ODESSA, Texas (October 17, 2025) – Coming off its first loss of the 2025 season last time out, The University of Texas Permian Basin football team (5-1 overall, 3-1 LSC) continues Lone Star Conference action during "Week 7". UTPB will look to bounce back on the road as the Falcons head to Oregon to take on Western Oregon University (4-2, 3-1) starting at 3:05 p.m. Central Time / 1:05 p.m. Pacific Time. It's Homecoming Weekend for the Wolves at McArthur Field. It will be a chance for revenge after the Wolves edged the Falcons by a final score of 30-27 in overtime during UTPB's Homecoming inside Astound Broadband Stadium last year.

FALCONS STILL HIGHLY RANKED
AFCA: Coaches' Poll: UTPB remains a highly ranked team. The Falcons are ranked No. 13 in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll. UTPB was previously ranked No. 6. The Falcons took the spot previously held by Central Washington, which rose from No. 13 to No. 10. Angelo State fell from No. 12 to No. 21 with a 24-19 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Falcons are 2-1 this season vs. teams ranked in the top-15 in the AFCA Poll at the time.

D2Football.com Media Poll: The Falcons are ranked No. 11 in the D2Football.com Media Poll. UTPB was previously ranked No. 4. Central Washington was the biggest mover this week, climbing from No. 15 to No. 7. Angelo State fell from No. 10 to No. 23.

DII Football Power 10 Rankings: The Falcons remain ranked in Wayne Cavadi's DII football Power 10 rankings, checking in this week at No. 8. The Falcons are one of five teams from Super Region Four in the Power 10 rankings. Harding remains at No. 2, Pittsburg State moves up to No. 5, Central Washington moves up to No. 6, and Western Colorado remains at No. 7.

What Wayne Cavadi Said: The Falcons had a chance to beat a Power 10 team two weeks in a row but let it slip away in the final three minutes. That is enough to keep them in the top 10 for another week, especially when you consider how quickly Central Washington is climbing the ladder. The Falcons have cleared the toughest part of their schedule and have a real chance to close the season on a 5-0 run, so the playoffs and lofty ranking are still justifiable.

TOP DEFENSE IN THE LSC
UTPB has the Lone Star Conference's top-rated defense so far this season, allowing just 309.8 yards per game. In addition, opponents are also scoring just 17.8 points per game against UTPB, which also leads the conference.

FALCONS' LAST TIME OUT
No. 13 Central Washington tops No. 6 UT Permian Basin 27-14 in battle of conference unbeatens: No. 13 Central Washington used a 17-point fourth-quarter to top No. 6 UT Permian Basin 27-14 at Ratliff Stadium. The top-15 showdown featured the two LSC teams remaining without a conference loss. With UTPB leading 14-10 with just 3:15 to play, CWU used a six-yard touchdown run by Kennedy McGill and then a 44-yard field goal by David Weber to build a 20-14 lead. Javonte Walker sealed the Wildcats' win with an interception returned for a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining. McGill finished with 81 yards rushing and Justice Taylor had 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts. Weber also made a 40-yard field goal. Chad Loidhamer (seven tackles), Mikaoi Edward and Matulino Masunu all had a sack to help lead the CWU defense, which allowed just 50 yards rushing. Kanon Gibson threw touchdown passes in the first and third quarter for UTPB. Tristan Exline made a game-high19 tackles – 13 solo – and Jacob Humphrey added a sack and forced a fumble to lead the Falcons' defense. Exline's 19 stops is the most in a single-game in the LSC this season.

THE SERIES (UTPB VS. WOU)
The Falcons and Wolves meet for the fourth time on the gridiron this Saturday. In the first matchup between the two teams in 2022, Hayden Kelly's 55-yard interception and return for a touchdown sealed UT Permian Basin's 27-24 win at Western Oregon. In 2023, it was a memorable homecoming for the Falcons as UTPB beat WOU 28-16 at Astound Broadband Stadium. However, in 2024, WOU spoiled UTPB's Senior Day with a 30-27 win in overtime at Astound Broadband Stadium.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Western Oregon keeps rolling with 30-27 overtime win at UT Permian Basin: Western Oregon rallied from an early deficit and a late deficit to secure a 30-27 overtime victory over defending LSC champion UT Permian Basin on Saturday at Astound Broadband Stadium. It was the Wolves' fifth win in a row to move to 5-0 in conference play. In overtime, Keaton Emmett drilled his third field goal – this time from 29 yards out – to win it for the Wolves. Dominique Loggins ran for 137 yards on 25 carries and Damon Hickok caught five passes for 72 yards and a score to lead WOU. Tyler Copeland had an interception for WOU, who trailed 14-0 after the first quarter. The Wolves were trailing 27-20 until Jordan McCasrty tied it up with a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left in regulation.

WOLVES UNDER THE LENS
WOU is coming off a 6-5 2024 campaign - including going 6-3 in Lone Star Conference play to finish tied for third in its third season in the conference.

