UTEP Hosts Liberty in CUSA’s “Midweek Madness” Wednesday Night in Sun Bowl Stadium

10/6/2025 5:20:00 PM

NOTES: UTEP | LIBERTY

EL PASO – UTEP opens Conference USA's "Midweek Madness" with a home contest against Liberty on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The game's theme is "College Night", while proud partner Fox Auto is the game sponsor. The Miners and Flames are set to kick off at 6 p.m. in Sun Bowl Stadium, as the contest is televised on CBS Sports Network.

Tickets for Wednesday's game are available at www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, or visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968. Fans can enjoy a special 50 percent off ticket promotion and come cheer on the Miners when they look to get back on the winning track against the preseason CUSA favorite Liberty. Tickets originally priced from $20 to $32 are now available for just $10 to $16. UTEP students can use their digital IDs to access the football games for free.

Fans can listen to the contest on "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners app with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher, returning for his 45th season calling the action for the Orange and Blue. Former UTEP football coach Aaron Price joins "Teich" in the booth, while Mando Medina will roam the sidelines. The game will be nationally televised on CBSSN with Alex Del Barrio and Adam Breneman in the booth.

The Miners (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) and Flames (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) are meeting for just the third time ever. Liberty has won both meetings, including the first one in 2023 in El Paso.

UTEP is coming off a 30-11 loss against LA Tech to open CUSA action on Sept. 27. The contest was low scoring in the first two+ quarters. The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead at the 6:14 mark of the first and added a field goal at the 5:47 mark of the third to go up 10-0. The Miners got on the board as transfer kicker Tanner Cragun connected on a 38-yard field goal on his first attempt as a Miner. Following back-to-back forced punts, UTEP got the ball back on a fumble that was forced by Jayden Wilson and recovered by Solo Barnes with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. However, LA Tech picked off one of its five interceptions on the ensuing possession that returned for a score, making the count 17-3. LA Tech forced a turnover on downs on UTEP's next possession that led to another Bulldogs' score to go up 24-3. Quarterback Skyler Locklear came in relief and threw a 35-yard touchdown to wide receiver Wondame Davis Jr. followed by a Locklear pass to wide receiver Josh Schuchts for a two-point conversion to get within 13 points (24-11). But LA Tech's second pick-six sealed the victory. The "Orange Swarm" defense yielded a season-low 232 yards of total offense and limited LA Tech's rushing attack to 95 yards. The Bulldogs had entered the game averaging over 160 rush yards per game.

Liberty has lost four straight after dropping its game at ODU, 21-7, on Sept. 27. The Flames also fell in their CUSA opener at Jax State, 34-24, on Sept. 6. The Liberty pass defense has been solid, ranking first in CUSA and 19^th in FBS, allowing only 162.8 per game. LU's team's passing efficiency defense ranks third in CUSA and 40^th in FBS. Overall, Liberty's total defense (387.8). ranks fourth in CUSA.

UTEP (1-4, 0-1) vs. Liberty (1-4, 0-1)
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Time: 6:00 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Alex Del Barrio
Analyst: Adam Breneman

Radio: 600 ESPN
PxP: Jon Teicher
Analyst: Aaron Price
Sideline: Mando Medina

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Flames will be nationally televised on CBSSN with Alex Del Barrio and Adam Breneman in the booth. The action will be on 600 ESPN El Paso with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher, calling play-by-play in his 45th season. 'Teich', who called his 500^th game on Oct. 11, 2023, at FIU, is joined by former UTEP assistant coach Aaron Price in the booth, providing analysis. El Paso native and long-running member of the local media, Mando Medina, will be reporting from the sidelines. The contest can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. LIBERTY
The Flames lead the all-time series 2-0. Liberty defeated UTEP 28-10 in Lynchburg last season (Sept. 14). UTEP got on the board first after K Buzz Flabiano's 25-yard field goal to put the Miners up 3-0. Following a pair of LU touchdowns, QB Skyler Locklear hooked up with WR Kenny Odom on a 60-yard touchdown to get within four points (14-10) early in the third quarter. However, Liberty would score the next two touchdowns to pull away. No. 22 Liberty won the first-ever meeting, 42-28, on Nov. 25, 2023, in El Paso.

