UTEP Faces North Dakota State in Fargo Following Bye Week

UTEP is coming off its bye week sitting at 1-6 overall and winless in Mountain West play, staring down a formidable Halloween road trip to face 6-2 North Dakota State at the Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The Miners have been outscored 115-31 through their first three conference games, but UTEP head coach Scotty Walden has made it clear that survival is not the objective for the remainder of the schedule.

Chasing Turnarounds After the Bye

The message is to win and to compete, Walden said. It is not to go and survive these last five weeks. That is a losers mindset. Our focus is to be 1-0 this week and finish this the right way.

North Dakota State will host UTEP on October 31, 2026 at the Fargodome.

— https://x.com/FBSchedules/status/2031066005221302479

The Miners used their bye week to diagnose the inefficiencies that derailed the first half of their inaugural Mountain West campaign. Yet, red-zone execution remains a glaring hurdle. Against the Spartans, the Miners reached at least the Spartan 30-yard line, but found the end zone only once, compounded by kicking struggles that see Carlos Arreola at three-for-eight on field goals this fall.

We pinpointed the things we need to be better at, Walden noted. It is pretty obvious from protecting the quarterback to finishing drives in the redzone and then on defense limiting explosives. Walden further pointed out that the team has had way too many tackles for loss, sacks, and missed opportunities, explaining that there are times when they are taking sacks and do not need to when guys are open, and that he has to coach better and their players have to execute better.

The Fargodome Test Against a Defensive Juggernaut

Standing in the way of UTEP’s resurgence is a North Dakota State squad adjusting to the Football Bowl Subdivision after winning 10 national championships in the last 15 years in the FCS. The Bison enter Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. kickoff with a 6-2 record overall and 3-2 in conference play, looking to rebound from a tight 21-16 loss to New Mexico on October 24 where New Mexico outgained North Dakota State 279 total yards to 251 and gained 187 yards on the ground.

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North Dakota State boasts a defense ranking tied for second in total defense (250.1 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (12.5 ppg). By comparison, UTEP’s offense ranks 135th in scoring at 15.1 points per game and 136th in total offense with 286.3 yards per contest. Furthermore, North Dakota State holds a +6 turnover margin ranking 12th in the FBS, while UTEP sits 87th with a -2 margin, and North Dakota State averages 32:03 in time of possession compared to UTEP’s 29:08.

They arguably have one of the best defenses in the country, and their front seven is as good as anybody out there, Walden said. They get after the quarterback. They’re big, tenacious, and physical. Walden also mentioned that Coach Tim Polasek does a fantastic job and that they are a team that wants to establish the run in a hostile environment.

Quarterback Questions and Roster Realities

Compounding the degree of difficulty for the visitors is uncertainty under center. Colson—who has thrown for 628 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions with a 66.3 completion percentage—is considered questionable for Saturday after missing the Nevada loss and exiting early against San José State.

UTEP vs North Dakota State Pick 10/31/26 College Football Week 9 Pick Prediction

If Colson remains sidelined, Raymond Moore III is poised to make his second start in three games. Moore has recorded 405 passing yards and two touchdowns alongside two interceptions, while also leading the Miners on the ground with 414 rushing yards and two scores. North Dakota State opened as a 25-point favorite, reflecting the steep climb ahead for a UTEP team searching for its first conference victory.

Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, with streaming coverage available on MW+ featuring Dom Izzo on play-by-play, Kyle Emanuel as analyst, and Sam Goetzinger on the sideline, alongside radio broadcasts on 600 ESPN El Paso with Jon Teicher, Aaron Price, and Mando Medina.

Upcoming Schedule

Following Saturday’s contest in Fargo, North Dakota State will travel to play at Hawaii on November 14, while UTEP returns home to host Hawaii on November 7.