The University of Texas Permian Basin athletics started their collegiate play in NAIA competing as an NAIA Independent from 1995-98. UTPB then joined the Red River Athletics Conference (NAIA) from 1998-06. In the Red River Conference, the Falcons were crowned tournament champions in 1999 (Volleyball), Western Division Champions in 2000 and 2001 (Volleyball) and Co-Champions (Men's Soccer).
After competing for several years in the NAIA, the Falcons were ready to make their jump to the NCAA. UTPB was first approved as a provisional member of the NCAA and joined the Heartland Conference in 2006. The University became a full-fledged Division II member in the fall of 2008. While in the Heartland Conference, the Falcons won five conference regular season championships – Volleyball (2007 & 2008), Baseball (2009), Men’s Basketball (2011) and Women’s Basketball (2013) - and two conference tournament championships – Volleyball (2008) and Women’s Basketball (2011).
With the addition of Football, the Falcons left the Heartland for the Lone Star Conference in 2016.
In their first year of LSC play, the Men's Basketball team won the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The team followed that with a successful 2017-18 season and reached the South-Central Regional Finals, the farthest of any team in UTPB history.
The 2023-2024 athletics year has proven to be a successful one for the Falcons in the Lone Star Conference so far! Highlights include:
- Football team made program history, winning the NCAA Lone Star Conference Championship and hosting round one of the NCAA tournament.
- Women’s Basketball having their best season since 2012-13 season. Currently, ranked fourth in the D2CSC South Central Region Poll.
- Men’s Tennis team qualifying for the ITA Regional Championships and having five players ranked in the ITA Tennis rankings. Additionally, they are off to their best start (6-1) in program history.
- Men’s golf team having the No. 1 ranked golfer in the country and the team being ranked 5th in the region and 11th nationally.
- Baseball team off to their best start as a member of the Lone Star Conference and currently ranked 4th in the NCBWA South Central Region and receiving votes in the NCBWA national poll.
- Soccer beating West Texas A&M for the first time in program history.
- Men’s swimming having five NCAA “B” cuts, most under head coach Betsy Graham.
