ODESSA, Texas (November 16, 2025) – The UT Permian Basin football team is headed to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second time in program history and for the second time in three years. The Falcons found out on Sunday evening where they will be headed and who they will face in the first round of the playoffs, and it will be Colorado State University Pueblo.

The Falcons and the ThunderWolves will square off starting at 1 p.m. Mountain Time / 2 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, November 22, in the ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colorado.

During the selection show on Sunday, UTPB was the last name called.

UTPB is 9-2 overall and finished tied for second in the Lone Star Conference with a 7-2 record. In addition to having the second-winningest season in program history, the Falcons have now had three straight winning seasons under Head Coach Kris McCullough, who now with 26 wins, becomes the Falcons' all-time winningest coach.

In UTPB's first-ever playoff appearance in 2023, the Falcons dropped a low-scoring 10-3 decision at home against No. 21 Bemidji State University in the first round.

The Falcons are currently averaging 39.5 points per game and are only allowing 17.7 points per game to their opponents. UTPB is currently being out rushed by its opponents' 141.3 rushing yards per game to the Falcons' 140.9. However, UTPB makes up for it in the air, averaging 328.5 passing yards per game compared to the 159.9 passing yards their opponents are averaging. In total the Falcons are outgaining their opponents 469.4 yards per game to the 301.2 yards they are giving up.

UTPB is a disciplined team accruing 58 penalties on the year for 569 yards for an average of 51.7 penalty yards per game. The Falcons also like to hold onto the ball, averaging 31:51 minutes per game with the ball. They have been efficient on third-down opportunities, converting on 45.63 percent and have been extremely difficult to stop on fourth down, converting 23 of 32 attempts this season.

UTPB ranks first in the LSC in total defense (301.2 ypg) and first in passing defense (159.9 ypg). The Falcons are also ranked second in points allowed per game (17.7 ppg). Offensively, the Falcons are second in total offense (469.4 ypg), in passing offense (328.5 ypg), and in points per game (39.5 ppg). UTPB is also the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 51.7 yards per game.

Kanon Gibson has been the focal point of the Falcons' offense, passing for nearly 3,000 yards (2,981 yards) and 25 touchdowns this year for an average of 271.0 passing yards per game. He's passed for a completion percentage of 60.65 percent and has only thrown seven interceptions out of 371 attempts. Gibson has passed for over 300 yards in a game five times this season and has four games with at least four combined touchdowns between the air and the ground. He also had a career-high three rushing touchdowns in UTPB's 28-14 win at No. 5 Angelo State University (Oct. 4). Kory Harris leads the UTPB rushing room, earning 550 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Gibson and Camden Tyler are the other 300-yard rushers on the team, with Gibson accumulating 374 yards and eight touchdowns while Tyler has added 335 yards and four touchdowns, respectively. TJ McKenzie (593 yards, 6 touchdowns) and Ben Patterson (567 yards, 5 touchdowns) have led the receiving corps for the Falcons with over 500 yards. Traylen Suel leads the team in total catches with 42 while adding 478 yards and five touchdowns. Jaylon Tillman (6) makes it four Falcons' pass catchers with at least five receiving touchdowns.

Preseason LSC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week Tristan Exline leads the defense with 104 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss that include 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles while adding one interception. Exline is second in the Lone Star Conference in tackles, one behind the leader, and is tied for the UTPB record for tackles for loss in a single season. Jamarion Ravenell and Jayden Plater lead the Falcons with three interceptions each while Caimon Mathis has 10 pass breakups to his name to lead UTPB.

About CSU Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo earned the No. 3 seed in Super Region 4. CSU Pueblo concluded its regular season with an overall record of 10-1 and went a perfect 9-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). CSUP ended the regular season on a nine-game winning streak, including victories over then No. 6-ranked Western Colorado University (24-21) and No. 22 Chadron State College (30-27, 2OT). The win against Chadron gave the ThunderWolves their second straight RMAC title. The ThunderWolves are making their 10th all-time NCAA Division II playoff appearance this season as they have posted a 9-9 record in NCAA Playoffs, including being 5-4 in home playoff games. The Pack captured the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship. CSU Pueblo is one of eight schools in this year's playoff field to have won at least one national championship in football, as the Pack took home its national title in 2014.

In the only previous matchup between UTPB and CSUP last season in Colorado, the Falcons got off to a quick start scoring on their first offensive play from scrimmage, but the ThunderWolves rattled off 23 straight points to end the first half and defeated UTPB by a final score of 40-23.

The 2025 NCAA Division II playoffs will culminate with the championship game scheduled for December 20 at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Last season, Ferris State captured its third title in the last four seasons with a 49-14 win over Valdosta State.

Here is the complete playoff schedule for Super Region Four.
 
First Round – Saturday, Nov. 22 – (All games will kick off at 1 p.m. local time)
Northwest Missouri State (9-2) at #1 Harding (11-0)
Western Colorado (9-2) at #2 Central Washington (10-1)
UT Permian Basin (9-2) at #3 CSU Pueblo (10-1)
Chadron State (8-3) at #4 Pittsburg State (9-2)
 
Second Round – Saturday, Nov. 29
Harding/NW Missouri State vs. Pittsburg State/Chadron State winner
Central Washington/Western Colorado winner vs. CSU Pueblo/UTPB winner
 
Super Region Final – Saturday, Dec. 6
Second-round winners at highest remained seeded team
 
National Semifinals – Saturday, Dec. 13
Super Region winners (teams will be reseeded)
 
National Championship Game – Saturday, Dec. 20
National Semifinal winners, 12 p.m. MT (ESPN2)