West Texas A&M (1-4, 1-2) vs. #23 UT Permian Basin (4-1, 3-0 LSC)
Date	Saturday, October 10th | 7:00 p.m.
Location	Canyon, Texas | Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium
Live Statistics	StatBroadcast
Live Video	FloCollege
Radio	KGNCNewsNow.com | Listen Locally: 710 AM | 97.5 FM
Other Links	Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes return to the friendly confines of Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium this Saturday as they welcome the #23 UT Permian Basin Falcons to the Texas Panhandle for Lone Star Conference action with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. at First United Field.
 
GAME SPONSOR
This week's "West Texas Classic" is presented by Street Auto Group. The first 300 West Texas A&M students will receive an exclusive Under Armour t-shirt. Tailgating along 26th Street begins at 3:00 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. West Texas A&M Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for the 2026 campaign.
 
ACROSS THE LSC
Week 6 will feature all 10 Lone Star Conference football institutions in action. Eastern New Mexico travels to Silver City to take on Western New Mexico in the annual Chile Bowl while Texas A&M-Kingsville makes the long trip to the Pacific Northwest to take on Western Oregon. Angelo State hosts Sul Ross State on Homecoming while UT Permian Basin travels to Canyon and Central Washington hosts Midwestern State in a battle atop of the league standings.
 
UTPB HEAD COACH CHRIS SOFTLEY
Chris Softley is in his first season at the helm of the UT Permian Basin football program, taking over on December 31, 2025. Softley came to UTPB after serving as the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Lubbock Christian School, where he was a State Champion and was named the Texas Coach of the Year. In nine full seasons (2016-2025) as the Head Coach of the Eagles, Softley earned a school record 101 career wins and won 82 percent of his games (101-22).
 
Softley's collegiate coaching experience came as a Defensive Graduate Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Abilene Christian (2008-2010). Softley was responsible for in-game adjustments and helped coach the team to the Lone Star Conference Championship and its first undefeated regular season since 1950 in 2008. ACU had five NFL Draft selections and a Harlon Hill Winner (Bernard Scott, 2008) during Softley's time on staff in Abilene.
 
A LOOK AT THE FALCONS
The Falcons enter the weekend riding a four-game win streak as they are 4-1 overall with an unbeaten mark of 3-0 in Lone Star Conference action. Last Saturday saw UTPB claim a 38-27 road victory over #21 Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Falcons rushed for 114 yards and three scores on the ground while forcing five NSU interceptions.
 
Nate TenBarge guides the UT Permian Basin offense as the junior from Prosper, Texas has completed 70-of-129 passes for 978 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. The transfer from Ouachita Baptist threw for a season-high 245 yards and four touchdowns against Eastern New Mexico back on September 26th.
 
Traylen Suel is the proven go-to target on the outside as the College Station product has caught 20 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Camden Tyler carries the majority of the load in the run game, gaining 206 net rushing yards on 45 carries with three touchdowns for the North Mesquite High School alum. 
 
Reigning D2Football National Defensive Player of the Week McKyle So'oto leads the way defensively for the Falcons as the Oceanside, California native has 38 total tackles (24 solo) with three of them coming for a loss including a sack to go along with an interception and a forced fumble. Layne Horak has picked off a pass in each of UTPB's last three contests as the senior from Rockwall is tied for third in the nation with three interceptions.
 
UTPB ranks 50th in Division II football in total offense (406.4) while sitting fifth in scoring offense (45.8). The Falcons are the top team in the country in defensive touchdowns (4), interceptions (13), turnover margin (+2.20) and turnovers gained (19). Their defensive pressure has resulted in 3.40 sacks per game, ranking seventh nationally.
 
THE SERIES
The Buffaloes hold a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series dating back to the 2016 season. The Falcons have won each of the last four meetings and they are 1-3 all-time in Canyon including 1-1 inside of Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
 
HEAD COACH JOSH LYNN
Josh Lynn is now in his fourth season at the helm of the West Texas A&M Football program after being named the 29th head coach in WT history. Lynn, widely regarded as one of the nation's up-and-coming head coaches, came to Canyon following six seasons at the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he led the Lopers to an overall record of 35-25 including a run to the Second Round of the 2021 NCAA Playoffs.
 
NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINE
WT Football welcomes six new faces to the coaching staff. Kevin Bleil was named the new Offensive Coordinator for the Buffs in February while Kendrick Marshall will work with the linebackers and serve as Special Teams Coordinator. Vic Wharton III (cornerbacks), Blake Crandall (wide receivers), Ben James (offensive line) and Avery Morrow (running backs) also joined the staff. Garrett Meyer has been added to the full-time staff and will work with the tight ends while Koby Schroeder (defensive line) returns for his second season as a graduate assistant.
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Buffaloes have been tabbed third in the 2026 LSC Preseason Poll announced during the league's annual Media Day in McKinney, Texas.
 
