The 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by second-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons played most of their home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas hosted one game. UTPB entered the 2024 season as the defending LSC champion.
The Falcons finished the regular season with an overall record of 7–4 with an LSC record of 6–3 to finish tied for third place; this marked the first time in program history that the Falcons finished with a winning record in back-to-back seasons. UTPB averaged 428.9 yards of offense per game while scoring an average of 34.5 points per game, both first in the LSC. The team received the conference's bid for the Heritage Bowl, which was the program's second bowl appearance.
Offseason Coaching changes In June 2024, offensive coordinator Ryan Lusby was hired to be the head football coach for Dodge City Community College. Quarterbacks' coach Kenny Hrncir was promoted to co-offensive coordinator, sharing offensive play calling duties with incumbent co-offensive coordinator Blake Crandall.
Preseason LSC media poll The LSC media poll was released on July 25, 2024. The Falcons were predicted to finish third in the conference, and they received four first-place votes.
Schedule
Rankings
Personnel
Game summaries Western New Mexico
Statistics WNMUTPB First downs 5 29 Total yards 118 557 Rushing yards 51 137 Passing yards 67 420 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 21:33 38:27 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Josh Magana 11/19, 60 yards Rushing Gabe Levy 7 rushes, 25 yards Receiving Deuce Zimmerman 2 receptions, 46 yardsUT Permian Basin Passing Dylan Graham 31/50, 404 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kory Harris 21 rushes, 82 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Cooley 8 receptions, 116 yards, TD
At CSU Pueblo
Statistics UTPBCSUP First downs 26 15 Total yards 331 413 Rushing yards 128 126 Passing yards 203 287 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:01 23:59 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Dylan Graham 16/37, 203 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kory Harris 28 rushes, 96 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Cooley 5 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TDCSU Pueblo Passing Devin Larsen 21/35, 287 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Howard Russell V 15 rushes, 102 yards, TD Receiving Reggie Retzlaff 7 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TD
Adams State
Statistics ASUUTPB First downs 17 31 Total yards 225 612 Rushing yards 92 306 Passing yards 133 306 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:28 30:32 Team Category Player StatisticsAdams State Passing Chase Nelson 9/20, 84 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ahmare Merrida 18 rushes, 55 yards Receiving Ahmare Merrida 3 receptions, 48 yards, TDUT Permian Basin Passing Dylan Graham 15/24, 272 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kory Harris 24 rushes, 155 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ja'Juan Mason 3 receptions, 72 yards
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Statistics AMKUTPB First downs 19 19 Total yards 321 290 Rushing yards 125 46 Passing yards 196 244 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 35:22 24:38 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Kingsville Passing Teague Sedtal 15/24, 196 yards, TD Rushing Roger Hagan 27 rushes, 116 yards Receiving Jackson Allen 3 receptions, 57 yardsUT Permian Basin Passing Dylan Graham 17/37, 244 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kory Harris 18 rushes, 41 yards Receiving Ben Patterson 3 receptions, 75 yards, TD
At Midwestern State
Statistics UTPBMSU First downs 28 16 Total yards 441 253 Rushing yards 199 89 Passing yards 242 164 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Dylan Graham 23/45, 242 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kory Harris 22 rushes, 147 yards Receiving Ja'Juan Mason 3 receptions, 104 yards, TDMidwestern State Passing Sean Jastrab 11/20, 94 yards, INT Rushing Devin Cross 12 rushes, 91 yards Receiving Justin White 7 receptions, 55 yards
Angelo State
Statistics ASUUTPB First downs 14 14 Total yards 280 277 Rushing yards 168 108 Passing yards 112 169 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 28:05 31:55 Team Category Player StatisticsAngelo State Passing Braeden Fuller 9/15, 112 yards, TD Rushing Braeden Fuller 15 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD Receiving Corey Sandolph 2 receptions, 43 yardsUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 7/17, 113 yards, TD Rushing Kory Harris 18 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Deon Cook 4 receptions, 53 yards
Starting quarterback Dylan Graham was injured early in the game, with Christian Kaopua coming in before he was replaced by Issac Mooring. At a press conference the following Monday, head coach Kris McCulloch announced that Graham would be out for the rest of the season with a lower body injury.
At No. 9 Central Washington
Statistics UTPBCWU First downs 18 16 Total yards 227 285 Rushing yards 120 225 Passing yards 107 60 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:40 32:20 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 12/24, 107 yards, INT Rushing Issac Mooring 16 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TD Receiving Deon Cook 5 receptions, 41 yardsCentral Washington Passing Kennedy McGill 5/13, 51 yards, INT Rushing Kennedy McGill 19 rushes, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Darius Morrison 2 receptions, 30 yards
Western Oregon
Statistics WOUUTPB First downs 24 14 Total yards 342 302 Rushing yards 212 105 Passing yards 130 197 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 40:59 19:01 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Oregon Passing Jordan McCarty 8/12, 71 yards, TD Rushing Dominique Loggins 25 rushes, 137 yards Receiving Damon Hickok 5 receptions, 72 yards, TDUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 15/31, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kory Harris 11 rushes, 45 yards, TD Receiving Gunnar Abseck 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
At West Texas A&M
Statistics UTPBWT First downs 19 18 Total yards 395 316 Rushing yards 185 98 Passing yards 210 218 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:48 26:12 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 11/20, 210 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Cleveland 16 rushes, 87 yards, TD Receiving Ben Patterson 4 receptions, 161 yards, TDWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 17/28, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Tre'Jon Henderson 13 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Tucker Swoboda 6 receptions, 115 yards
At Eastern New Mexico
Statistics UTPBENM First downs 29 8 Total yards 575 245 Rushing yards 271 166 Passing yards 304 79 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:41 30:19 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 23/31, 222 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyler Cleveland 8 rushes, 115 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jeremiah Cooley 4 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDEastern New Mexico Passing Chad Ragle 1/1, 60 yards, TD Rushing Rashad Carter 8 rushes, 85 yards Receiving Dalton Flowers 1 reception, 60 yards, TD
At Sul Ross
Statistics UTPBSRS First downs 34 15 Total yards 711 231 Rushing yards 318 70 Passing yards 393 161 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:16 26:44 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 26/28, 353 yards, 5 TD Rushing Kory Harris 26 rushes, 201 yards, 4 TD Receiving Deon Cook 6 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TDSul Ross Passing Tucker Bridwell 8/21, 123 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kye Callicoatte 9 rushes, 27 yards Receiving Nathan Crawford 3 receptions, 72 yards
Vs. No. 25 Central Missouri (Heritage Bowl)
Statistics UCMUTPB First downs 29 24 Total yards 438 431 Rushing yards 176 94 Passing yards 262 337 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 27:55 32:05 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Missouri Passing Zach Zebrowski 20/47, 262 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Zach Zebrowski 29 rushes, 138 yards, 3 TD Receiving Derrick Rose 6 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TDUT Permian Basin Passing Issac Mooring 27/51, 337 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kory Harris 19 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jeremiah Cooley 9 receptions, 125 yards
Weekly awards LSC Offensive Player of the Week Dylan Graham (week 2 vs. Adams State)
LSC Defensive Player of the Week Tristan Exline (week 0 vs. Western New Mexico) Jalani Jefferson (week 6 vs. Central Washington)
LSC Special Teams Player of the Week Angel Diaz (week 0 vs. Western New Mexico) Traylen Suel (week 2 vs. Adams State) Rafael Vargas (week 4 vs. Midwestern State)
References