UTEP Football Opens Mountain West Home Action against Nevada Saturday at 5 p.m.

10/8/2026 3:49:00 PM

NOTES: UTEP | NEVADA | MOUNTAIN WEST

EL PASO – UTEP will host Nevada in its first-ever Mountain West contest in the Sun Bowl on Saturday. The Miners (1-4, 0-1 MW) and Wolf Pack (1-3, 0-1) will kick off at 5 p.m. MDT in Sun Bowl Stadium. It marks the first meeting between UTEP and Nevada since 2019 and the fifth overall. The game will be nationally televised on FS1. Both programs are looking to snap three-game losing streaks.

The featured ticket deal is the Mountain West Two-Step package (vs. Nevada on Oct. 10 and San José State on Oct. 17). Fans can watch the Miners for as low as $20. Tickets are available for the Nevada game, starting at $20, 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 Wolf Pack can be heard on 600 AM ESPN El Paso, the "Home of UTEP Football," and on the UTEP Miners app. The contest will be nationally televised on FS1.

UTEP is coming off a 61-7 setback at [RV] New Mexico on Oct. 3 in its Mountain West opener. The Miners forced the Lobos' first turnover of the season when safety Kode Lowe picked off a pass right before halftime. Backup quarterback Raymond Moore III came in relief and rushed for a game-high and career-high 135 yards. Moore III's highlight was a career-long 86-yard touchdown run. It was the longest run ever by a UTEP signal caller in program history. Linebacker Shay Smith led the "Orange Swarm" defense with a career-high eight tackles.

Nevada is coming off its bye week, but in the most recent contest, Air Force edged the Wolf Pack 36-33 in double overtime on Sept. 26 in Reno. Nevada rushed for 187 yards, led by Herschel Turner's 111 yards and two touchdowns. Dominic Kelley added 60 yards and AJ Bianco rushed for a touchdown. Linebacker EJ Smith, who leads FBS with 55 tackles and 30 solo stops, racked up 21 tackles (10 solo) while EDGE Dylan LaBarbera, tied for fourth in the MW with 39 tackles, tallied 18 stops against the Falcons. The Wolf Pack are ranked fourth in the MW in scoring offense (27.3 ppg) and are fifth in total offense (381.5). Nevada ranks sixth in the MW in scoring defense (24.3 ppg) and fifth in total defense (370.5).

"We're going to play a really good Nevada team that's coming here to the Sun Bowl," third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "We have a two-game homestand [vs. San José State on Oct. 17] ahead of us, and it starts with this one [vs. Nevada]. This is the most important one because it's the one in front of us. We have to be ready to play in front of our home crowd against a really good Nevada team. Coach [Jeff] Choate is a great defensive mind, and I have a lot of respect for him. Their quarterback Carter Jones is a young man I recruited from Lancaster High School. I think he's a stud, and he's dangerous. When he drops back, his scramble ability is just as good as his throwing ability. They have two running backs who can absolutely tote that thing. They're running the football really well. We have to stop the run on defense. And then on offense, we have to be able to control their front [defensive line]. Their front line, no surprise, just about every team in this league has got an elite front. You can see where the money is spent in this league, and that's on the defensive line, the edge rushers. Give Nevada credit; it retained [Dylan LaBarbera], a stud defensive end. He's heck on wheels. I think he plays as hard as anybody I've ever seen on tape. They play physical on defense and run downhill. We have our work cut out for us."

UTEP (1-4, 0-1) vs. Nevada (1-3, 0-1)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
Time: 5 p.m. MDT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

TV: FS1
PxP: Connor Onion
Analyst: Spencer Tillman

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Wolf Pack will be nationally televised on FS1. 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. NEVADA
Nevada leads the all-time series 3-1. The Miners and Wolf Pack faced each other last on Sept. 21, 2019, in a 37-21 Nevada nonconference victory in the Sun Bowl. RB Treyvon Hughes rushed for 80 yards on 17 attempts and two touchdowns, while on defense the Miners had two players reach double figures in tackles – LB Sione Tupou (10), DB Justin Prince (10). UTEP won the first meeting, 45-22, on Nov. 4, 2000, the first as Western Athletic Conference foes. RB Chris Porter ran for 118 yards, QB Rocky Perez threw for 323 yards (20-35) and two touchdowns, WR Lee Maystallied 156 yards on nine receptions and a TD, and LB Trey Merkens led the defense with 10 tackles. Nevada rebounded with a 48-31 win on Nov. 24, 2001, before following with a 23-17 triumph on Nov. 9, 2002.

