Man, if you weren't paying attention to Odessa lately, you missed a hell of a ride. The ut permian basin football schedule for this past 2025 season wasn't just a list of dates on a fridge; it was basically a three-month-long heart attack for the Lone Star Conference.
We’re talking about a team that went 11-3, fought their way into the NCAA Division II quarterfinals, and then—in a move that caught everyone off guard—lost their head coach to a Division I job right before New Year's. It's been a lot. Honestly, trying to keep up with the Falcons this year felt like trying to drink from a fire hose.
The 2025 Run: A Week-by-Week Breakdown
Let’s look at the actual games because the results were kind of insane. They started the year at home in Midland at Astound Broadband Stadium.
- Aug 30: They hosted No. 5 Central Oklahoma. People thought it’d be a toss-up. UTPB won 34-14. Statement made.
- Sept 6: A road trip to Alamosa, Colorado. They crushed Adams State 41-7.
- Sept 20: First big LSC test against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Falcons took it 43-30.
- Sept 27: Handled Midwestern State 37-15. This was Coach Kris McCullough’s 30th career win, and the dude isn't even 30 yet.
Then came October. October was... weird. They beat Angelo State on the road (28-14), which is always a dogfight. But then they hit a mid-season skid. They dropped a home game to Central Washington 14-27 and followed it up with a 28-31 heartbreaker at Western Oregon. For a second there, people in the Permian Basin were starting to sweat.
They finished the regular season like they were shot out of a cannon. 22-6 over West Texas A&M. A 66-7 absolute blowout of Western New Mexico. 47-34 over Eastern New Mexico. And then, the finale.
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Nov 15: They played Sul Ross State. The score was 74-10. Seventy-four. It was Senior Day, and the Falcons basically decided to score on every single possession just because they could.
Making History in the Playoffs
The ut permian basin football schedule didn't end in November this time. They earned an at-large bid to the dance.
They went back to Colorado on November 22nd to face No. 4 CSU Pueblo. Nobody expected a win. UTPB walked out of there with a 37-24 victory—the first playoff win in the history of the program.
The next week was even crazier. Down 15-0 in the fourth quarter against No. 15 Western Colorado. In Gunnison. In the cold. Most teams fold there. UTPB rallied, forced overtime, and won 21-15. They eventually fell to No. 2 Harding in the Quarterfinals (28-34), but by then, the point was proven. This team belongs.
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The Stats That Actually Matter
If you’re a numbers person, the Falcons averaged 37.1 points per game while only giving up about 19. That’s a massive gap. Quarterback Kanon Gibson and linebacker Tristan Exline (who was named D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Year) were the engines. Exline was a heat-seeking missile all year, and seeing him leave for the portal/graduation is going to hurt the 2026 outlook quite a bit.
The Post-Season Bombshell
Just as fans were getting ready for 2026, the floor dropped out. On December 23rd, Kris McCullough announced he was leaving for Gardner-Webb.
It makes sense—he’s a winner—but the timing was wild. However, the school didn't waste time. On New Year's Eve, they hired Chris Softley.
Softley comes from Lubbock Christian School. Yeah, it’s a high school jump, but look at the resume: 101-22 record, state titles, and a deep understanding of West Texas recruiting. He’s already been vocal about "riding the wave" of this historic 11-3 season. He’s got 14 to 16 All-Conference players expected to return, which is sort of unheard of in the current transfer portal era.
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What to Watch for in the 2026 UT Permian Basin Football Schedule
While the official 2026 dates are still being finalized by the Lone Star Conference, we know the structure. You can expect the usual suspects:
- The LSC Gauntlet: Angelo State and Central Washington will be the games circled in red.
- The New Identity: How does Softley’s style differ from McCullough’s "no-huddle spread"?
- The Venue: Most games will likely stay at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, with the occasional appearance at the legendary Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.
If you’re planning to follow the team next year, keep an eye on the official UTPB Athletics site. Tickets are usually cheap or even free for certain events, and the tailgating at Astound has become a legitimate scene.
Basically, UTPB isn't a "new" program anymore. They’re a target. Every team in the LSC is going to have the Falcons' game circled. Whether Softley can keep the momentum going is the only question left.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check the UTPB Athletics portal in late spring for the finalized 2026 calendar. If you’re a local business, now is the time to look into those vendor spots for tailgating, as they filled up fast during the 2025 playoff run. Get your gear now, because the bandwagon is officially full.