ODESSA, Texas (August 18, 2026) – UT Permian Basin Football has been ranked No. 18 in both the 2026 D2Football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll and the 2026 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Preseason Poll.

The Falcons ended at No. 3 in the D2Football.com End of Season Top 25 Poll and No. 5 in the final AFCA Poll last season after making the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons and advancing to the Super Region Final (NCAA Quarterfinals) for the first time in program history. The No. 3 national ranking was a new program record for the highest national ranking in program history.

UTPB finished the 2025 season 11-3 overall, setting a program record for wins in a single season while also earning the first two playoff wins in program history, and was in a three-team tie for second in the Lone Star Conference with a 7-2 record. In regard to the national rankings, UTPB broke into the top-10 of both the D2Football.com Media Poll and the AFCA Coaches' Poll for the first time in program history, and set a regular-season record for ranking as high as No. 4 in the D2Football.com Poll and No. 6 in the AFCA Poll following its 5-0 start to the season. During the playoffs the Falcons were ranked No. 10 in the AFCA Poll and No. 11 in the D2Football.com Poll.

The Falcons finished the 2025 season 4-2 against nationally-ranked opponents (all top-20 in both polls at the time), and were the only team in the country with three wins over teams ranked in the top-five of the AFCA Poll. Those wins included a 34-14 victory over University of Central Oklahoma (No. 5 AFCA/No. 3 D2Football.com) during the Falcons' highest-ranked season opening matchup in program history, a 28-14 win at Angelo State University (No. 5 AFCA/No. 6 D2Football.com) in the ESPN NCAA Division II Game of the Week (UTPB's first game in program history where both teams were ranked in the top-10), a 37-24 victory at Colorado State University Pueblo (No. 4 AFCA/No. 6 D2Football.com) in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs (representing the highest nationally-ranked win in program history at No. 4), and a 21-15 comeback win on the road in overtime in the second round at Western Colorado University (No. 15 AFCA/No. 18 D2Football.com). UTPB fell in the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship Super Region 4 Final with a 34-28 loss Harding University (No. 2 AFCA/No. 2 D2Football.com). The UTPB offense scored the most points by any team against Harding and was the only one-score game the Bisons had been in to that point in the season. In the end, the Falcon football team became the first UTPB athletic program to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division II era.

D2Football.com Media Poll (Top-5):
Defending national champion Ferris State tops the D2Football.com preseason Top 25 Poll. The Bulldogs were a unanimous choice, claiming the No. 1 spot on every ballot submitted. Ferris State has been No. 1 in the poll in every round of voting since November 4, 2024. Harding, the 2023 national champion and 2025 runner-up, comes in at No. 2. Minnesota State checks in at No. 3. Three-time defending PSAC Champion Kutztown opens the year at No. 4, with defending MIAA co-champion Pittsburg State completing the top-5.

AFCA Coaches' Poll (Top-10):
Winners of four of the last five Division II national championships, it is no surprise that Ferris State is the preseason No. 1 team in the 2026 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs, who went 16-0 and claimed their second straight national title a year ago, will open the season against No. 4 Pittsburg State on August 27. The Gorillas went 10-3 in 2025 and lost in the second round of the playoffs to the preseason No. 2 team, Harding. The Bisons are looking to be one game better in 2026 after losing the national title game to Ferris State.

Fresh off their semifinal run in the playoffs in 2025, Kutztown will start this season at No. 3. The Golden Bears will begin their season on the road against Assumption on September 3. Rounding out the top-five is Minnesota State. The Mavericks will begin their season on the road at Colorado Mesa on August 27. Colorado State-Pueblo, Central Washington, Northwest Missouri State, Grand Valley State and UIndy round out the top-10.

LSC Teams in the Polls:

Team	2026 D2Football.com Media Poll Preseason Ranking	2026 AFCA Coaches' Poll Preseason Ranking
Central Washington	No. 9	No. 7
Western Oregon	No. 14	No. 22
UT Permian Basin	No. 18	No. 18