ODESSA, Texas (December 30, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin Athletics has vaulted into the top-100 of the Fall 2025 Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings. At No. 86, the Falcons are the fourth-highest ranked team among Lone Star Conference schools. It is the best start in the standings the Falcons have ever had in the Fall.

UTPB is in a three-team tie for 86th place with 70 points earned for a fifth-place finish in football. UTPB football finished its 2025 season 11-3 overall and tied for second place in the Lone Star Conference at 7-2. In addition to making it to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second time in program history, the Falcons earned the first two playoff wins in program history and advanced to the Super Region Final, and set a new program record for wins in one season.

Other schools ranked from the Lone Star Conference in Fall 2025 were No. 17 West Texas A&M (180.5 points), No. 41 Midwestern State (125 points), No. 83 Dallas Baptist (73 points), No. 91 Angelo State (64 points), No. 106 Texas Woman's (50 points), and No. 124 Lubbock Christian (25 points).

The Falcons are on pace to challenge their record finish of 76th place (248.5 points) set in 2023-24. That year, the Falcons earned 152.5 points in the Spring, 71 points in the Winter, and 25 points in the Fall. The men's tennis team earned the most points (64), followed by baseball (50), men's swimming (46), men's golf (38.5), football (25), and women's basketball (25). UTPB's previous best total was 64 points (2018) and previous highest finish was 211th (2013, 2018).

The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. It's an annual award that recognizes colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics. Points are awarded based on each institution's national finish in up to 15 sports in the NCAA Division II championships.