On September 3, 2016, 13,856 people filled Ratliff Stadium to watch history be made as the UT Permian Basin Falcons stormed the field for the first time.
The Falcons’ first game was a successful one, resulting in them walking away with an impressive 27-6 victory over Sul Ross. Brandon Infiesto scored the Falcons’ first-ever touchdown on a one-yard run that capped a seven-play 54-yard drive.
The plan to add football was approved by The University of Texas System Board of Regents in December 2013. Part of the requirement by UT System was that UTPB had to secure $9.5 million by the end of 2014 to support the first five years of operations, including start-up costs and four seasons of play.
It took UTPB only 10 months to secure the $9.5 million, as they announced in October 2014 that they had secured the funds needed for dreams to become a reality.
A lot has changed since the inaugural days. The Falcons are coming off their first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship and are set to kick off their season on August 31, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Ratliff Stadium — the stadium where it all began. Even more exciting, the University recently announced FREE admission and tailgating to all home games for the 2024 season. There’s never been a better time to come cheer on the UTPB football team.
