September 24, 2026
UTEP is heading into Saturday night as a significant underdog.
The Miners and Oregon State both enter the matchup at 1 and 2, but the betting market has Oregon State favored by roughly 10.5 to 11.5 points.
On paper, the matchup gives Oregon State plenty of reasons to be favored.
But UTEP has something the Beavers do not have.
A Homecoming crowd at the Sun Bowl.
And for the Miners, Saturday represents an opportunity to change the conversation before Mountain West play begins.
The Numbers Do Not Favor UTEP
There is no reason to hide from the reality of the matchup.
UTEP has been heavily outscored in its two road games against Oklahoma and Michigan, losing those games by a combined 103 to 17. The Miners did, however, dominate Texas Southern 51 to 10 in their home opener.
Oregon State is also 1 and 2, but the Beavers enter El Paso as the team expected by the betting market to win.
That creates a clear storyline.
UTEP has been given very little respect heading into Saturday night.
Now the Miners get an opportunity to respond on the field.
This Is Exactly Why Homecoming Matters
UTEP’s 94th Homecoming Game comes at an important time.
The Miners have spent much of September traveling across the country, playing at Oklahoma and Michigan while also hosting Texas Southern.
Saturday gives UTEP its second home game of the season.
The atmosphere should be different.
The stakes should feel different.
And the Miners have a chance to make this game uncomfortable for Oregon State from the opening kickoff.
UTEP head coach Scotty Walden described the Beavers as a major challenge, pointing specifically to their size, length, physicality and ability to throw the football. He also praised first year Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard and the way his team plays.
UTEP Has Already Shown What It Can Look Like
The 51 to 10 win over Texas Southern remains the clearest example of what this UTEP team can do when everything is working.
The Miners produced 491 total yards in that game and scored 44 unanswered points after trailing early.
EJ Colson Jr. threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown.
Tavorus Jones rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Raymond Moore III broke loose for a 79 yard touchdown.
The defense forced two turnovers.
That version of UTEP is going to need to show up Saturday.
Not necessarily with another 51 point performance, but with the same physicality, explosiveness and discipline.
EJ Colson Jr. Will Be Under the Microscope
Colson has already experienced some of the highest highs and lowest moments of the season.
He struggled during the opening loss at Oklahoma before producing a five touchdown performance against Texas Southern.
Against Michigan, UTEP struggled to consistently move the football, although Colson completed seven of nine passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with an injury.
If Colson is available Saturday, his ability to keep the offense on schedule will be critical.
UTEP cannot afford to repeatedly put itself into obvious passing situations against an Oregon State defense that has played well enough to make the Miners work for every yard.
The Run Game Could Be the Difference
This might be UTEP’s clearest path to controlling the game.
Tavorus Jones has already shown he can carry the workload, while Raymond Moore III has provided explosive ability out of the backfield.
If UTEP can run the football effectively, it changes the entire game.
It can keep Oregon State’s offense off the field.
It can create manageable third downs.
It can open up play action.
And perhaps most importantly, it can take some pressure off the quarterback.
UTEP does not need to turn Saturday into a shootout.
It needs to make Oregon State uncomfortable.
The Defense Has to Keep UTEP in the Game
Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard has built a team that Walden described as big, long and physical.
That puts pressure on the UTEP defense.
The Miners need to prevent explosive plays and force Oregon State to drive the length of the field.
Jayden Wilson and Xavier Smith will be among the players UTEP will rely on to keep the defense organized.
If the Miners can create turnovers and consistently get off the field on third down, the game could become a completely different contest.
The Underdog Role Can Be Useful
Being a big underdog does not change the scoreboard.
It does not give UTEP any automatic advantage.
But it does change expectations.
Oregon State enters the Sun Bowl with the pressure of being the team expected to win.
UTEP enters with an opportunity to play freely and make the Beavers prove they deserve that expectation.
For a team preparing to enter Mountain West play, Saturday can become an important measuring stick.
UTEP Has Nothing to Hide
The Miners know what the outside perception looks like.
They have been blown out twice on the road.
They are 1 and 2.
They are facing another opponent from a major conference structure.
And they are playing a team favored by double digits.
But none of that determines what happens Saturday night.
The Sun Bowl does.
The first quarter does.
The physicality at the line of scrimmage does.
Turnovers do.
Third downs do.
And the team’s response when something goes wrong will matter just as much.
This Is an Opportunity
Saturday is bigger than a point spread.
It is bigger than the 1 and 2 records.
It is bigger than what happened at Oklahoma or Michigan.
It is a chance for UTEP to show what kind of team it wants to be heading into its first Mountain West season.
The Miners have already shown they can dominate at home.
Now they get another opportunity in front of Miner Nation.
Oregon State may be the favorite.
The betting market may expect the Beavers to leave El Paso with a win.
But UTEP does not have to agree with any of it.
The Sun Bowl is waiting.
And Saturday night, the Miners have a chance to make everyone watching take notice.
Oregon State at UTEP
Saturday, September 26
7 p.m. Mountain Time
Sun Bowl Stadium
MW+
94th UTEP Homecoming Game