The Wolves return much of their 2024 defense - including its four top tacklers from a year ago. All-LSC First Team linebacker Malcolm Liufau (66 tackles, 10 TFL to lead team) returns as does All-LSC Second Team defensive end Joseph Northcutt (38 tackles, WOU-high 4.5 sacks and 11 QB hurries) and All-LSC Honorable Mention players LJ Imo (DE - 31 tackles, 4.0 sacks), Aden Murphy (linebacker - led team with 68 tackles), Daron Ulrich Jr. (safety - 46 tackles, 2 INT) and Tyler Copeland (safety - 59 tackles, 3 INT).

WOU will have more new faces on offense - though the Wolves return all three quarterbacks that saw time last season in Kainoa Jones (758 passing yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT, 218 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs), Jordan McCarty (663 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 316 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs) and Michael Gibson III (177 yards, 3 INT).

WOU also returns the teams second-leading receiver in Keyvaun Eady (16 receptions, 217 yards, 3 TDs).

The Western Oregon football team had two players represented on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List released Sunday in senior linebacker Malcolm Liufau and junior defensive back Andrew Simpson. Liufau was named to the All-Lone Star Conference First Team last season after he finished second on the team with 66 tackles, first in tackles for loss (10) and forced fumbles (3) and tied for fourth in sacks (3.0). Simpson - from Beaverton, Oregon - finished second in finished second in NCAA DII in passes defended per game (1.6) and fifth in interceptions per game (0.5). Overall, Simpson - who was named to second team all-conference and all-region last season - tied for third in the nation with six interceptions and tied for second in passes defended with 18. He also had 34 tackles - 22 of which were solo. Simpson's six interceptions is tied for the fifth-most in WOU history - last achieved by Joey Sinclair in 2022. Only four players since the Wolves joined the NCAA in 2001 have had six or more interceptions in a season.

WOLVES' LAST TIME OUT
Western Oregon rallies for 21-18 win over Eastern New Mexico: Western Oregon shook off a scoreless first half to rally for a 21-18 road win over Eastern New Mexico at Al Whitehead Field. Trailing 10-0, WOU took the opening drive of the second half 75 yards on eight plays capped by a Jordan McCarty five-yard touchdown run. Carson Workman had a one-yard touchdown run with 14:14 to play to give the Wolves their first lead. McCarty found the endzone again, this time on an 11-yard run with 4:56 left to give WOU its first lead, 21-10. ENMU got a four-yard touchdown run from Chad Ragle with 1:22 left to complete the scoring. McCarty finished with 120 yards on 17 attempts as WOU totaled 229 rushing yards. Malcolm Liufau had nine tackles and a half sack to lead the WOU defense. Ragle was 6-for-6 passing and also threw a touchdown.  ENMU was led on defense by Aaron Warren's 12 tackles.

WOU HEAD COACH
Arne Ferguson is now in his 21st season at the helm of the Western Oregon football program and is in his 40th year overall at WOU. The former defensive standout for the Wolves holds an overall record of 109-96 during his time in Monmouth.

Ferguson has produced nine All-Americans and a pair of NFL draftees during his time on the sidelines for the Wolves. WOU claimed a share of the program's first GNAC Championship in 2019 as Ferguson was named the GNAC Coach of the Year.

He was a first-team all-conference player for the Wolves from 1985-88, began coaching at WOU in 1989, became the defensive coordinator in 1997 and the head coach in 2005. His 103 wins is the second most in WOU history, behind only Bill McArthur's 180 wins in 36 seasons.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
With five weeks remaining in the regular season, only one Lone Star Conference football team is unbeaten in league play: No. 13 Central Washington (5-1, 5-0 LSC).

CWU went on the road to top No. 6 UT Permian Basin (5-1, 3-1 LSC) in a battle of LSC teams without a conference loss. Also in Week 6, Texas A&M-Kingsville beat No. 12 Angelo State for the first time since 2014. Midwestern State and Western Oregon also recorded league wins. West Texas A&M and Western New Mexico were idle.

Week 7 will feature all 10 teams in action with five conference matchups – all on Saturday.

WT is leading the league in total offense at 485 yards per game, followed by WNMU (452.8) and TAMUK (451.2). CWU is scoring a league-high 47.7 points per game.

UTPB has the conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 309.8 yards per game. CWU is next at 344.7 yards per game then WT (348.5). Opponents are scoring just 17.8 points per game against UTPB, which leads the league.

UTPB is the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 40.3 yards per game. CWU is next at 47.8.

The LSC has had three D2Football.com national player of the week selections this season. UTPB junior linebacker Tristan Exline was named National Defensive Player of the Week after the first week of the year, while CWU sophomore kick returner Beau Philllips (Sept. 30) and MSU freshman punt returner Cedonyae Lott (Oct. 7) earned the title of National Special Teams Player of the Week.

ASU is the favorite to win the LSC title this season, according to the preseason poll. Exline and ASU quarterback Braeden Fuller were voted preseason players of the year.

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday night's contest will be broadcasted on FloCollege. The LSC and FloCollege reached a historic agreement in August 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. Fans have two different subscription options: $19.99 per month or $107.88 per year ($8.99/month).

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

In addition, all UTPB home and away football games can be heard live on KQRX 95.1 FM, 95X, a West Texas Radio Group station" with the pre-game show beginning 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Monty Montgomery (Play-by-Play) and Chad Kelly (Color Commentary) begin their first season together in the broadcast booth.