ODESSA, Texas (October 31, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin football team (6-2 overall, 4-2 LSC) will play on the road for the final time during the regular season during "Week 9" at Western New Mexico University (2-6, 1-5). The action starts at 1 p.m. Central Time / 12 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, November 1, in Silver City, New Mexico.

After getting back on track and keeping its playoff hopes alive with a dominating defensive effort in a 22-6 win at home over West Texas A&M University last Saturday, UTPB controls its own destiny when it comes to the postseason. With three games remaining against teams with two or fewer wins so far this season and teams located within the bottom four spots of the Lone Star Conference standings, UTPB will have to win out to ensure a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

"All of our goals we set at the beginning of the season are still obtainable," said UTPB Head Coach Kris McCullough. "Everything that we wanted going into the season is right in front of us. If we can win these next three games, we get to keep playing together. For me and these guys, especially these seniors, that's all we want is to see how long we can keep coaching and keep playing together. I'd rather we have to go to Washington or to the East Coast, it doesn't matter to us, we just want to play together. As long as we can do that, hopefully into December, and hopefully we can get to McKinney. So, that is the extra motivation for us. Win and take care of business, do things the right way. Play Falcon football and we have a chance."

LSC'S TOP DEFENSE TAKES ON A HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
UTPB has the Lone Star Conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 297.6 yards per game. In addition, opponents are scoring just 18 points per game against UTPB, which also leads the league. WNMU, meanwhile, is second in the league in total offense at 443.8 yards per game.

The Mustangs feature one of the most prolific passing attacks in Division II, NCAA led by quarterback Connor Ackerley, who tops the nation with 2,692 passing yards and has thrown 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions through eight games.

Ackerly's arsenal of receivers has been a strength all season. Deuce Zimmerman leads the way with 676 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Davey Morales (595 yards, 6 TDs) and Anthony Flores (458 yards, 8 TDs) give WNMU a deep and dangerous group of playmakers.

WNMU will have to lean on its offensive firepower to keep pace with UTPB. It's WNMU's air raid passing game versus UTPB's balanced attack. The Mustangs will try to use their tempo and explosive receivers to outscore the Falcons.

After WNMU's second game of the season, a high-scoring 69-55 defeat at New Mexico Highlands University, Ackerley was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week as he tied a Lone Star Conference record and set a school record by throwing seven touchdown passes. The freshman quarterback completed 34-of-57 passes for a total of 529 yards, with just one interception. Ackerley threw at least one touchdown pass in each quarter and connected with seven different receivers. His seven touchdown passes were the highest by any player across all NCAA divisions this season, a feat last matched in the conference by LSC Hall of Honor member Dustin Vaughan (West Texas A&M University) in 2013. Ackerley's contributions were crucial in helping his team recover from a 35-7 deficit to tie the game at 55-55 in the fourth quarter. He also added 23 rushing yards to his performance.

Coach Kris McCullough spoke on the challenge presented by the WMNU offense, "Their quarterback leads all the divisions in passing yards right now and is probably going to be a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which is the basically the Heisman winner of Division II football. They have weapons galore at receiver and they've been scoring a lot of points. I mean, it's kind of ridiculous, like scoring 40 to 50 points in a game."

FALCONS IN THE POLLS
The UTPB football team moved up one spot from No. 18 to No. 17 in the D2Football.com Media Poll and moved up three spots from No. 23 to No. 20 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Poll.

FALCONS' LAST TIME OUT
No. 23 UT Permian Basin tops West Texas A&M, 22-6: No. 23 UTPB allowed just six first downs and 187 yards of total offense to defeat West Texas A&M 22-6 at Astound Broadband Stadium. UTPB snapped a two-game skid and halted WT's three-game winning streak. UTPB also recorded a third-quarter safety courtesy of freshman linebacker Warren Richardson. UTPB's offense was led by Kanon Gibson, who led a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on the game's first possession. Angel Diaz connected on two field goals over 40 yards – one in each half. Gibson was 29-for-45 passing for 293 yards and two scores without an interception.

THE SERIES (UTPB VS. WNMU)
The Falcons and Mustangs meet for the 10th time in school history on the gridiron on Saturday. UTPB is 7-2 all-time in the series and has won each of the last five meetings between the two teams, and has outscored WNMU 97-6 in two years under the direction of Head Coach Kris McCullough. Lastly, the Falcons are 4-1 when playing on the road against the Mustangs.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET
No. 21 UT Permian Basin racks up 557 yards of offense in season-opening 41-3 win over Western New Mexico: No. 21 UT Permian Basin faced little resistance en route to a 41-3 win over Western New Mexico University in what was the season opener and first Lone Star Conference game of the season for both teams Saturday night inside Ratliff Stadium. Falcons quarterback Dylan Graham completed 31 of 50 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns.

MUSTANGS' LAST TIME OUT
Eastern New Mexico breaks records in 59-35 Chile Bowl win over Western New Mexico: Eastern New Mexico junior quarterback Jarius Stewart ran for an LSC record 382 yards and the Greyhounds racked up 712 yards on the ground – another conference mark – en route to a 59-35 win over Western New Mexico in the Chile Bowl game at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. Stewart carried the ball 33 times and had five touchdowns. He broke the league record of 342 yards set by Northeastern State Carlton Boothe in 1998. The Greyhounds' rushing mark was just seven yards shy of the NCAA Division II's record set in 1971. Stewart had at least one touchdown in all four quarters – three of them allowed ENMU to tie or take the lead and three were for over 50 yards. He also threw one pass for 38 yards. Demarion Finch ran for 125 yards and a TD on 15 carries. ENMU was led on defense by Dylan Quartieri's seven tackles – 3.5 for loss – and 1.5 sacks. DJ Moore also had a sack and Stanton Chambers forced a fumble. WNMU's Connor Ackerley was 22 of 32 passing for 314 and four touchdowns – two to Davey Morales (seven catches for 114 yards) with no interceptions. He also rushed for 47 yards and a score. Cole Lalama had a game-high 15 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Mustangs. WNMU was up 28-24 at halftime.

WNMU HEAD COACH
Billy Hickman enters his third season at the helm of the Western New Mexico football team in 2025. 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.

Hickman was previously serving as offensive coordinator at NAIA Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, from 2010-17. He was named NAIA American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2017 and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012. During his tenure at Tabor, he lead the football team to three consecutive KCAC championships (2015-17), and established 39 team and individual records, including the KCAC single season rushing record of 4,058 yards set in 2013.

Hickman began his collegiate coaching career as the assistant offensive line coach at Colorado School of Mines from 2008-09.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, No. 8 Central Washington is atop the Lone Star Conference football standings at 6-0 and has won six straight games.

Western Oregon (6-2, 5-1) increased its winning streak to four games and is now receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll. Week 8 winners also included No. 16 Angelo State, No. 20 UT Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico.

ENMU junior running back broke the LSC's single-game rushing record with a 382-yard performance with five TDs in a win over Western New Mexico. The Greyhounds also tied the NCAA Division II mark with 719 rushing yards.

Week 9 will feature all 10 teams in action with five conference matchups on Saturday, including a ranked matchup of ASU at CWU.

WT is leading the league in total offense at 449.9 yards per game, followed by WNMU (443.8) and CWU (427.4). CWU is scoring a league-high 45.8 points per game.

UTPB has the conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 297.6 yards per game. CWU and ASU are tied for second at 348.1 yards per game. Opponents are scoring just 18 points per game against UTPB, which leads the league.

UTPB is the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 46.6 yards per game.

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 Midwestern State 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.