Miners Host San José State for the First Time in 23 Years Saturday in the Sun Bowl

10/15/2026 8:42:00 AM

GAME NOTES: UTEP | SAN JOSÉ STATE | MOUNTAIN WEST

EL PASO – UTEP will host San José State in the Sun Bowl on Saturday night. It's the first meeting between the two programs in 22 years, and SJSU's first trip back to El Paso since 2003. The Miners (1-5, 0-2 Mountain West) and Spartans (3-3, 1-1 MW) kick off at 7 p.m. MDT. GECU is the proud game sponsor, as rally towels will be given out on "Innovation Night."

Innovation pricing includes $5 Bud Lights and $1 popcorn. Tickets are available for the San José State game, start at just $12, and are available by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets, calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, or by visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968).

The Miners and Spartans can be heard on 600 AM ESPN El Paso, the "Home of UTEP Football," and on the UTEP Miners app. The contest will be streamed MW+.

UTEP lost its fourth straight game, falling 30-13 to Nevada on Oct. 10. Raymond Moore III got his first start under center, throwing two touchdowns against the Wolf Pack. The first was a 16-yard strike to Jaden Smith, marking Smith's first receiving touchdown since arriving at UTEP prior to the 2024 season. Moore III threw his second to Cash Cheeks on an eight-yard hookup. Cheeks's three touchdown catches lead all Mountain West tight ends. On defense, Isaiah Bogerty racked up a career-high and game-high 15 tackles, while Kode Lowe also tallied a career-best 14 stops. Jadyen Wilson recorded a season-high 12 tackles and registered his first two collegiate pass breakups. Leander Parrish shined on national television, registering his first sack and forced fumble, while adding a career-high three tackles.

San José State lost 16-13 in overtime against Wyoming in MW action on Oct. 9 at CEFCU Stadium. The Spartans built a 13-6 lead on Trajan Sinatra's 27-yard field goal, but the Cowboys scored the next 10 points, including the game-winning 21-yard field goal by Erik Sandvik. Luke Weaver, who leads MW with 11 touchdown passes, finished 26-of-38 for 251 yards and one interception. Weaver ranks second in passing yards (1,529) and third in completion percentage (63.2). MW leading rusher Jabari Bates rushed for 69 yards against Wyoming. Bates leads MW with 556 yards on the ground. Junior linebacker Dylan Lee ranks third in MW with 53 tackles. The Spartans opened the campaign with a 42-26 loss at No. 14 USC on Aug. 29; however, they rebounded with back-to-back wins at Eastern Michigan, 27-21 (Sept. 4), and versus Cal Poly, 30-20 (Sept. 12). SJSU won its first league contest of 2026, topping Hawai'i 20-16 on Oct. 3.

"[San José State] is a spread offense and they'll throw it all over the yard. They run the ball well too, but they're going to throw. Their quarterback, [Luke] Weaver, is a heck of a player and has a big arm and has great receivers that play in space," third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "We're going to have a different approach than we saw last week; whereas Nevada is using 11 personnel and 12 personnel, we're going to see open sets. They do a great job throwing the ball and have some backs who run really hard and big offensive linemen to pave the way. They're an explosive offense. Their defensive front makes them go. They play a physical brand of football and extremely well in the box."

UTEP (1-5, 0-2) vs. San José State (3-3, 1-1)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Time: 7 p.m. MDT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

Stream: MW+
https://watch.themw.com/utep/
PxP: Andy Morgan
Analyst: Cole Freytag

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Spartans will be streamed on MW+ with Andy Morgan and former UTEP WR Cole Freytag in the booth. The action continues on the "Home of UTEP Football" 600 ESPN AM El Paso, with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 46th season. 'Teich', who called his 500^th game on Oct. 11, 2023, at FIU, is joined in the booth by former UTEP assistant coach Aaron Price for analysis. El Paso native and longtime local media member Mando Medina will report from the sidelines. The contest is also available on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
The all-time series is tied 5-5. The series is tied 3-3 in games played in El Paso. UTEP defeated San José State in the last meeting 38-20 in San José on Oct. 30, 2004. The Miners and Spartans last played in El Paso on Nov. 8, 2003, in a SJSU 69-41 win. The Miners blanked San José State 35-0 in the first meeting on Oct. 22, 1966, in El Paso.

THE LAST MEETING
UTEP defeated San José State in the last meeting 38-20 in San José on Oct. 30, 2004. UTEP built an early lead, 24-7, heading into the fourth quarter. The Miners outgained the Spartans 372-305 in total yards. QB Jordan Palmer finished 16-of-22 passing for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns to WR Jayson Boyd (23 yards) and WR Johnnie Lee Higgins(nine yards), while adding a six-yard touchdown run. WR Chris Francies hauled in two receptions for 81 yards, and RB Howard Jackson rushed for 89 yards on five attempts. DB Phillip Moss and LB Godwin Akinduro led the Miners with12 tackles apiece. LB Robert Rodriguez added 10 tackles.