ABOUT LIBERTY
The Flames dropped to 1-4 after losing their fourth straight game at ODU, 21-7, on Sept. 27. Julian Gray's four-yard touchdown got Liberty within seven points (14-7) at the 9:11 mark of the third, but ODU pulled away after a 55-yard touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Liberty opened the 2025 season with a 28-7 win over Maine on Aug. 30. Liberty followed with losses at Jax State 34-24 in CUSA play on Sept. 6 and Bowling Green 23-13 on Sept. 13, while the Flames stumbled in a pair of home losses against James Madison 31-13 on Sept. 20 and ODU. The Flames' scoring defense (23.3 ppg) ranks tied for third in CUSA, while LU's total defense (387.8) is fifth in the league. Offensively, Liberty is averaging 17.0 points per contest and over 342 yards of total offense. Running back Evan Dickens leads LU with 344 yards rushing and ranks third in CUSA. Senior linebacker Joseph Carter paces the squad with 32 tackles (6.4 tpg) and ranks ninth in CUSA in total tackles.

IN "MIDWEEK MADNESS" GAMES
UTEP is 3-4 all-time in CUSA's "Midweek Madness" contests since it began in 2023. The Miners are 1-2 in El Paso. In 2023, UTEP won at FIU 27-14 and was victorious at Sam Houston 37-34. In 2024, UTEP beat FIU 30-21 in the Sun Bowl.

GO FOR DOS
UTEP has a trio of two-point conversions, tying for the third most in FBS. QB Skyler Locklear hooked up with WR Josh Schuchts on a two-point conversion against LA Tech.

CUSA'S #1 TOTAL DEFENSE
UTEP ranks no. 1 in Conference USA and is 56^th in FBS in total defense (340.4). The Miners allowed a season low 232 yards against LA Tech on Sept. 27.

ORANGE SWARM SACK ATTACK
UTEP leads Conference USA and ranks 10^th in FBS with 15 sacks after posting five against LA Tech. UTEP tied 13^th nationally in sacks per game (3.0).

MOST SACKS AT HOME IN 10 YEARS
UTEP recorded five sacks against LA Tech, the most in the Sun Bowl since getting five against UTSA on Oct. 3, 2015.

TACKLING BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
UTEP has tallied a Conference USA-best 43 tackles for loss, while its 8.6 TFL per game is also first in CUSA. UTEP is tied for eighth with East Carolina and Arizona in FBS in total TFL (43) and ranks tied for fourth in TFL per game (8.6). Duke leads the nation with 51 TFL, while Oklahoma leads in TFL per game (10.0).

THIRD-DOWN DEFENSE
UTEP ranks first in Conference USA and is ranked eighth in FBS in third-down conversion percentage defense (24.6). The Miners only yielded 4-of-14 against LA Tech.

FIRST-DOWN DEFENSE
UTEP ranks fourth in Conference USA, allowing 94 first downs, while ranking first in CUSA in first downs allowed per game (18.8). UTEP's 40 first downs on the pass play are the second fewest allowed in CUSA.

PASSING DEFENSE
UTEP ranks second in Conference USA and 38^th in FBS in passing defense (185.6).

FORCING TURNOVERS
UTEP has forced six turnovers (four fumble recoveries, two interceptions) in 2025, ranking top 50 in FBS.

NOSE FOR THE BALL
UTEP ranks tied for first with three other teams with four fumble recoveries after posting three recoveries against LA Tech.

FIRST TIME IN 11 SEASONS
Bandit Udoka Ezeani forced a career-high two fumbles against LA Tech. He's the first Miner to record multiple forced fumbles in a game since LB Roy Robertson-Harris forced a pair against Southern Miss on Nov. 1, 2014. DB Nick Gathrite forced two fumbles at UTSA on Oct. 25, 2014.

EZEANI TIED FIRST IN FBS
Udoka Ezeani is tied for fifth in FBS with 8.5 tackles for loss. Ezeani is tied for second in FBS in TFL per game (1.7).

