ODESSA, Texas (October 10, 2025) – No. 6-ranked UTPB (5-0 overall, 3-0 LSC) does not have long to savor last week's victory over Angelo State University as the Falcons host No. 13 Central Washington University (4-1, 3-0) in the only top-25 matchup in NCAA Division II this coming weekend. Both teams sit atop the Lone Star Conference with 3-0 records as the matchup could very well determine the outcome of the conference championship. The action is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, from historic Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas.

UTPB is one of just 12 remaining undefeated teams halfway through the DII football season.

After earning its second win this season against a team ranked in the top-5 of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Poll last weekend, UTPB continues to improve upon its highest national ranking in program history, this time checking in at No. 6 in the Week 6 AFCA Poll. In addition, in the D2Football.com Media Poll, UTPB jumped to No. 4 following its impressive road win at previous No. 6 Angelo State. UTPB was previously ranked No. 7 in the D2 Poll during each of the last three weeks.

UTPB was previously ranked No. 9 in the AFCA before defeating then-No. 5 Angelo State 28-14 in what was a battle of unbeaten top-10 teams from the Lone Star Conference on Saturday. It was the first time in program history the Falcons played in a matchup where both teams were ranked in the top-10. The Falcons are now 3-4 all-time against top-10 opponents. Under Head Coach Kris McCullough, the Falcons boast a 3-0 record against top-10 opponents, with a win last year against then-ranked No. 9 Central Washington University and this year's season opener against No. 5 the University of Central Oklahoma.

STATS TO KNOW
The Falcons are currently averaging 36.6 points per game and are only allowing 16 points per game to their opponents. UTPB is currently being out rushed by their opponents 142.8 rushing yards per game to the Falcons 111.2. However, UTPB makes up for it in the air, averaging 313.2 passing yards per game compared to the 167.4 passing yards their opponents are averaging. In total the Falcons are outgaining their opponents 424.4 yards per game to the 310.2 yards they're giving up.

UTPB is a disciplined team accruing 24 penalties on the year for 224 yards for an average of 44.8 penalty yards per game. They also like to hold onto the ball, averaging 33:32 minutes per game with the ball. They've been efficient on third down opportunities, converting on 41.89 percent and have been extremely difficult to stop on fourth down, converting 12 of 14 attempts this season.

Kanon Gibson has been the focal point of the Falcons' offense, passing for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns this year for an average of 227.4 passing yards per game. He's passed for a completion percentage of 65.35 percent and has only thrown two interceptions out of 127 attempts. Gibson also leads the UTPB rushing room, earning 232 yards on the ground and has added five touchdowns as well. Kory Harris and Camden Tyler are the only other over 100-yard rushers on the team with Harris accumulating 184 yards and four touchdowns while Tyler has added 110 yards and two touchdowns, respectfully. TJ McKenzie and Jaylon Tillman have led the receiving corps for the Falcons with McKenzie racking up 244 yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches while Tillman has brought in 214 yards to pair with three touchdowns of his own on 10 catches. Traylen Suel and Jace Wyatt lead the team in total catches with each making 16 grabs with Suel adding 191 yards and two touchdowns and Wyatt having 116 yards and one touchdown.

Preseason LSC Defensive Player of the Year Tristan Exline leads the defense with 36 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss that include three sacks, and two quarterback hurries while adding one interception. Jamarion Ravenell and Jayden Plater lead the Falcons with two interceptions each while Kendrick Jones and Caimon Mathis have three pass breakups to their names to lead UTPB. McKyle So'oto and Elijah Gerrard have each forced a fumble while So'oto has the only fumble recovery for the Falcons on the season.

FALCONS' LAST TIME OUT
In a battle between two undefeated, top-10 nationally ranked teams, No. 9 UTPB scored on three straight drives to end the first half and sealed the game with a scoring drive on its final possession to clinch a monumental 28-14 victory over No. 5 Angelo State University at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. UTPB improved upon its best start in program history at 5-0, while ASU saw its 14-game LSC winning streak come to an end. UTPB quarterback Kanon Gibson threw for 289 yards and a touchdown and ran for three scores. Euvoski Cunningham had seven solo tackles, Malik Allen had two sacks for a loss of nine yards and David Walker also had a sack to lead UTPB's defense that surrendered just 252 yards and kept the Rams off the scoreboard in the first and fourth quarter.

GIBSON EARNS SECOND OPOW AWARD OF THE SEASON
UTPB junior quarterback Kanon Gibson was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after the Falcons' 28-14 victory at then-No. 5 Angelo State University on Saturday.

