​LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – AUGUST 31: Head coach Scotty Walden of the UTEP Miners signals to players on the field during the second quarter of their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Michigan Wolverines have a matchup with the UTEP Miners coming up this season. Heading into the third season under Scotty Walden, the Miners have had little success in the past few years. On top of that, the team was completely shredded in the transfer portal during its transition from Conference USA to the Mountain West.Spoiler Alert: Michigan shouldn’t have any problems with UTEP this year. But there are some interesting pieces and dynamics at play to take a look at in preparation for this one.Coaching StaffHead Coach: Scotty Walden (3rd season)Offensive Coordinator: Lanear Sampson/Joe Pappalardo (1st season/3rd season)Defensive Coordinator: Kyle Beyer (2nd season)2025 Record2-10 (1-7 in CUSA)2025 Production RanksScoring Offense: 102nd (9th in CUSA)Total Offense: 115th (9th in CUSA)Scoring Defense: 107th (7th in CUSA)Total Defense: 79th (5th in CUSA)2025 TL;DR RecapUTEP does not have a good football program. The Miners have won fewer than four games in seven of the last nine seasons. They went 2-10 in 2025, with only one win over a FBS opponent, and it was conference-mate Sam Houston, which also went 2-10 last season. That marker for the Miners, while facing the 131st strength of schedule in the country, likely has Waldren fighting for his job in Year 3.Key DeparturesEdge Elijah Baldwin (UTSA)RB Ashton Emory (Cal)WR Kenny Odom (USF)OL Tyrone McDuffie (Northwestern State)OL Jake Utley (South Dakota)OL Jake Riggs (South Dakota)OL James Williams (New Mexico State)TE Josh Schuchts (West Georgia)LB Stratton Shufelt (Missouri State)WR Wondame Davis Jr. (Wake Forest)OL Mark Robinson (Kentucky)QB Skyler Locklear (Missouri State)QB Malachi Nelson (Syracuse)Key ReturnersDT Ashton CokerCB Justin ContentGadget Kam ThomasS Xavier SmithLB Jayden WilsonCB TJ TillmanKey Transfer AdditionsQB EJ Colson (Incarnate Word)RB Lamar Sperling (Buffalo)RB Tavorus Jonest (Missouri)WR Royal Capell (Oklahoma State)WR Carver Cheeks (Northern Colorado)Edge Sterling Miles (Eastern Michigan)DL Preston Hickey (Northwestern State)S Donavan Howard (Virginia State)OL Brian Williams Jr. (Jackson State)Preseason Expectations (per Athlon Sports)“UTEP is 5-19 over the last two seasons, and a shift to the Mountain West won’t make things any easier for a program in rebuild mode. If the Miners are going to make a jump to bowl eligibility, improving an offense that ranked No. 129 nationally in success rate and averaged only 5.1 yards per play is a must. Walden and new co-coordinators Joe Pappalardo and Lanear Sampson are counting on a couple of transfers to elevate this group, starting with Incarnate Word (and former UCF) transfer quarterback EJ Colson. A healthy year from receiver Kam