UTEP Miners 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 8, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 3-9
ATS – 5-7
Year one of the Scotty Walden experience got off to a rocky start as the Miners dropped their first six games out of the gate, and five of those losses were by double-digits. UTEP definitely played better in the second half of the season (3-3) and fans are hoping that the Miners can carry that momentum into 2025.
UTEP Miners 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Miners had major issues on offense LY as they didn’t get much done on the ground (121 YPG, #104 FBS) or thru the air (200 YPG, #96). Starting QB Skyler Locklear is back for duty but he was fairly average in 2024 (64%, 10-6 TD to INT; 237 rush, 2 TD). UTEP is hoping that another change of scenery will do the trick for former 89-STAR and 7-TOOL recruit QB Malachi Nelson who flamed out at USC and Boise St. We’re not expecting much out of Nelson but you can’t deny that the potential is very intriguing. The RB room needs to be rebuilt after losing almost all their rushing yards from LY in the form of RBs Jevon Jackson and Ezell Jolly. The Miners snagged former Charlotte 49er RB Hahsaun Wilson who looks like their most talented option (559, 7 TD LY) but the depth behind him looks thin. The WR unit could be one of the best in the conference which is great news for the THROW GAME. The Miners retain three of their top-four wideouts including Kenny Odom who had a fine 2024 campaign (741, 16.1, 8 TD). The biggest concern on this side of the football is an offensive line that lost their best player to Mississippi St (LG Brennan Smith) and they only bring back one starter from LY’s group.
DEFENSE
UTEP wasn’t very effective on defense either LY as they finished the season ranked #103 in run defense (179 YPG) and #103 in pass efficiency defense (61%, 7.6 YPA, 23-11 TD to INT). However, the Miners did have one of the most underrated PENETRATING stop units in the Group of Five conferences as they led CUSA in sacks (36) and TFL/game by a healthy margin. There’s disappointing news to report as the Miners lost a lot of key contributors from last year’s defense including their leading tackler LB Dorian Hopkins and their top-two sacks producers in DE/EDGE Maurice Westmoreland (7.5) and DL Kyran Duhon (7). UTEP has one key holdover at each level of the defense in DT KD Johnson (8.5 TFL), LB Nate Dyman (#2 tackles), and safety Xavier Smith (#3 tackles, 5 PD). The overall depth on this side of the football looks a bit sketchy but they added a lot of fresh meat thru the transfer portal. They’ll be relying on additions such as LB Jayden Wilson (New Mexico), DE Ashaad Hall, and safety Tyler Jones to become important cogs in the machine.
SPECIAL TEAMS
UTEP ranked a GHASTLY #133 out of 134 FBS teams in the Phil Steele special teams rankings in 2024 but there’s reason for a bit of optimism as they’ve added a pair of talented transfer specimens to take over the PK and punting duties. It’s good to know that the Miners still boast the dangerous Kam Thomas to return KOs and punts (10-200, 20.0, TD LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They’ll probably lose by 45 points or more at Texas in week three but the other non-conference assignments are, dare we say it, very winnable (at Utah St, UT Martin, ULM). UTEP has to face Liberty (H), Sam Houston (A), and Jacksonville St (H) in a killer four-game stretch but they also have a soft schedule to finish the season should they need to scrape together some wins for a bowl bid (at Missouri St, New Mexico St, at Blue Hens).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Kennesaw St (Oct 28)
This contest pops up between the games vs Sam Houston and Jax St and recall that Kennesaw St was tough at home in the 2nd half LY. They defeated mighty Liberty and took an eventual 10-win Sam Houston squad to OT (L 23-17). UTEP slithered past Kennesaw St in 2 OT at home last season so the Owls know they can compete in this one.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 8
Over 5.5 -110
Over 5.5 -110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
The most likely scenario is that the Miners head into conference play with a mark of 2-2. If that is the case UTEP would need to find four conference wins to hit the ‘over’. It’s definitely possible, but it won’t be easy. Fun fact – UTEP has booked 4+ conference wins just once since 2014.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
UTEP has only participated in three bowl games since the 2010 season and on each occasion it was a loss in the New Mexico Bowl. In fact, the Miners are currently on a seven-game bowl losing skid with their last postseason victory coming back in the 1967 (!) Sun Bowl. Trivia tasters coming in SPICY.
Comedy gold in our UTEP content will be down 8% this season now that QB JP PICKLES has left the program. Parker TITSWORTH left the Ohio Bobcats, and now this. Tough scene.
The Miners are off to the Mountain West next season. Happy Trails!
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Miners played a better brand of football in the second half last year but they’ve got a lot of new personnel on defense and we’re not thrilled with the QB situation. We’re very comfortable predicting an improvement on last season’s 3-9 record but will they be good enough to achieve bowl eligibility? Let’s call for five or six wins and hope that they find a way to get a bowl bid in their Conference USA swan song.
Picks Up, MINER NATION!