The bye week is over. The reset button isn’t.
UTEP (1-6, 0-3 Mountain West) travels to Fargo on Saturday to face North Dakota State at the Fargodome on MW+. The Bison are 6-1. Both programs are first-year Mountain West members. Only one is rolling.
Injuries Hang Over Everything
UTEP lost quarterback EJ Colson, running back Tavorus Jones and safety Kode Lowe to injuries in the 24-11 loss to San Jose State. His status for Saturday has not been publicly confirmed.
Colson threw a career-high four touchdown passes against Texas Southern in Week 2. Since then, the offense has dried up. UTEP has scored 13 points or fewer in four straight games, and the Miners have lost five in a row.
What San Jose State Exposed
Protection. San Jose State’s defense piled up 11 sacks. Viliami Teu ran for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns, and KTSM described the Sun Bowl as empty.
The Bison Aren’t Perfect
NDSU has its own questions. The Bison fell 21-16 at New Mexico, and starting QB Nathan Hayes is questionable with an ankle sprain from that game. Third-year player Nate Tastad would make his first start of the season. Left guard Griffin Empey is out, and Bison coach Polasek says he wants to see his team’s response.
Translation: a wounded favorite playing at home, motivated to prove the loss was a blip.
Five to Play
Fargo, ND is the first of five games left. After NDSU come Hawai’i (Nov. 7) and Wyoming (Nov. 14) at the Sun Bowl, then road trips to Air Force and NIU.
Bowl eligibility would take a perfect finish.
Around the Program
Soccer is back on the road. The Miners play at Nevada on Wednesday (7 p.m. MT) and at UC Davis on Sunday (2 p.m. MT). They drop in after a 1-0 home loss to Colorado College and a 2-0 loss at Wyoming. The regular season ends Nov. 7 at home against Grand Canyon, with the conference tournament the following week.
Men’s basketball tips off Monday. UTEP faces Northern Kentucky at the Sanford Pentagon in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Joe Golding enters year six at 81-83 through five seasons. The roster is entirely rebuilt after an 11-20 finish last year. The Mountain West opener is Jan. 2 at home against New Mexico.
