UTEP vs. Hawaii at Sun Bowl on Saturday

EL PASO, Texas — The UTEP Miners are still searching for their first Mountain West victory. They enter Saturday’s game against Hawaii at 1-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play. As the Miners embark on their final two-game homestand, UTEP head coach Scotty Walden feels his team is nearing the breakthrough.

“No team in this conference has played the schedule that we have played,” Walden said. “It doesn’t give us an execuse or make losing okay. Our players have to understand that we are not as far away as what the record shows. But, we haven’t been able to execute long enough to beat teams of that caliber.”

Series History and a Familiar Face

UTEP welcomes old WAC rival Hawaii to the Sun Bowl for the first time since 2004. Hawaii leads the all time series 18-13. Rainbow Warriors head coach Timmy Chang was Hawaii’s starting quarterback during that visit and still recalls playing against the Miners.

Wear your orange and cheer on the Miners as we take on Hawai'i for our Miner Luau on November 7th at 7 PM at the Sun Bowl. Grab your orange lei at the game and bring your Miner pride! ⛏️ Get your tickets below 🎟️:https://t.co/QAbXFnf4Cp#PicksUp | #WinTheWest pic.twitter.com/VmGcMc4L79

— https://x.com/UTEPFB/status/2117693344050516366

“I remember Jordan Palmer and Jeff Castille’s defense,” a grinning Chang said at Mountain West Media Days. “When I got to SMU I got to coach a couple of games in El Paso. Now that UTEP is in our conference, we’re going back there again.”

Miners Seek Offensive Improvement

The Miners are averaging just 9.5 points per game in conference play and require more production to salvage their season. Too often, the offense has struggled to stay on schedule and finish drives.

“It starts up front,” Walden said. “We have to eliminate TFLs and sacks. We’re playing behind the sticks too much and they’re winning the line of scrimmage.”

Hawaii’s Offensive Threat

Hawaii comes to El Paso at 2-6 after a win over NIU. The Rainbow Warriors are led by the conference’s leading passer, Micah Alejado, and run an Air Raid offense capable of stretching the field. UTEP will have to defend every inch of it.

“We have to do a great job of mixing up and disguising things to make [Alejado] uncomfortable,” Walden said. “What separates him is he is such a decisive player. We have to do a good job of not giving him gimme throws.”

Kick off at the Sun Bowl is at 7:30 pm. The game will air on FS1.