LEADER OF THE SACK
Udoka Ezeani leads Conference USA with 4.0 sacks after posting a career-high 2.0 sacks against LA Tech. He also leads CUSA in sacks per game (0.8). Ezeani ranks tied for 14^th in FBS in total sacks. Utah's John Henry Daley leads the nation in sacks (6.5) and sacks per game (1.3).

CUSA LEADING TACKLER
LB Micah Davey leads Conference USA and ranks 14^th in FBS in total tackles (51). Davey ranks ninth in FBS in tackles per game (10.2). Davey totaled 12 more tackles against LA Tech. Davey's 20 solo tackles lead the defense. For his college career, Davey has amassed 362 tackles in 33 games (10.9+ per game).

GREAT NIGHT FOR CONTENT
CB Justin Content amassed a career-high 13 tackles and added his first career interception against LA Tech. His previous high was nine tackles against UT Martin. Content's INT came in the end zone on an acrobatic one-handed grab.

THREE PLAYERS IN DOUBLE DIGITS
CB Justin Content (13), LB Micah Davey (12) and CB Neil Campbell (10) hit double figures in tackles against LA Tech. It's the second time during the Scotty Walden era that this has occurred as DL Bryton Thompson (12), LB Dorian Hopkins (11) and LB Nate Dyman (10) did so at Colorado State last season. The time before that was in 2022 –LB Tyrice Knight (12), S Kobe Hylton (10) and LB Cal Wallerstedt (10).

BACK-2-BACK DOUBLE-DIGIT EFFORTS
CB Neil Campbell registered 10 tackles against LA Tech and put up a career-high 11 tackles last week against ULM.

CAMPBELL'S SUPER EFFORT
Neil Campbell ranks second on the team with 35 tackles, while adding 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack (16 yards), a forced fumble, a quarterback hurry and two breakups. Campbell leads all CUSA defensive backs in tackles while ranking tied for fifth in the league overall.

WILSON STEPPING UP
LB Jayden Wilson has started the last two games, totaling 17 tackles. Wilson recorded a UTEP career-high nine tackles against LA Tech and notched eight against ULM. Wilson has totaled 25 tackles in the last three games and 32 overall on the season. Wilson ranks tied for ninth in CUSA in total tackles.

THREE TD IN TWO WEEKS
WR Wondame Davis Jr., coming off a career game the week before, added his third touchdown in two games after hauling in a 35-yard scoring reception against LA Tech. Davis Jr. racked up 119 yards on six receptions against ULM, while adding two catches for a team-high 58 yards against the Bulldogs.

MORE ON WONDAME
Wondame Davis Jr. ranks tied for second in Conference USA with three touchdown receptions on the season. Davis Jr. ranks second in CUSA and ranks 10^th in FBS in yards per catch (22.1). Davis Jr. has tallied 177 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns.

FIRST GAME ACTION
Not only did WR Josh Schuchts (pronounced SHOOTS) play in his first collegiate game, but he also made his first career start in the process. Schuchts responded by tying a team-high with four receptions for 21 yards, including a long catch of 11 yards against LA Tech. Schuchts also caught a two-point conversion from QB Skyler Locklear.

EMORY'S EFFORT
RB Ashten Emory rushed for a career-high 50 yards and a career-long run of 13 yards. Emory added a 10-yard catch for a career-best 60 all-purpose yards. Emory ranks tied for third in Conference USA with four total touchdowns (two rush, two rec.). Emory has rushed for 141 yards on 44 attempts and has 51 yards receiving on eight receptions.

TANNER'S FIRST FG
K Tanner Cragun, a Utah State transfer, connected on a 38-yard field goal on his first career attempt against LA Tech.

FEWEST PENALTIES PER GAME
UTEP averages 6.0 penalties per game, ranking tied for the third fewest in Conference USA.

UP NEXT
UTEP will play its first road game in over a month when the Miners face Sam Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. The Miners and Bearkats are set to kick off at 5 p.m. MDT/6 CT on CBSSN.

For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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