D2 CCA All-American first teams while Dominique Varela was the Lone Star Defensive Lineman of the Year. Kelly had 114 total tackles and 13.5 tackles for a loss last season as he became just the third player in program history to record 200 career tackles. Varela had 35 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

Returning to try and lead the Falcons' offense in 2024 will be senior wide receivers Jeremiah Cooley and Deon Cook. Cooley, who was named the LSC Receiver of the Year last season, caught 26 passes for 522 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023, while Cook hauled in 24 passes and led the team with 539 receiving yards, which allowed him to set the school record for yards per reception (22.46). In fact, UTPB will return each of its four leading wide receivers from 2023, which also includes junior Ben Patterson and senior La'Quan Wells, both of whom were named Second-Team All-LSC a year ago.

In the running backs room, junior Kory Harris returns after setting the school record with 865 rushing yards eight touchdowns.

UTPB's starting quarterback in 2024 will be senior Dylan Graham, who as the team's starter back in 2022, threw for 1,859 yards (206.56 per game) while breaking the school record at the time with 186 completions. Graham will have the benefit of playing behind seniors Tristin Willis, Ramon Diaz and Max Johnson on the offensive line. Transfers to watch on the line include Nour Chirchi (OL, Jr. Shippensburg Univ.), Mekhi Pinckney (OL, Gr., Wagner College), Brandon Jones (OL, Jr., Cisco College) and Chrishoun Roberts (OL, Jr., Wayne State Univ.).

On defense, senior linebacker Jalon Rocquemore is UTPB's leading returning tackler after ranking second on the team with 58 total tackles last season. Rocquemore will be re-joined by sophomore linebacker Tristan Exline and junior defensive lineman Frank Mulipola to lead the defense while transfers Jalen Williams (DT, Jr., Dodge City CC), Jalani Jefferson (CB, Jr., Southwest Minnesota State Univ.), Kharel Coney (CB, Sr., Delta State Univ.) and Kamron Lee (FS, Jr., Independence CC) will look to make an impact as well.

The Falcons open their ninth season of collegiate football on Saturday afternoon as they are 5-3 all-time in season openers. UTPB claimed a 96-0 win in its season opener last year against Texas College, breaking seven school records in the process.

This will be the first game played in August in the history of the program, making it the earliest season opener ever for the Falcons.

MUSTANGS UNDER THE LENS
Western New Mexico finished off its 2023 campaign with an overall record of 2-8, including a 1-7 mark in LSC play to round out the league standings.

The Mustangs averaged 19.1 points per game last season while allowing 43.9 per contest. Senior offensive lineman Kiu Teu (Hayward, Calif. / Luther College) and sophomore linebacker Cole Lalama (Queen Creek, Ariz. / QCHS) were selected for the 2024 LSC Football Preseason Players to Watch list.

Billy Hickman enters his second season at the helm of the Western New Mexico football team in 2024. Coach Hickman previously served as the Offensive Coordinator and Lineman Coach with the Mustangs for two seasons. Hickman comes from DIII Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa, serving as the offensive coordinator from 2018-2020.

The Falcons and Mustangs meet for the ninth time in school history on the gridiron on Saturday. UTPB is 6-2 all-time in the series and has won each of the last four meetings between the two teams. The Falcons are 2-1 when playing at home against the Mustangs, all inside Ratliff Stadium.

To follow the action all season long, please check out our Live Events page for all of the video and live stats details: https://utpbfalcons.com/coverage.

2024 Football Media Guide
Week 0 Game Notes