CONFERENCE OPPONENTS ONCE AGAIN
UTEP and San José State were Western Athletic Conference rivals from 1996 to 2004. The Miners were 4-5 versus the Spartans during that span. SJSU edged UTEP 26-25 in the first WAC meeting in San José.

ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans fell to 3-3 overall, and 1-1 in Mountain West play after losing 16-13 in overtime against Wyoming on Oct. 9 at CEFCU Stadium. The Spartans took a 13-6 advantage on a Trajan Sinatra 27-yard field goal with 1:46 left in the third quarter. But the Cowboys rallied to score 10 unanswered points capped by Erik Sandvik's 21-yard field goal in overtime. SJSU RB Jabari Bates leads the Mountain West with 556 yards on 120 attempts (4.6 avg.) and a touchdown. He ranks second in the MW in rushing yards per game (92.7). Spartans boast the second-best passing offense in the MW, with a league-high 11 TD passes and averaging a conference-best 254.8 yards per game. QB Luke Weaver leads the MW with 11 touchdown passes and ranks second in passing yards (1,529). Weaver's third in completion percentage (63.2) and ranks second in completions (132) and attempts (209). SJSU averages 21.0 points per game while yielding 23.5 per contest. The Spartans opened 2026 with a 42-26 loss at No. 14 USC on Aug. 29. San José State rebounded with back-to-back victories at Eastern Michigan 27-21 (Sept. 4) and against Cal Poly 30-20 (Sept. 12). SJSU fell against Fresno State 26-10; however, it won its first MW contest of the season 20-16 at Hawai'i on Oct. 3.

FIRST START UNDER CENTER
QB Raymond Moore III made his first start as a Miner against Nevada on Oct. 3. It was his first collegiate start since Oct. 11, 2025, against Virginia-Lynchburg while at Morgan State. On Saturday, Moore III finished 16-of-26 for 132 yards and two touchdown passes. Moore III led the Miners with 65 yards on 15 carries.

MORE ON MOORE III
Raymond Moore III played at Morgan State as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He made six starts in nine games under center. Moore III was 90-of-166 for 1,049 yards and nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions. The Baltimore, Md., product ranked third on the team with 414 rushing yards and was tied for the team lead with six rushing scores. His rushing high was 99 yards with a season-long 81-yard touchdown run at Howard on Oct. 25. Moore III recorded career highs in passing touchdowns (three), passing yards (229), completions (17), attempts (30) at South Carolina on Nov. 1.

MULTIPLE TD PASSES
Raymond Moore III threw two touchdown passes against Nevada, the third time in his career tossing 2+ TDs. Moore III connected on a career-high three at South Carolina State on Nov. 1, 2025, and two at Norfolk State on Nov. 15.

UTEP'S LEADING RUSHER
Raymond Moore III rushed for 65 yards on a season-high 15 carries against Nevada, upping his total to a team-high 359 rushing yards. Moore III ranks sixth in the MW in rushing yards and leads the conference, averaging 7.5 yards per run. Moore III led the Miners with 49 yards at No. 10 Oklahoma, including a 51-yard dash. Moore III was second on the team with 93 yards, including a 79-yard TD run against Texas Southern. Moore III rushed for a career-high 134 yards on 11 carries at UNM on Oct. 3. His 86-yard touchdown against the Lobos is the longest ever by a UTEP quarterback and fourth-longest overall in school history.

BEEN A WHILE
Raymond Moore III is the team's leading rusher and could be the first UTEP quarterback to lead the squad in rushing yards since 1992, when Shawn Gray led the Miners with 402 yards on the ground.

BIG PLAY MINERS
QB Raymond Moore III and MB Kam Thomas are the lone Mountain West players with an 80+ yard long scrimmage play. Moore III rushed for an 86-yard TD at UNM, and Thomas hauled in an 83-yard touchdown against TSU.

JADEN'S FIRST RECEIVING TD
WR Jaden Smith caught a 16-yard touchdown against Nevada, his first as a Miner. It was his first TD reception since hauling in a five-yarder on Nov. 4, 2023, against Austin Peay while at EKU. It's Smith 15^th career touchdown catch after posting 14 at EKU from 2021 to 2023. Smith tallied three TD receptions in 2021, a career-high six in 2022 and five more in 2023.