Gibson was involved in all four touchdowns, running for three scores and throwing for another. He totaled 39 rushing yards and threw for 289 – 118 in the fourth quarter with the score 21-14. Gibson sealed the win, which snapped ASU's 14-game LSC winning streak, with a nine-yard toss to TJ McKenzie with 18 seconds to play. His three rushing touchdowns all came in the first half as the Falcons built a 21-7 lead at halftime.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (UTPB VS. CWU)
With a record of 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the LSC, No. 6 UPTB returns to Ratliff Stadium on Saturday, October 11, taking on No. 13 Central Washington University (4-1 overall, 3-0 LSC) with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. in Odessa, Texas. It will be UTPB's third matchup this season against a top-15 nationally-ranked team as the winner very well could be the front runner to win the Lone Star Conference Championship. UTPB will also be looking for its third win in a row against CWU after winning 42-14 in Midland in 2023 and winning by one point, 14-13, on the road in 2024.

This will be UTPB's third matchup this season and second in a row against a nationally-ranked team. CWU moved up three spots from No. 16 to No. 13 in the AFCA Poll and moved up two spots from No. 17 to No. 15 in the D2football.com Poll. The Falcons and Wildcats meet for the fourth time on the gridiron this Saturday. CWU defeated UTPB 49-14 in their first matchup in Washington in 2022, but two years ago, UTPB beat CWU 42-14 to win the Lone Star Conference Championship at Astound Broadband Stadium.

UTPB will be looking for its third win in a row against CWU after winning by one point, 14-13, on the road last season. It was a memorable first collegiate start for quarterback Issac Mooring and UTPB's defense and special teams shined as the Falcons came up with a hard-fought 14-13 victory on the road against the No. 9-ranked team in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) top-25 poll. At the time, this was the highest nationally-ranked team the Falcons have defeated in program history after beating three nationally-ranked teams last year in Coach Kris McCullough's first season leading the team.

This season, CWU is scoring a league-high 51.8 points per game while the UTPB has the conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 310.2 yards and 16 points per game. CWU is the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 43.4 yards per game, while UTPB is next at 44.8. The Wildcats have yet to play a team with a winning record, but have scored 52, 91 and 58 points over the past three weekends. This is the first real DII test of the season as they head to Odessa for a showdown with UTPB.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
Having already defeated the team predicted to win the 2025 Lone Star Conference football championship, at least according to the LSC Football Preseason Poll, UTPB now sets its sight on the team selected to finish second in that poll, Central Washington.

CWU was picked as the conference runner-up with 257 points and four first-place votes. The Wildcats finished 8-4 overall last season and 7-2 in league play. CWU has advanced to the NCAA postseason two straight years. UTPB, meanwhile, which won the league in 2023, was the third-place selection with 229 points and two first-place votes. The Falcons went 7-5 last season and 6-3 in LSC play. They played in the postseason Heritage Bowl.

Two years ago, UTPB beat Central Washington 42-14 in the Lone Star Conference Championship game in Midland, Texas. The Falcons had been picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll. The first half of that matchup two years ago saw UTPB and CWU playing tough on both sides of the ball. At the 9:23 mark of the first quarter, grad student Kenny Hrncir ran in from the two-yard line to make it 7-0. Hrncir dove in from the one with 19 seconds left to make it 14-0, Falcons. The Wildcats scored twice in the second quarter.  That made it 14-14 at halftime. In the first five minutes of the third quarter, Hrncir fired two touchdown passes to senior Jeremiah Cooley. That broke the game open for UTPB. Offensively, sophomore Kory Harris ran for 116 yards. The Falcons finished with 329 yards rushing. Hrncir was 10-of-20 for 173 yards and two touchdown and added 74 yards and three scores on the ground. Defensively, grad student Hayden Kelly had 13 tackles and recovered a fumble while sophomore Frank Mulipola had eight tackles and broke up two passes.

WILDCATS TO WATCH:
After setting Lone Star Conference records with two kick returns for touchdowns in the same game and 237 return yards, Central Washington sophomore Beau Phillips has been named D2Football.com's National Special Teams Player of the Week. Phillips' returns came on back-to-back kickoffs in the second quarter to help the No. 17-ranked Wildcats to a 91-31 road win over Western New Mexico on September 27. His first return went for 94 yards then he took one all the way back for 100 yards (tying an LSC record). Phillips' 237 yards on three kick returns broke the mark of 218 set by Texas A&M-Commerce's Kenzee Jackson in 2010. Phillips also had six carries on offense for 34 yards and a touchdown. Phillips became the second player from the LSC to earn D2Football.com national player of the week honors this season. UTPB junior linebacker Tristan Exline was named National Defensive Player of the Week after the first week of the year.

Central Washington redshirt junior quarterback Kennedy McGill was the first recipient of the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after guiding the 'Cats to a major season-opening Rodeo Bowl victory over Colorado Mesa by a 41-14 score. McGill played a crucial role in helping lead the 'Cats offense to a stellar day last Thursday, accounting for four touchdowns including three in the second half alone and helping lead the 'Cats to the highest offensive output in the conference with 516 total yards. He finished the day completing 8/13 passes for a total of 190 yards including two touchdowns and one interception. On top of a great day in the air, McGill added 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 rushing attempts.

