ODESSA, Texas (October 16, 2026) – The No. 20 University of Texas Permian Basin football team (5-1 overall, 4-0 LSC) is riding a five-game winning streak and will look to keep it going as the Falcons host Western Oregon University (2-4, 0-4) during "Week 7". It will only be UTPB's second home game in their first seven games of the season. The Falcons will take on the Wolves starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, from Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas.

FALCONS' LAST TIME OUT
Nate TenBarge threw and ran for a touchdown and No. 23 UT Permian Basin forced two more interceptions to record a 24-17 win over West Texas A&M at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas. UTPB improved to 4-0 in league play. TenBarge was 17-for-33 passing for 202 yards. McKyle So'oto and Nicholas Butler had interceptions for the Falcons. WT pulled within 21-17 with 14:45 to play when Knox Porter connected with Joseph White on a 34-yard pass. UTPB's Diego Chavarria made a 22-yard field goal with 9:10 left to complete the scoring. UTPB held WT to 48 rushing yards and did not allow a TD in the second and third quarters. Porter finished 26-for-52 passing for 287 yards. Daytin Navy had an interception and three pass break-ups for WT.

SCOUTING UTPB
UT Permian Basin enters the matchup riding five straight victories after opening the season with a loss at (FCS) UT Rio Grande Valley. The Falcons responded with a 69-14 home victory over Western New Mexico before defeating Sul Ross State 66-7 and Eastern New Mexico 56-10 both on the road. After starting 3-0 in Lone Star Conference play, the Falcons then turned their attention to their final nonconference game of the season and upset No. T-21 Northeastern State University 38-27. Most recently, UTPB returned to LSC action and had to scrap until the very end to pull out a 24-17 victory at West Texas A&M University. It was the Falcons' fifth win in a row (5-1) and represents a 4-0 start in Lone Star Conference play. The Falcons are now one of just three remaining 4-0 teams in the LSC (No. 13 Central Washington University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville).

UTPB leads the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense (19.8 ppg) and ranks second in scoring offense (42.2 ppg). The Falcons are averaging 167.0 rushing yards and 240.5 passing yards per game, and are seventh in the conference in total offense (407.5 ypg), but are also third in total defense (382.8 ypg). Their defense has surrendered just 14 touchdowns through its first seven contests, the fewest in the LSC. The Falcons' defense also leads the league in sacks (20) and interceptions (15), and is tied for first in forced fumbles (9).

UTPB was picked fifth in the conference's preseason poll and was receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 Poll for the first five weeks of the regular season before cracking the national rankings during "Week 5" following its upset win over No. T-21 Northeastern State.

THE SERIES (UTPB VS. WOU)
The Falcons and Wolves meet for the fifth time on the gridiron this Saturday. In the first matchup between the two teams in 2022, Hayden Kelly's 55-yard interception and return for a touchdown sealed UT Permian Basin's 27-24 win at Western Oregon. In 2023, it was a memorable homecoming for the Falcons as UTPB beat WOU 28-16 at Astound Broadband Stadium. However, in each of the last two seasons, the Wolves have edged the Falcons by three points. Two years ago (2024), WOU spoiled UTPB's Senior Day with a 30-27 win in overtime at Astound Broadband Stadium. Last year (2025), the No. 23-ranked Falcons trailed 17-0 before a back-and-forth fourth quarter, but a fumble on the Falcons' final drive sealed their fate in a 31-28 defeat at WOU. It was the Wolves' first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since 2016.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Western Oregon upsets No. 13 UT Permian Basin, 31-28: Jordan McCarty had a 10-yard touchdown run with 1:55 to play and Malcolm Liufau forced a fumble that was recovered by Tamaaulelei Ma'alona with 25 seconds left as Western Oregon upset No. 13 UT Permian Basin 31-28 at McArthur Field. It was WOU's first win over a ranked opponent since 2016. WOU built a 17-7 lead at halftime. UTPB took its first lead, 28-24, with 6:46 left in the game thanks to a Kanon Gibson 14-yard TD run. McCarty finished 19-for-28 passing for 166 yards and two TDs – one to Jermaine Land and the other to Keyvaun Eady – and added 75 yards on the ground. Liufau also had an interception, one sack and two tackles for a loss of eight yards. Aden Murphy had a game-high nine tackles. Gibson was 28-for-40 for 348 yards and two TDs and ran for 84 yards and two more scores. Kylin Mathis (eight catches) and TJ McKenzie (six catches, one TD) both went for over 100 yards receiving. UTPB's defense was led by Tristan Exline, who had eight tackles – 2.5 for loss.