CONFERENCE OPPONENTS ONCE AGAIN
UTEP and Nevada were Western Athletic Conference rivals from 2000 to 2002. The Miners were 1-2 versus the Wolf Pack during that span.

ABOUT NEVADA
The Wolf Pack are 1-3 overall and 0-1 in Mountain West play. Nevada is coming off its bye week and most recently lost 36-33 in double overtime against Air Force in Reno during its Mountain West opener. Herschel Turner's 57-yard touchdown with 1:49 left tied the game at 27-27. The two teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime while the Wolf Pack took a 33-30 advantage after their second FG in the extra periods. Nevada won its season opener, defeating WKU 49-14 in Reno on Sept. 5. Senior linebacker EJ Smith leads the Mountain West in tackles (55) and solo stops (30). Sophomore running back Dominic Kelley ranks fourth in MW with 341 yards and is tied for sixth with three rushing scores.

THE LAST MEETING
UTEP jumped out to a 14-7 lead following touchdown rushes of four yards (first quarter, 8:10) and six yards (second quarter, 6:49) by RB Treyvon Hughes. But Nevada scored two touchdowns within minutes late in the first half to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room. Cristian Solano found Elijah Cooks on a 28-yard touchdown pass at the 3:02 mark while Solano and Cooks hooked up again on a 20-yard connection with 2:23 left in the half. QB Kai Locksey's one-yard plunge tied the contest at 21 at the 5:01 mark of the third quarter, but the Wolf Pack scored 16 unanswered points, capped by Kelton Moore's one-yard touchdown rush with 4:08 left in the game. Hughes rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries (4.7 avg.) and two touchdowns, while RB Joshua Fields added 44 on the ground. TE Jess Trussell led with 53 yards on three receptions. LB Sione Tupou and DB Justin Prince led the team with 10 tackles apiece.

UTEP IN HOME CONFERENCE OPENERS
UTEP is 19-20-1 at home in conference openers. The Miners are 1-15 in their last 16 league home openers. UTEP defeated Old Dominion 28-21 on Oct. 2, 2021. Before that, the Miners took down No. 12 Houston 58-41 on Oct. 3, 2009.

CHOATE CONNECTION TO UTEP FOOTBALL
Nevada head coach Jeff Choate became UTEP's defensive coordinator in January 2013 under then-head coach Sean Kugler. Choate served as the DC through spring football in April 2013 until he took a position at Florida as the outside linebackers coach prior to the 2013 season.

LONGEST RUN EVER BY A UTEP QB
QB Raymond Moore III reeled off a career-long 86-yard touchdown run at New Mexico, making it the longest run by a UTEP signal caller in program history. The previous high was QB Ken Heinman's 85-yard rush against Arizona in 1939.

SIXTH LONGEST PLAY IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Raymond Moore III's 86-yard touchdown at UNM is the sixth longest rushing play in school history. RB Hahsaun Wilson owns the longest, 94 yards last season. RB Aaron Jones (91 yards at Texas Tech in 2015), RB James Hammonds (90 vs. West Virginia in 1950), RB Willie Fuller (90 vs. Utah in 1988) and HB Clovis Riley (88 vs. North Texas in 1953) round out the top six.

FOURTH LONGEST IN FBS
Raymond Moore III's 86-yard touchdown run is the fourth-longest rushing play in FBS. It's the longest rush play in the Mountain West. Maryland's DeJuan Williams owns the longest with 94 yards. Rice's Ben Grice and East Carolina's TJ Engleman are tied second with runs of 88 yards.