Central Washington senior center Slade Edwards was honored by D2Football.com being named to the First Team Offense Team of the Elite 100 Watch List. Edwards has been integral to an offensive line the past few seasons that has been one of the best in NCAA Division II. The reigning Lone Star Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year will look to help the 'Cats make it three-straight NCAA Playoff appearances. On top of being named the LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Edwards picked up a number of accolades a year ago including D2CCA All-Super Region 4, Honorable Mention Don Hansen All-American, a CSC Academic All-American, finished as a member of the D2Football.com Elite 100 list, and was tabbed as an LSC Preseason Player to Watch for this season.

WILDCATS' 2024 SEASON REVIEW
The Wildcats completed a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs with a rematch at the Western Colorado University Mountaineers. A late surge by the 'Cats proved not enough as WCU ended CWU's season by a 28-21 score. The crimson and black put up a second-place finish in the Lone Star Conference with a 7-2 conference record that saw both losses come by one point each. The 'Cats did post three shutouts during the season, first a 36-0 home victory over Western New Mexico, a 31-0 road victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville, and a 66-0 victory over LSC newcomers Sul Ross State on Military Appreciation Day.

CWU was well represented in the All-Lone Star Conference awards with 20 total Wildcats being recognized, highlighted by Tyler Flanagan earning his second-straight Offensive Back of the Year, Slade Edwards being named the Offensive Lineman of the Year, Tanner Volk taking his second-straight J.V. Sikes Defensive Player of the Year, and Mikaio Edward being tabbed the Defensive Freshman of the Year. Edwards, Flanagan and Volk all were named All-Super Region 4 with all three also earning Don Hansen All-American. Volk also added All-American honors from the AFCA, the D2CCA, and the AP as well as being nominated for the Cliff Harris Award. Volk and Edwards were also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 list and Flanagan and Edwards were named CSC Academic All- Americans with Flanagan earning the distinction for the second-straight year.

CWU HEAD COACH
The seventh season of Wildcat Football under the tutelage of Head Coach Chris Fisk is officially underway as the 'Cats look to make it three-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He enters Saturday's matchup with an overall record of 41-21. Fisk spent three seasons as an assistant in Ellensburg before being promoted to head coach in February of 2019. Fisk led the Wildcats to the Regional Finals in 2023.

In 2022, the Wildcats -- along with former Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes Simon Fraser and Western Oregon -- begin play in the mighty Lone Star Conference. After years of cobbling together a conference schedule out of two or three opponents, Fisk and the Wildcats will be able to test themselves against the top teams in one of America's toughest conferences. The Wildcats made a lot of noise in their first year as a member of the LSC in 2022 as CWU finished second with a 6-3 record and a 6-4 overall record. 14 Wildcats earned All-LSC honors highlighted by Raymond Schalk, Scottland Vise, Christian Penny, Tanner Volk, and Colson Brunner all earning first-team nods. Redshirt Junior Patrick Rogers earned national attention earning First Team Defense AFCA All-American, Honorable Mention Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American, D2Football.com Elite 100 list, as well as Second Team Defense All-LSC honors. The Wildcats had the second-best defense in the LSC only allowing 225 points (20.5 points per game). CWU also boasted the second-best passing defense in the conference only allowing 2,019 yards (183.5 yards per game). The Wildcats also had the second-best field goal unit (.813 field goal percentage), and punting unit (35.5 yards per punt).

The Wildcats kept the good times rolling in season two as a member of the Lone Star Conference. The Wildcats finished with a 9-4 record starting out with 2 nonconference setbacks before rattling off seven-straight victories to open conference play including the programs first ever victory over then #9-ranked Angelo State before falling to #17 UTPB in the LSC championship game for a 7-1 LSC record. The crimson and black drew 2nd-seeded and #10-ranked Western Colorado in the opening round of the playoffs winning 16-13 in overtime to secure the 'Cats first playoff victory since 2009. CWU backed it up rattling off 21-straight points in a second-round victory at #21 Bemidji State by a 21-17 score. The 'Cats tied things up with #1 Colorado School of Mines in the regional final but fell 38-14 in their first regional final since 2009. Tanner Volk became the first Wildcat and junior to win the coveted Cliff Harris Award and was a Harlon Hill finalist. Volk also earned CCA Ron Lenz, Don Hansen, and D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively. Volk earned AFCA, AP, D2CCA, and D2Football.com First Team All-American honors. Volk earned First Team Don Hansen's All-American Honors while Slade Edwards and Brett McCalla each earned Don Hansen's Honorable Mention All-American honors. Volk was named the D2CCA Defensive Player of the Year while Edwards, McCalla, and Tyler Flanagan all were named to the All-Super Region 4 team. Edwards, Flanagan, McCalla, Patrick Rogers, and Dominic Wieburg all were named CoSIDA Academic All-District with Flanagan earning CoSIDA Academic All-American status. Flanagan was named the LSC Offensive Back of the Year while Volk was named the J.V. Sikes LSC Defensive Player of the Year and Wieburg was named the LSC Academic Player of the Year. The crimson and black had four First Team All-LSC, four Second Team All-LSC, and 6 Honorable Mention All-LSC members. Volk led the entire NCAA in interceptions with 13 and led NCAA Division II in total tackles with 124.

