Michigan Football 2026 opponent preview: UTEP
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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 Staff
- Head Coach: Scotty Walden (3rd season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Lanear Sampson/Joe Pappalardo (1st season/3rd season)
- Defensive Coordinator: Kyle Beyer (2nd season)
2025 Record
- 2-10 (1-7 in CUSA)
2025 Production Ranks
- Scoring 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 Recap
UTEP 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 Departures
- Edge 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 Returners
- DT Ashton Coker
- CB Justin Content
- Gadget Kam Thomas
- S Xavier Smith
- LB Jayden Wilson
- CB TJ Tillman
Key Transfer Additions
- QB 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 Thomas can make a difference for this offense, while fellow newcomers in running back Tavorus Jones (Missouri) and a couple of projected starters up front, need to quickly deliver on their potential. UTEP’s defense held teams to a respectable 5.4 yards per play last fall. Just four starters are back, but this unit has potential again behind linebacker Jayden Wilson, safety Xavier Smith, and tackle Ashton Coker. If the offense takes a major step forward, the Miners could surprise in their Mountain West debut.”
Maize n Brew Thoughts
Following a massive game vs Oklahoma the week prior, Michigan has a chance to reset a bit before heading into Big Ten play. The Miners lost all 15 players who played more than 200 snaps on offense in 2025. There is little continuity on offense, and a new co-offensive coordinator as well. It’s very unlikely the Miners have it all figured out by Week 3, especially with a game against the Sooners themselves in Week 1.
The defense was decent last season and returns quite a few pieces, but the Wolverines should still have very few problems winning this game. The way it stays competitive is by Michigan’s offense playing poorly and UTEP quarterback EJ Colson making some plays. The Incarnate Word transfer started his career at UCF, but was a starter for the Cardinals last year, where he completed more than 70 percent of his passes and had 19 total touchdowns to just four interceptions. He also had 108 carries last season and has a bit of wiggle, so the Miners will rely on his legs enough that the Wolverines will need to pay attention heading into this one.
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