ODESSA, Texas (August 20, 2024) – UT Permian Basin Football is receiving votes in this year's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Falcons are looking to get back into the top-25 this season after beginning last season ranked No. 21 in the AFCA poll and finishing their 2023 Lone Star Conference Championship season ranked at No. 18.

UTPB is tied with Indiana University of Pennsylvania with 16 votes, placing both teams in the 10th spot in the receiving votes category.

UTPB finished its 2024 season 7-5 overall and tied for third place in the LSC at 6-3. In addition to having the second-winningest season in program history, the Falcons have now had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in their history. UTPB also made its second consecutive postseason appearance for the first time in program history.

UTPB's first opponent this season, the University of Central Oklahoma, was ranked at No. 5 in the AFCA preseason poll after going 11-2 last year and finishing with a national ranking of No. 9. It will be the first-ever matchup between the Falcons and the Bronchos. Central Oklahoma won the MIAA Championship last year, made the Division II Football Championship for the first time since 2003, earned the No. 4 seed in Super Region III, hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1998, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to top-seed and eventual national champion Ferris State in the Super Region III semifinal.

Coming off its 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship, Ferris State University is the preseason No. 1 team in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs, who went 14-1 a year ago, will open the season against No. 9 Pittsburg State University on Thursday, August 28.

From the LSC, defending conference champion Angelo State University checks in at No. 13 after finishing its 2024 season 9-3 and ending the year ranked No. 20, and Central Washington University checks in at No. 21 after ending the previous season 8-4 overall and with a ranking of No. 24. Texas A&M University-Kingsville (5 votes) is the 20th team mentioned (out of 22 teams) in the receiving votes category.

Other familiar foes in the top-25 from UTPB's rise to national relevance over the last two seasons include No. 6 Colorado State University Pueblo, No. 10 Western Colorado University, No. 16 Bemidji State University and No. 22 Central Missouri University. In 2023, UTPB put together a furious comeback attempt but fell just short, 35-27, at Western Colorado and later dropped a low-scoring 10-3 decision at home against Bemidji State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championships. This past season, UTPB scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage before falling 40-23 at CSU-Pueblo and nearly defeated Central Missouri in the 2024 Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot, leading 28-14 in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling 39-37 in double overtime.

UTPB will open up its new 2025 season at home against the No. 5 nationally-ranked University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday, August 30, at 6 p.m. inside Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas.