​UTEP just wasn’t that bad for a 2-10 team, but it’s hard to build a program when you have to replace just about everyone as you move into a tougher conference.The Miners have won fewer than four games in seven of the last nine seasons, and are a rough 5-19 in the two years under Scotty Walden, but there were rays of hope last year.UTEP head football coach Scotty Walden speaks at the Union Building East during the Homecoming pep rally on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.© Gaby Velasquez / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images(© Gaby Velasquez / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)The offense improved a bit, the defense was great at times – especially on third downs- and almost all of the ten losses were far more competitive than the final scores might indicate.But that was when UTEP was in Conference USA. After 21 years, it’s making the move to the new Mountain West, it’ll be a more interesting overall schedule, and …Give Walden and the program a season to life in the new neighborhood.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHead Coach: Scotty Walden (3rd year, 5-19; 8th full season: 39-39)Best Case / Worst Case: A bowl appearance for the first time since 2021 and first bowl win since 1967/A fourth straight year with fewer than four winsKey Player: EJ Colson, QB Soph.2025 Record: 2-10Biggest Question: How will UTEP be better after losing just about everyone and moving to the Mountain West?Interceptions: Opponents 20, UTEP 5Fumbles: Opponents 15 (lost 7), UTEP 9 (lost 4)Two-Point Conversions: UTEP 5-of-8 (63%), Opponents 1-of-2 (50%)The entire point of the Scotty Walden coaching experience is to get the offense moving and make defenses worry. But it hasn’t worked like it’s supposed to.It averaged only 332 yards and 23 points per game, and it stalled way too often.Making things harder, the offense has to replace just about everyone, with the attack looking to the transfer portal to let it all rip.It all starts with what EJ Colson can do. The ultra-quick quarterback is the right fit for the attack, doing a little bit of everything last year for Incarnate Word after first starting out at UCF.He brings something last year’s offense was desperately missing – accuracy. The Miner quarterbacks combined to complete 54% of their passes. Colson hit 71% last year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGood things happen when the Miners crank up the yards. It wasn’t often, but they stayed in games when they were able to keep the chains moving.They were 2-1 when getting to 400 yards of total offense, pushed New Mexico State and Jacksonville State when coming close, and it all started with the running game, so …The running backs coming through the portal can move. Lamar Sperling was a good part of the Buffalo rotation last year, averaging six yards per carry.Tavorus Jones is a strong get from Missouri, and Elijah McCoy has a little bit of experience to go along with Colson’s mobility.Converting third down pl