In Coach Fisk's sixth season the Wildcats went 8-4 making the NCAA Division II Football Championships for the second-straight year. The Wildcats once again traveled to Gunnison, Colorado for the second-straight year in the opening round of the playoffs but fell in a tight 28-21 loss. The Wildcats saw an abundance of representation in the Lone Star Conference awards as Tyler Flanagan was named the Offensive Back of the Year for the second-straight season, Slade Edwards was tabbed the Offensive Lineman of the Year, Tanner Volk was named the J.V. Sikes Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season, and Mikaio Edward was the Defensive Freshman of the Year. 20 total Wildcats were honored with All-LSC honors while three more were tabbed to the LSC Football All-Academic Team. Regionally, Edwards and Volk were named to the First Team All-Super Region 4 while Flanagan was named to the Second Team. Nationally, Volk was tabbed AFCA, D2CCA, AP, and Don Hansen All-American while Edwards and Flanagan also were named Don Hansen All-Americans. Flanagan and Edwards were also CSC Academic All-Americans which is the second-straight year for Flanagan. Volk also was a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award and the Harlon Hill and was joined with Edwards in being named to the D2Football.com Elite 100.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
Only two teams remain unbeaten in Lone Star Conference Football league play games at 3-0: No. 6 UT Permian Basin and No. 13 Central Washington. The Falcons (5-0), who are the only unbeaten LSC team overall, and the Wildcats (4-1) will meet on Saturday (Oct. 11) at 6 p.m. CT in Odessa, Texas.

Including the UTPB-CWU matchup, Week 6 will feature eight teams in action with four conference matchups – all on Saturday. WT and Western New Mexico are idle.

WT is leading the league in total offense at 485 yards per game, followed by TAMUK (454.6) and WNMU (452.8). CWU is scoring a league-high 51.8 points per game.

UTPB has the conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 310.2 yards per game. No. 12 Angelo State is next at 348 yards per game then WT (348.5). Opponents are scoring just 16 points per game against UTPB, which leads the league. CWU is the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 43.4 yards per game. UTPB is next at 44.8.

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

WAYNE CAVADI'S CAN'T MISS GAMES (UTPB, CENTRAL WASHINGTON HEADLINE THE TOP 5 MUST-SEE DII FOOTBALL GAMES FOR WEEK 6):
For the second week in a row, UT Permian Basin football was recognized by NCAA.com writer Wayne Cavadi as the DII Game of the Week.

Central Washington at UT Permian Basin, 7 p.m.; This is without question the game of the week, marking the second week in a row UTPB finds itself in a monster game. Last week, the Falcons got a leg up in the Lone Star Conference in an undefeated matchup with Angelo State. Now, they face off against an undefeated Central Washington team, where a victory all but assures the Falcons a spot in the postseason and gives them a stranglehold on tiebreakers in the conference.

The problem is that Central Washington has an explosive offense, and this may be an exciting shootout where the last person to score wins. Right now, the two are separated by a hair in the field of 32 projections. While the Wildcats have played a slightly tougher schedule overall, none of their opponents have had a winning record. Despite the Falcons' strength of schedule being slightly lower than the Wildcats', with last week's victory over Angelo State, they now have two top-five wins on their resume. This is going to be an all-out war with two of the better quarterbacks in DII football going head-to-head.

Matchup to watch: Kennedy McGill vs. Kanon Gibson. Both of these quarterbacks are dynamic and athletic, as both lead their respective teams not only in passing but rushing as well. McGill is responsible for 17 touchdowns and just three turnovers, while Gibson has totaled 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions for the Falcons. This game will be won by whichever team protects their quarterback best, allowing them to do their thing.

Number to know: 67.0. That is the average number of points the Wildcats have put up over the past three weeks, highlighted by a 91-point output on Oct. 4. It's not like they are playing out-of-division schools — they are doing this to LSC teams. Their 51.8 points per game are second in DII to Ferris State. Now, how will this offense fare against UTPB, which happens to have the best scoring and total defense in the LSC? Something has to give.

FLOCOLLEGE FREE GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday night's contest between UTPB and CWU will be one of FloCollege's three free games of the week. Catch all the action FREE on the FloCollege Football YouTube channel.

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.

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.