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A lightning alert put a delay to the week zero showdown for the UTEP football team against the University of North Texas, but it did not stop the fans from showing up to see the Miners back in action. This was UTEP’s first sellout at the Sun Bowl since 2008. In the first half, the Miners and the Mean Green traded offensive possessions, scoring either a touchdown or field goal. The Miners then trailed 14-10 toward the end of the half. The defense was able to cause a fumble and give the offense an opportunity to set up a field goal cutting the Mean Green’s lead to 14-13 at halftime. In the second half, the Miners struggled to move the ball down the field because of the Mean Green’s stifling defense, which made the Miners go 7-of-18 on third down conversions. The Miners could not score any more points in the second half, which led to a Mean Green 31-13 victory at the end of the game. read more: https://www.theprospectordaily.com/2022/08/28/miners-collapse-in-week-zero-opener/

Quinn Whitlock looked like a very good player last night and had the most tackles next to KD (7). Larry Nixon is a very good linebacker who just happens to be in the shadow of a great one in KD. People are slamming the secondary but I like what I saw of Gaddie and Ridge Texada. Is it just my eyes or did Fedechi Nwaiwu play a whole lot on the offensive line last night? If not him who was that? I did not see Sifa Leota out there much if at all. Also is Aune trying to throw it at the shoestrings like is Bloesch telling him to do that so he won't get intercepted or whatnot? It is not a good look. He needs to stop it. Any other observations?

MinerInWisconsin MI Miner Maniac Yesterday at 11:04 AM #6 UTEP 34 UNT 17 Based on UTEP having a solid rb group, experienced OL, experienced qb, some good if not great wr's and UNT's defense is rebuilding a bit. But the big reason for a 3 score win is the defense. Hurrying their qb, slowing their run game and creating some turnovers. The big crowd will help by creating an electric atmosphere. Finally the Miners win an important game and create a buzz in El Paso. link: https://utep.forums.rivals.com/threads/1st-miner-football-game-predictions.11529/

North Texas comes into this Week 0 matchup as a slight home underdog but we like their chances, led by a stout defense. Read more on why we're fading the Mean Green on Saturday in our North Texas vs. UTEP betting picks. North Texas vs UTEP picks and predictions Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets. Spread analysis It was a tale of two halves for Seth Littrell’s North Texas Mean Green last year. After an opening win against FCS school Northwestern State, they’d go on to lose six straight games. At that point, bowl eligibility seemed like a pipe dream. Not so fast! Typically operating a pass-first system, Littrell’s team changed its identity to a power run spread attack and reeled off five straight victories to end the regular season. Which are we more likely to see in 2022 — the Mean Green of the first half, or the second half? The offensive success likely continues, as they return eight starters on that side of the ball while ranking fifth in offensive returning production. A rushing attack that averaged 235.4 yards per game on the ground loses Deandre Torrey but should be fine as Oscar Adaway III returns from injury to combine with Ikaika Ragsdale and Ayo Adeyi. Four offensive linemen also return to a team that ranked eight in power success rate a year ago. The defense is more of a concern after losing the star brother duo of Gabriel and Grayson Murphy to UCLA. As for UTEP, the Miners reached bowl eligibility last year for the first time since 2014. This has typically been a moribund program, as they’ve had only two winning seasons since 2005. However, the culture is starting to change under head coach Dana Dimel, and there’s genuine positive momentum. Dimel inherited an 0-12 team in 2018 and would go 2-22 over his first two seasons. Things started to change with a 3-5 record during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and the light finally showed through a year ago with a 7-6 record. The Miners play sound defense and make enough plays offensively to pull out wins. I’m siding with them as I think the wrong team is favored. UTEP returns 15 starters and ranks 51st in returning production for one of the program’s better teams in recent memory. The offensive line returns three experienced starters who could have all-league potential, there are two experienced running backs to utilize, and quarterback Gavin Hardison managed 9.0 yards per attempt a season ago. The defense will remain a strength, and this has the makings of a well-rounded team that won’t be easy to beat. Prediction: UTEP +1.5 (-115 at FanDuel) read more: https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/north-texas-vs-utep-odds-picks-predictions-august-27-2022

What, when, where UTEP kicks off its season with a 7 p.m. start Saturday against North Texas in the final scheduled game of the series. The game, part of a sell out the Sun Bowl promotion with $9.15 tickets, will be streamed on Stadium and will be carried on 95.5 FM KLAQ. As of Monday morning about 4,000 tickets remained. More:WRs and DBs: How UTEP answered 5 big questions at fall camp This is North Texas' first (and final) trip to El Paso since 2019. Who is North Texas? The Mean Green will be part of the exodus to the American Athletic at the end of this season so this is a farewell of sorts. The Mean Green are coming off a bowl season, as UNT started last season 1-6 before a five-game win streak that included the last-ditch heroics against UTEP and an upset over undefeated UTSA. The Mean Green lost their bowl to Miami (Ohio). North Texas returns quarterback Austin Aune and linebacker KD Davis has been getting some preseason All-American mention. Formerly nicknamed the Eagles, North Texas adopted the nickname Mean Green in the 1966 season, which most versions of the origin story date to a game against UTEP when fans began chanting it. The 1966 team's defense was led by tackle "Mean" Joe Greene, widely considered one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history. read more: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/football/2022/08/23/what-to-know-utep-miners-vs-north-texas-mean-green/65413727007/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