WOLVES UNDER THE LENS
2025 Rewind: WOU just missed a Lone Star Conference title last season after going 8-3 overall and 7-2 in LSC play. The Wolves fell in a winner-take-all matchup with rival Central Washington in the season finale on the final play of the game - falling 19-17. The Wolves weren't selected to the NCAA postseason, with UT Permian Basin (who WOU beat and had the same record as) getting the nod with CWU.

Rough Ending to the 2025 Season: No. 24 Western Oregon falls in final seconds to No. 6 Central Washington, 19-17: The No. 24 Western Oregon football team controlled No. 6 Central Washington for three quarters in a game that decided who got the automatic bid from the Lone Star Conference into the NCAA postseason - but unfortunately for the Wolves the Wildcats battled back and threw a touchdown on the final play of the game to win 19-17 Saturday at sold-out crowd at McArthur Field.

Ferguson Named 2025 LSC Coach of the Year: Western Oregon's Arne Ferguson was voted LSC Coach of the Year after leading a 7-2 league record that resulted in a tie for the conference runner-up spot and a national ranking.

Wolves Picked Second in LSC, McCarty Named LSC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year: The Western Oregon football team was picked second in the Lone Star Conference and quarterback Jordan McCarty was selected the LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the year during the LSC Football Media Day.

The Wolves, the LSC runner-up last season after going 7-2 (8-3 overall), picked up nine first-place votes and finished behind Central Washington in the poll. The rest of the top five was West Texas A&M, Angelo State and UT Permian Basin.

McCarty was voted the LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 1,521 yards and running for another 507 (averaging 184.4 yards of total offense per game). He accounted for 18 touchdowns (12 passing, six rushing). The senior from Silverton, Oregon, enters his fourth season at WOU and has 32 games under his belt as a Wolf.

Wolves Nationally Ranked in both AFCA, D2Football.com national preseason polls: The Western Oregon football team entered 2026 on the national radar as the Wolves were ranked in both the American Football Coaches Association and D2Football.com polls.

WOU came in at No. 14 in the D2Football.com poll and No. 22 in the AFCA rankings.

The Wolves, who were picked second in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll, were joined by Central Washington (No. 7 AFCA, No. 9 D2Football.com) and UT Permian Basin (No. 18 AFCA and D2Football.com) out of the LSC.

WOU is coming off an 8-3 season in 2025, narrowly missing a LSC title and spot in the NCAA Championships.

WOU Head Coach Arne Ferguson: WOU is led by 2025 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year Arne Ferguson as he enters his 22nd year as head coach with a 117-99 record. He's also entering his 41st year in the program - starting with his days as a player from 1985-88 where he was a three-time all-conference player.

WOLVES HEADING INTO THE 2026 SEASON
The Wolves, who were also ranked No. 14 in the D2Football.com Preseason Poll, returned eight of 11 starters on offense and five of 11 on defense heading into the season.

Offense: Offensively, quarterback Jordan McCarty returned and was named the 2026 LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The senior threw for 1,521 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while running for another 507 yards and six scores.

Also returning was All-LSC First Team running back Jermaine Land after the senior rushed for 578 yards and four touchdowns. In fact, the top five rushers for WOU returned in Land, McCarty, Terayon Sweet (335 yards, 3 TD), Tyler Konold (189 yards, 3 TD) and Carson Workman (184 yards, 7 TD - he also had 158 yards receiving and a score).

The Wolves returned four of five of their starting offensive line - including sophomore Kameron Splonski who earned All-LSC Second Team honors as a freshman and senior center Nick Weber, who was named All-LSC Honorable Mention.

WOU lost its top two pass catchers from last season with the next top two pass catchers back in junior Cyris Taylor (13 catches, 167 yards, 2 TD) and senior Jaylen Fite (13 catches, 159 yards).

Defense: The Wolves had more holes to fill defensively with six starters leaving - including much of their linebacker corps.

