UTEP Miners 2026 College Football Preview

UTEP Miners 2026 College Football Preview

Posted June 18, 2026

2025 Recap

Record – 2-10

ATS – 3-9

The Miners had another dreadful season, finishing with just a pair of wins — and those conquests were nothing to brag about (UT Martin and Sam Houston). On the bright side, they showed a little more spunk down the stretch and managed to score 20+ in each of their last six games, which qualifies as a full‑blown offensive renaissance in El Paso.

Now MINER NATION brings their passion to the Mountain West. The question is whether they can handle the stiffer competition or if this is going to be another chapter in the long‑running TIRE FIRE known as UTEP Football.

UTEP Miners 2026 Outlook

OFFENSE

2025 By The Numbers (CUSA):

• Scoring: 23.3 PPG (#9 CUSA)
• Total Offense: 331.8 YPG (#10 CUSA)
• Rushing: 115.6 YPG (#9 CUSA)
• Passing: 216.3 YPG (#7 CUSA)
• Sacks Allowed: 26 (#6 CUSA)

The Miners were a mistake waiting to happen in the THROW GAME last season, finishing with a laughable 21–20 TD to INT ratio. They’ll try to right the ship with dual‑threat item EJ Colson, who put up respectable numbers at Incarnate Word (16–4 TD/INT, 3 rush TD). There are other doods lurking on the depth chart who could get a look, but for now it appears to be Colson’s job — which tells you everything about the state of the UTEP QB room.

The rushing attack has somehow been even worse than usual the last two years, and the RB room is undergoing a total reload. Missouri (!) transfer and local specimen Tavorus Jones has good size (5‑9, 210), but he’s logged just 111 rushing yards since 2022. Anyone else on the depth chart who POPS would be a surprise — but the coaches seem to be way more upbeat than we are. Stay tuned!

If there’s any unit on offense that can exceed expectations, it’s the WR/TE corps. Kam Thomas tied for the team lead in receptions in 2024 (47‑532‑2) but played just one game last season due to injury. Jaden Smith has over 2,000 career receiving yards (mostly at EKU) but didn’t play a snap in 2025 because of — you guessed it — injury. And we like the addition of transfer WR Carver Cheeks, who had a big year at Northern Colorado (929 yards, 6 TD).

We’re not thrilled about the state of things up front. All five starters need to be replaced, and whilst the projected starting lineup averages over 300 pounds across the board, the room collectively has fewer than five FBS starts.

DEFENSE

2025 By The Numbers (CUSA):

• Scoring Defense: 30.4 PPG (#9 CUSA)
• Total Defense: 391.3 YPG (#5 CUSA)
• Rush Defense: 169.5 YPG (#8 CUSA)
• Pass Defense: 221.8 YPG (#3 CUSA)
• Sacks: 28 (#3 CUSA)

The defense performed extremely well for a team that won just two games (!), and things actually look decent on this side of the football heading into 2026.

The Miners were MASTERS OF PENETRATION last season, finishing #10 in the nation in TFL/game. Unfortunately, a lot of that mayhem needs to be replaced, including on the DL where the vast majority of the two‑deep will be new. Some doods with potential include holdover DE Shakaun Bowser and DE Derek Burns — both 6‑5 specimens with the frame and talent to bring some heat. The interior has decent size, but overall the UTEP defensive line will have to prove itself as a group.

We’re pretty happy with the LB unit thanks to the return of #2 tackler Jayden Wilson (8 TFL, 6 QBH) and the addition of Isaiah Bogerty (Texas Southern). That duo gives the Miners stability and quality in the middle of the field. The back end should also be in good shape with the return of two reliable veterans — CB Justin Content and safety Xavier Smith — who combined for 7 TFL and 10 PBUs last year. That’s a solid foundation for the UTEP secondary as they transition into Mountain West play.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The unit was a bit of a mess LY (#115 per Phil Steele) and they lose their best weapon in punter Noah Botsford (41.6 net). But we’re happy to report that things appear to be on the upswing with a new punter and a shiny new PK in Cade Hechter, who drilled 15/17 FG attempts with UT Martin in 2025. That’s a legit upgrade for a team that desperately needed one.

Schedule Analysis

Overall — That’s not a misprint. The Miners have to travel to face Michigan and Oklahoma in a three‑week span. Yup — that’ll be ugly. On the positive side, the other two non‑conference affairs (Texas Southern, Oregon St) could easily end up in the win column, with both tilts taking place at home in El Paso. The conference schedule isn’t bad either. They avoid UNLV, and they get the honor of facing Nevada, San Jose State, and Northern Illinois — three programs in various stages of chaos. It’s not ideal to open at New Mexico, but hey, you can’t have everything.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot – November 28 (at Northern Illinois)

This is a long trip for MINER NATION, and it’ll be a difficult spot if the season is down the tubes at this point. At least the Huskies will have the motivation of playing at home.

Season Win Total

Market consensus – June 18

Over 3.5 +110

Under 3.5 -140

MEGALOCKS says:

No leanage.

That’s a low bar to clear, but it’s still tough to get to the window with the over given the program’s recent track record. Skepticism remains the only sane position.

Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

UTEP fans are going to want to keep an eye on the Cheeks brothers this season. Cash (TE) and Carver (WR) are united in El Paso after Cash helped recruit his younger brother to join him in the desert — and Carver showed up ready to ball, coming off a First-Team All-Big Sky season at Northern Colorado. When these two doods are on the field at the same time, opposing defenses are going to have a whole lot of CHEEKS to worry about, yo.

Local lore around the Franklin Mountains includes tales of mysterious blue-white lights sometimes seen drifting along the ridgelines at night. El Paso is the kind of place where even the mountains might be running trick plays after dark.

UTEP has lost seven (!) bowl games in a row with the last win coming back in the 1967 Sun Bowl when they took down Ole Miss. Recall that the CIA-staged MOON LANDING was in 1969.

MEGALOCKS Forecast:

UTEP enters 2026 staring down a tough transition into the Mountain West. Long‑term, we actually like the move quite a bit — more games against regional foes, the chance to build new rivalries, and a conference footprint that finally makes geographic sense. But in the short term? Yeah, it’s going to sting.

The roster has some big question marks, most notably at quarterback and in the ability of the defense to stack up against improved competition. There are a ton of new faces, and while three wins feels like the floor, we wouldn’t be shocked if they surprised and found four or even five. A bowl bid, however, seems like a major stretch until this thing stabilizes.

Still, MINER NATION will show up, the Cheeks brothers will bring the entertainment value, and the long‑term outlook is brighter than it’s been in a while. If nothing else, this season should lay the groundwork for a more competitive future in the Mountain West era.

Picks Up, MINERS!