CA$HING IN ANOTHER ONE
TE Cash Cheeks tallied his third touchdown reception on an eight-yard catch against Nevada. Cheeks's three TDs are tied for the team lead with brother WR Carver Cheeks.

CASH LEADING MW
Cash Cheeks leads all Mountain West tight ends with three touchdown receptions. Cheeks ranks tied for second overall in the MW.

RACKING UP THE TACKLES
LB Isaiah Bogerty racked up a career-high 15 tackles against Nevada on Oct. 10. Bogerty leads the Miners with 39 tackles and ranks 15^th in the Mountain West. Bogerty transferred to UTEP from Texas Southern, where he recorded 187 tackles in 31 games played. He tallied 82 in 2025 (10 games played).

DOUBLE FIGURES FOR BOGERTY
Isaiah Bogerty hit double digits in tackles for the fifth time in the last two seasons. Bogerty tallied 15 on Oct. 10 against Nevada. He hit double figures four times while playing at TSU in 2025. Bogerty had 11 at Southern U (11/15), 11 against Lamar on (9/13), 10 at Cal (9/6) and 11 versus Prairie View (8/30).

CAREER HIGH FOR KODE
S Kode Lowe registered a career-high 14 tackles and tied his career high with 2.0 tackles for loss against Nevada. It was the third time in his career Lowe recorded double-digit tackles. It's the most tackles since tallying 12 against West Alabama on Sept. 21, 2024, while playing at Western Florida. Lowe had 10 tackles on Dec. 10, 2022, at Ferris State.

SEASON-HIGH FOR JAYDEN
LB Jayden Wilson recorded a season-high 12 tackles against Nevada. It was Wilson's most since getting 16 tackles against Liberty last season. It's the fourth time in his UTEP career he hit double figures in tackles after having 10 against NM State and 10 more at Delaware. Wilson recorded 10 tackles against Washington State while playing at New Mexico in 2024. Wilson is second on the team with 36 tackles.

FIRST BREAKUPS
Jayden Wilson recorded his first career pass breakup after tallying two against Nevada.

CAREER HIGH FOR GARRETT
LB Garrett Hawkins registered a career-high nine tackles against Nevada. Hawkins added his second career quarterback hurry. Garrett is fifth on the team with 29 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, two quarterback hurries and a breakup in six starts.

PARRISH BEING DISRUPTIVE
DL Leander Parrish recorded his first career full sack and TFL to go along with his first career forced fumble against Nevada. Parrish added a career-high three tackles. Parrish has played in all six games, tallying five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

FIRST FUMBLE RECOVERY
Freshman DE Dycin Davis recovered his first career fumble against Nevada. Davis has recorded six tackles with a TFL and a fumble recovery in six games played.

TEAM LEADER IN SACKS
Bandit Sterling Miles recorded a sack against Nevada, giving the transfer a team-high 2.5 on the season.

FIELDS GETTING AFTER IT
DT Elijah Fields recorded a season-high five tackles against Nevada. He tied his collegiate career high after he had five tackles at Montana State while playing at SFA in 2025. Fields has 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss,1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

FORCING THE ISSUE
The "Orange Swarm" defense ranks second in the Mountain West with five forced fumbles. New Mexico leads with seven FF. DL Derek Burns, DT Elijah Fields, Bandit Sterling Miles, DL Leander Parrish and S Darnell Williams have each forced a fumble.

RECOVERY PROGRAM
UTEP ranks second on the MW with five fumble recoveries. DE Dycin Davis, LB Garrett Hawkins, DB Adarius Hutchinson, LB Shay Smith and CB Decorian Thompson have each recovered a fumble.

GULLIORY TIES SEASON HIGH
S Esteban Guillory tied his season best with five tackles against Nevada. Guillory has 10 tackles in the last two games. Guillory is sixth on the team with 22 tackles. The senior transfer has added 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 2026.

JERSEY PATCHES - GECU & IBEW
UTEP is the first school in the Mountain West with two jersey patches for football. On Aug. 17, UTEP Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter announced GECU as UTEP's inaugural jersey-patch partner. On Aug. 31, Senter announced The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) as the second jersey patch partner.

MW+ INFORMATION
MW+ will be the exclusive streaming platform for live events across all 21 Mountain West sponsored sports not distributed on national linear television. Miner Nation can watch all its teams all season long, including matchups you won't find anywhere else. Exclusive access will be available with mic'd-up moments, behind-the-scenes, and original content. It'll be the one destination for everything Mountain West.
SIGN UP AT: https://watch.themw.com/utep/

UP NEXT
UTEP will have its bye week. The Miners will return to action on Halloween at North Dakota State. The Miners and Bison will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MT in Fargo. The contest will be streamed on MW+.

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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