WOU did return a pair of All-LSC Second Team defensive linemen in senior tackle Nijawn Sterling (44 tackles, 3.0 sacks) and senior end LJ Imo (41 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries).

In the secondary, WOU returned All-LSC Honorable Mention safety Malik Ross as the senior had 38 tackles and four interceptions last year. Though he didn't play in 2025, 2024 all-region cornerback Andrew Simpson returned as well after having 34 tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass breakups in two seasons ago.

Three of the four Wolves linebackers will be new starters as only sophomore Elijah Pula returned and he'll move from outside to inside after racking up 33 tackles (8.5 for loss), two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a freshman.

WOLVES' LAST TIME OUT
Shootout Goes to Javelinas, 58-51: Christian Kretz caught 16 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns as Texas A&M-Kingsville collected a 58-51 win over Western Oregon at McArthur Field in Monmouth, Ore. The Javelinas are now 4-0 in league play. It was a tie game, 41-41 to begin the fourth quarter. WOU took a lead on a Jayshon Limar four-yard TD run at the 11:55 mark, but TAMUK answered at 7:58 on a seven-yard TD pass from Mills Dawson to Nate Barnett. The Javelinas got the game-winner on a Levi Fontenot 1-yard TD run with 1:48 to play. Kretz has 43 catches and seven TDs during the Javelinas' winning streak. Mills finished 28-for-40 for 408 yards and three TDs without an interception, while Edward Chumley ran for 99 yards and a TD. WOU got two rushing TDs from Limar and Jordan McCarty (12-for-23 for 248 yards a score). TAMUK's Travis Bielefeld had 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks and Daniel Gauna was 3-for-3 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra-point attempts. WOU, which led 28-23 at halftime, got 15 tackles and a sack from Isaiah Mosley.

McADOO IS THE LONE STAR SPECIAL TEAMS POW
Western Oregon wide receiver and return specialist Tony McAdoo has been named the Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

The junior from Richmond, Calif. took back a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and totaled 133 return yards – the most in a single game in the LSC this season – against Texas A&M-Kingsville. McAdoo also had a 27-yard receiving TD. Both his scores came in the first half and gave WOU the lead each time. McAdoo added 23 rushing yards on two carries. McAdoo became just the fourth player in the LSC to return a kickoff for a TD this year.

McAdoo becomes the fourth Western Oregon player this season to earn a Lone Star Conference award, following Malik Ross (Aug. 31) and LJ Imo (Sept. 7) on defense, and Ashton Wolff (Sept. 7) on special teams.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
No. 13 Central Washington, No. 23 UT Permian Basin and Texas-A&M-Kingsville all improved to 4-0 in Lone Star Conference league play, while Western New Mexico and Angelo State also took care of business during Week 6.

Week 7 will again feature all 10 teams in conference action (West Texas A&M at Eastern New Mexico; Western Oregon at UTPB; Central Washington at TAMUK; WNMU at Sul Ross State; ASU and Midwestern State). The CWU-TAMUK winner is guaranteed to be in at least a share of first place heading into the next week.

MSU is tops in the league in total offense (547.8 yards per game), while ASU is tops in defense (347.7 yards per game). MSU is scoring a conference-best 42.5 points per game and UTPB is allowing a league-low 19.8 points per game. ASU (50.8 yards per game) is the least penalized team in the LSC.

CWU was picked to repeat as the LSC champion this season, according to the league's preseason poll. WOU senior quarterback Jordan McCarty and CWU senior linebacker Brycen Indell were predicted to win preseason player of the year honors.

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's contest will be broadcasted on FloCollege. The LSC and FloSports reached a historic agreement in August of 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. LSC fans will have three subscription plans to choose from: Standard, Student or Family. The Standard Plan is $24.99 per month or $119.88 per year ($9.99/month). The Student Plan is $12.99 per month or $95.88 per year ($7.99/month). Subscribers must have a valid .edu email address from an LSC member institution or affiliate. The Family Plan is $155.88 per year ($12.99/month). FloCollege's newest subscription plan is only available annually. The primary account owner will be able to invite up to two additional individuals to join their account. Each added account will receive its own login with full access to FloCollege and can stream the same or different content from completely different locations.

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.