The 5 Best Week 0 G5 College Football Games 1. North Texas at UTEP This C-USA clash figures to be competitive, with North Texas (-1) being picked to finish fifth in the league, and UTEP being selected to finish sixth. North Texas won last year’s meeting 20-17, and quarterback Austin Aune returns for the Mean Green. He’s looking to build off an iffy 2021 season, and if he raises his level, North Texas could be a league contender. UTEP went 7-6 last season thanks to strong defense, which should be the team’s calling card again in 2022. UTEP set a goal of selling out this game, which could make for a lively Week 0 atmosphere. Read more: https://herosports.com/fbs-2022-best-week-0-football-games-bcbc/

The North Texas Mean Green and UTEP Miners meet Saturday in week 0 of college football action at the Sun Bowl. The North Texas Mean Green won 6 games last year and enter the seventh year under coach Seth Littrell. The UTEP Miners won 7 games last season and enter year five under coach Dana Dimel. The North Texas Mean Green averaged 27.5 points and 431.2 yards per game last season. North Texas allowed an average of 27.5 points and 382 yards per game last season. Austin Aune returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,000 yards, 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Roderic Burns and Damon Ward are a returning receiving duo that combined 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Ikaika Ragsdale was second for the Mean Green with 500 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, KD Davis returns after leading North Texas with 121 tackles, Roderick Brown had 3 sacks and Kevin Wood had 2 interceptions. North Texas will be a lot more experienced this season, mainly at quarterback and on the defensive side. Davis is possibly the best defensive player in the C-USA, and this North Texas linebacker group is one of the best in the entire country. Yes, I said it. read more: https://sportschatplace.com/cfb-picks/2022/08/21/utep-vs-north-texas-8-27-22-college-football-picks-predictions-odds/

If Seth wins the opener agasinst a big UTEP crowd in an even line game can he be forgiven for his past failures?

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – UTEP football returns one of their most important pieces on the offense for 2022. Trent Thompson, a senior tight end, is ready to take his game to the next level for the Miners as they approach the beginning of their season. “He is one of the most important guys on our football team,” said UTEP head coach Dana Dimel. “He brings so much to the team and is one of our very, very best players on the team and at his position. He’s an outstanding blocker, can catch the ball well when he gets his opportunities and just a really physical football player, so we love Trent. He’s a really, really important to our ball club.” In 2021, Thompson had his best year for the Miners, as he was the team’s primary tight end target. He collected nine receptions for 133 yards and four touchdowns. Thompson finished his 2021 season on a high note. The product out of Houston, Texas recorded career highs in yards (52) and touchdowns (two) against Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. One of his signature moments, was when Thompson was the one on the receiving end of a 51-yard score against the Bulldogs in the bowl game. read more: https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/uteps-trent-thompson-looks-to-improve-game-for-2022-season/

Head coach Dana Dimel said on Friday that they would continue to do so until around Aug. 15, 12 days before kickoff. At that time, the Miners will bring in a true scout team offense and defense to get the starters ready for the Mean Green. “Every day I go back and watch tape of North Texas and put in a couple different things on both sides of the ball,” said Dimel. “There’s a lot of commonalities on both sides of the ball between what we do and what they do. So it’s an easy prep and a prep to where we can start easily modifying things to specifically fit what they do.” read more: https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/utep-well-underway-with-implementing-game-plan-for-north-texas/

UTEP Athletics has announced the 2022 promotional schedule for home games being held at the Sun Bowl Stadium. The home games will feature different themes each night, along with different sponsors for each of the theme nights. UTEP will kick off the 2022 season with “915 Night,” sponsored by GECU 7 p.m., Aug. 27 against Conference USA rival North Texas. The Miners are looking to sell out its first home game at the Sun Bowl Stadium since 2008. To achieve this, UTEP has held and is still holding various “915” events where fans can buy tickets to the first game for $9.15. So far more than 30,000 tickets have been sold for the home opener against North Texas with the Sun Bowl capacity being 45,971. If Miner fans are unable to attend the remaining “915” events, they are able to purchase tickets to the UTEP vs. North Texas game by scanning a QR code at any GECU and Jack in the Box location. “We are so thankful to everyone that has gotten on board with our ‘915’ Campaign and purchased a ticket to the ‘Sun Bowl Sellout’ game against North Texas,” UTEP Director of Athletics, Jim Senter, said in an article by UTEP Athletics. “To be over 65 percent of the way to capacity at this point is just amazing! It’s going to be an electric atmosphere and we’re excited about making the Sun Bowl the place to be on Aug. 27.” Read more: https://www.theprospectordaily.com/2022/07/13/promotional-schedule-for-utep-football-announced/