BIG PLAY RAY
Raymond Moore III is one of 12 FBS players with two 70+ yard plays from scrimmage. Moore III took off for a 79-yarder against Texas Southern on Sept. 12 and ran for a career-long 86-yarder at New Mexico. Moore III is one of seven players with two 70+ yard rushing plays from scrimmage. Moore III ranks tied for third nationally with three 50+ yard plays from scrimmage (51-yard rush at No. 12 Oklahoma). Moore III leads the Mountain West in all those categories.

CAREER-HIGH 135 RUSHING YARDS
Raymond Moore III rushed for a game-high and career-high 135 yards on 11 carries (12.3 avg.). Moore III's previous best was 99 yards on Oct. 25, 2025, at Howard while playing at Morgan State.

QB LEADING WITH 100+ RUSH YARDS
Raymond Moore III is the first UTEP quarterback to lead the team in rushing with 100+ yards. QB Calvin Brownholtz(114 yards) was the last Miner QB to do so – vs. North Texas on Dec. 11, 2020.

MOST RUSH YARDS BY A UTEP QB SINCE 2009
Raymond Moore III's 135 yards on the ground were the most since UTEP signal caller James Thomas II had 142 yards versus NM State on Sept. 20, 2008.

LEADING RUSHER
Raymond Moore III leads the Miners with 294 rushing yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns. Moore III ranks seventh in the Mountain West and 90^th nationally in rushing yards.

MORE ON MOORE III'S DASH SKILLS
Raymond Moore III, a dual-threat player, showcased his abilities, rushing for 414 yards on 87 attempts and six touchdowns while at Morgan State in 2025. He hit 99 yards at Howard, rushed for 83 versus Miles, and 76 at South Carolina State.

BACKUP QUARTERBACKS SEE ACTION
Transfer QB Braesen Leon saw his first action at New Mexico, completing his only pass attempt for 22 yards to WR Nik Henry. Leon played in 11 games at Ventura College in 2025. He threw for 2,638 yards on 191-of-270 passing (70.7 percent) with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions. QB Bodey Weaver got under center for three plays, tallying a rush attempt for two yards.

FIRST CAREER CATCH
WR Nik Henry hauled in his first career reception, a 22-yard catch at New Mexico.

FIRST START
RB Jaden Moore made his first career start, rushing the ball a career-high six times for nine yards. Moore made his season debut on Sept. 26, against Oregon State, rushing for seven yards on three carries.

ON THE HUNT
RB Chris Hunter also saw significant time in the backfield, setting career highs in rush attempts (three) and rushing yards (15). Hunter made his season debut at No. 10 Michigan, while getting his first carries (two for six yards) against Oregon State.

CAREER HIGH FOR SHAY
LB Shay Smith, who switched to linebacker after playing quarterback his first two years, tallied a career-high and team-high eight tackles at New Mexico. Smith is tied for fifth on the team with 20 tackles. Smith has added a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery in five games played in 2026.

FIRST INT
S Kode Lowe intercepted his first pass of his UTEP career at UNM. Lowe's pick was also the Lobos' first turnover of the 2026 season. For Lowe, it was his second career interception after he picked off a pass on Dec. 12, 2022, against Wingate while playing at West Florida.

'MELO K/O RETURNS
WR Carmelo Taylor registered his first career kickoff return, taking one back 24 yards at New Mexico. Taylor finished with 55 yards on three kickoff returns and a long of 24.

BOOMING PUNT
P Brady Braun booted a career-long 71-yard punt at New Mexico. Braun finished with 121 yards on two punts (career-best 60.5 avg.). Brady ranks fourth in the Mountain West in punting average (42.5).

LONGEST PUNT ON THE ROAD SINCE 2012
Brady Braun's 71-yard punt was the longest on the road since P Ian Campbell's 71-yarder on Oct. 11, 2012, at Tulsa.

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 host its second consecutive Mountain West game when San Jose State comes to the Sun Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Miners and Spartans will kick off at 7 p.m. MDT and will be streamed on MW+. The game sponsor is GECU, while Rally Towels will be the giveaway. Tickets are available starting at $20 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).

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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