The countdown to kickoff continues — we’re just four days away from UTEP opening its 2025 season. The Miners are packing their bags and heading to Logan, Utah, to take on the Utah State Aggies. On …
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The countdown to kickoff continues — we’re just four days away from UTEP opening its 2025 season.
The Miners are packing their bags and heading to Logan, Utah, to take on the Utah State Aggies.
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On Tuesday, UTEP held its first weekly press conference of the season — giving us a game-week update on how the Miners are preparing for their opener.
READY TO BATTLE THE AGGIES (OF UTAH STATE)
The UTEP Miners are set to kick off year two under head coach Scotty Walden this Saturday, looking to improve on last season’s 3-9 finish.
They’ll open the 2025 campaign on the road against Utah State in what marks a fresh start for both programs. The Aggies will be led by longtime college football coach Bronco Mendenhall, who makes his debut on the sidelines in Logan. It’s also a milestone year for Utah State, as this will be their final season in the Mountain West before making the move to the Pac-12.
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Historically, UTEP has struggled against the Aggies. The Miners are 0-3 all-time vs. Utah State, and 9-14 overall against Mountain West opponents. But Walden’s squad enters this season with renewed energy and confidence.
“We are playing a very good Utah State football team. This is a team that is going to the Pac-12 next year. This is a Power 4 football team,” UTEP football head coach Scotty Walden said on Tuesday. “I’m sure their budgets are alignment with that. I am sure their NIL is alignment with that. We are going to have our hands full on Saturday, playing a very good football team.”
“It’s game one. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time,” UTEP redshirt sophomore quarterback Malachi Nelson said on Tuesday. “I think it’s getting to the point that camp is over and we are rolling into game one tired of going against the same defense over and over and we are ready to play an opponent.”
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MALACHI NELSON READY FOR UTEP DEBUT
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Malachi Nelson is preparing for a major milestone this weekend — his first NCAA start — as UTEP opens the 2025 season on the road against Utah State.
The former five-star recruit and top prospect in the 2023 class transferred to UTEP this past offseason and won the starting job during fall camp.
“It’s just trying to contain the excitement. There’s no nerves or anything like that. I’ve been preparing for this for the past few years of my life,” Nelson said. “I’m blessed and excited for the opportunity. I can’t wait to get out there Saturday.”
DEPTH CHART DRAMA
The first chess moves of game week have already been played.
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Utah State held its weekly press conference on Monday and released its official depth chart — a document that usually lays out starters and backups by position. But this one came with a twist:
it was completely blank.
That’s right — no names, no positions, and no hints. Just a shell of a depth chart.
“Many of the positions on our team, we have great competition, and those positions actually are accelerating fiercely and fast and I think are showing the most growth. The thinner positions. I’m not going to disclose those yet. The thinner positions, you kind of feel like it might be one play away or one injury away, and then you have to transition to maybe what schemes and strategies you’re playing right to leverage your roster. I don’t intend to give away a competitive advantage yet or to make that known.” Utah State football head coach Bronco Mendenhall said on Monday.
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So how did UTEP respond?
With a little gamesmanship of their own.
The Miners released their own depth chart — and it’s just as empty.
“To their credit, I mean, I think the two-deep [depth chart] is overrated. I don’t look at that one time when they send them anyway,” Walden said. “They don’t send theirs. We don’t send ours. That’s how it works.”
It’s a very football way to keep opponents guessing — and the fans entertained — ahead of Saturday’s game.
UTEP and Utah State will go head-to-head at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.
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Source: Utah News