Defending LSC Champion Central Washington claimed 16 of the possible 30 first place votes for a total of 276 points to sit atop of the poll followed by Western Oregon (nine first place, 247), West Texas A&M (one first place, 217), Angelo State (one first place, 215), UT Permian Basin (two first place, 203), Texas A&M-Kingsville (162), Eastern New Mexico (one first place, 125), Midwestern State (112), Western New Mexico (58) and Sul Ross State (35).
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday night's contest will be broadcasted on FloCollege. The LSC and FloSports reached a historic agreement in August of 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. Fans have three different subscription options: $24.99 per month, $119.88 per year ($9.99/month) or a family plan for $12.99/month. Additionally, those who use an .edu email address from an LSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price.
 
BACK ON THE AIRWAVES
Members of Buff Nation will now be able to listen to Kent Johnson, Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets in partnership with Alpha Media. Football pregame begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Thursday night's broadcast is available online (GoBuffsGo.com / KGNCNewsNow.com) as well as locally in the Texas Panhandle on 710 AM and 97.5 FM.
 
2025 REWIND
The Buffs made an appearance in the program's seventh bowl game in 2025 as they defeated Arkansas Tech in the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot. WT finished the season riding a four-game win streak with an 8-4 overall record. Josh Lynn guided the Buffs to the most victories in a season since 2021 as well as the most LSC wins since 2012.
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
Central Washington, Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Sul Ross State earned conference victories, while UT Permian Basin won a non-conference matchup over Northeastern State during Week 5.
 
MSU is tops in the league in total offense (583.4 yards per game), while TAMUK is tops in defense (372 yards per game). UTPB is scoring a conference-best 45.8 points per game and allowing a league-low 20.4 points per game. CWU (46.8 yards per game) is the least penalized team in the LSC.
 
AFCA DIVISION II TOP 25 POLL
Reigning National Champion Ferris State picked up all 31 first place votes for a unanimous total of 775 points atop of the poll followed by Harding, Kutztown, CSU Pueblo, Minnesota State, Grand Valley State, Western Colorado, Slippery Rock, Emporia State and Indiana (Pa.) to round out the top ten.

SIZE UP FRONT
The West Texas A&M offensive line features 17 student-athletes that boast a total of 4,945 pounds of blocking power for an average size of 290.1 pounds per lineman.
 
ON THIS DATE
The Buffaloes are 5-3 in games played on October 10th and Saturday night marks the first game on this date since the 2015 campaign.
 
1953- vs. Trinity - L, 14-6
1959 - at UTEP - L, 13-12
1964 - at North Texas - W, 21-13
1970 - at Northern Illinois - W, 24-22
1992 - vs. Prairie View A&M - W, 21-15
1998 - at Tarleton State - W, 35-6
2009 - vs. Eastern New Mexico - W, 34-24
2015 - at Midwestern State - L, 24-17
 
THE NEXT OPPONENT
West Texas A&M makes their way down Highway 60 to Portales, New Mexico on Saturday afternoon as they battle the rival Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in the 38th edition of the Wagon Wheel Game. The Buffs hold the 20-19 advantage in the series that dates back to 1945. Last year saw the Buffs score on the opening play of the game and never look back on their way to a 43-14 win in Canyon. 
 
WT AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Buffs are looking for their first Top 25 victory under head coach Josh Lynn and the first since knocking off #17 Western Colorado (44-6) back on September 3, 2022.
 
The 2026 schedule for the Buffs features four teams currently ranked or receiving votes in this week's poll. WT fell to then #11 Western Colorado (52-21) in the opener followed by a road loss to then #7 Grand Valley State (56-14) in Allendale. The Buffs battle #23 UT Permian Basin in Canyon on Saturday night before closing the season at home against #13 Central Washington (Nov. 14).
 
WELCOME TO THE PANHANDLE
West Texas A&M is home to the premier NCAA Division II College Football facility in the country. Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium holds 8,500 fans and can handle up to 12,000 people when utilizing standing room areas and berms beyond the end zones.
 
Buffalo Stadium opened in 2019 before being receiving its current name in September 2022. The stadium is named after Barbara and Ray Bain and Geneva and Stanley Schaeffer. The field at the stadium was named First United Field in 2023 following a naming rights agreement between the university's athletic department and First United Bank that will last until 2033.