EL PASO, Texas - UTEP has finalized its 2022 football promotional schedule. The Miners will kick off the 2022 campaign on “915 Night” versus North Texas on Aug. 27. UTEP is seeking its first capacity crowd in the stadium in 14 years for the “Sun Bowl Sellout” game against the Mean Green. To date, over 30,000 tickets have been issued for the matchup against North Texas in the 45,971-seat venue. “We are so thankful to everyone that has gotten on board with our ‘915’ Campaign and purchased a ticket to the ‘Sun Bowl Sellout’ game against North Texas,” UTEP Director of Athletics Jim Senter said. “To be over 65 percent of the way to capacity at this point is just amazing! It’s going to be an electric atmosphere and we’re excited about making the Sun Bowl the place to be on Aug. 27.” UTEP football season tickets, starting at just $65, are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets to the North Texas game for just $9.15 by scanning a QR code at GECU and Jack in the Box locations. Three-game mini plans that include the North Texas game will go on sale July 1, starting at $36. Family four-packs will be available for the Miners’ games versus North Texas, Middle Tennessee and FIU beginning on July 19. The family four-pack for the North Texas game is just $58 (a $110 value) and includes four sideline tickets, four regular hot dogs, four medium soft drinks and a large popcorn. For additional ticket information, fans can visit www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets. They can also pay a visit to the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office, located at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building Room 109), call 747-UTEP, or email tickets@utep.edu. Ticket Office regular hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Information on UTEP’s 2022 football promotional dates follows. Aug. 27 vs. North Texas (7 pm) – 915 Night/Sun Bowl Sellout Game sponsor: GECU The Miners open the season with a conference game for the first time since 1992 as they square off against the Mean Green on “915 Night.” Get your tickets now and help sell out the Sun Bowl for the first time in 14 years! The UTEP Marching Miners, cheer and dance teams will collaborate with band and spirit squads from across the city on a “915”-themed halftime show. read more: https://kvia.com/sports/utep/2022/06/27/utep-announces-2022-football-promotional-schedule/

One of the goals of the 915 Campaign is to sell out UTEP’s first football game of the season versus North Texas on Aug. 27. Capacity in the Sun Bowl is 45,971, and over 50 percent of the tickets have already been issued for the game. UTEP hasn’t sold out a game in the Sun Bowl since 2008. “One of the big things that we’re trying to do is to sell out the Sun Bowl. We open up against the University of North Texas coming up here on August 27th,” said Senter. “We’re going to have a Sun Bowl sell out so we just started saying, “Hey, it’s the Sun Bowl sellout game” and we’re over halfway there and we want all of El Paso and El Pasoans to come out and support the Miners and do something that we haven’t done in a long time and just kind of push the reset button on UTEP Athletics and football in particular.” Fans can purchase $9.15 tickets to the August 27 football game at each of the Miners’ Caravan stops. read more: https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/utep-miner-caravan-kicks-off-five-stop-el-paso-summer-tour/amp/

EL PASO, Texas — Nick Smith sprinted 20 yards to score in the fourth quarter to give North Texas just enough cushion to hold off UTEP 27-24 on Saturday night. Smith’s touchdown gave the Mean Green a 27-17 lead with 5:46 left to play. The Miners responded two plays later when Ryan Metz, in his first start for UTEP, hit Keynan Foster in stride for a 67-yard scoring strike to trail 27-24. UTEP, which has lost 18 consecutive games, got the ball back with 2:45 remaining but the Mean Green defense stiffened when Bryce English and E.J. Ejiya sacked Metz, making it fourth-and-17 on UTEP’s 24. The Miners went for it, but Metz’s pass fell incomplete. read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/smiths-late-td-secures-north-texas-27-24-win-over-utep/2018/10/06/9742ab94-c9e1-11e8-9c0f-2ffaf6d422aa_story.html?utm_term=.a16f02ef6fed

The last month of the college football season is about to begin for UNT, and there is a lot to like about the way it sets up. While most of the rest of the college football world was hard at it on Saturday, UNT had a couple of days to regroup after a big win over Rice on Thursday. UNT faces UTEP, which is just 1-7 on the year, on Saturday at Apogee Stadium. The Mean Green then has a week off before facing UTSA and then Tulsa to close out the regular season. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/11/the-last-month-sets-up-well-for-unt.html/