UTEP Releases 2015 Football Schedule

Much like Sean Kugler's first year at the helm, his Miners will face a daunting task in 2015, playing just five home games, including three straight on the road to open the season.

While the schedule is not surprising, as the non-conference slate has been set for some months now, it is still a bit disconcerting that for the second time in three years the program will have just five games at home.

The 2015 season kicks off September 5th in SEC Country against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The following week the Miners will take on Texas Tech in Lubbock, and will wrap up their three game road stretch with a trip down the road to New Mexico State on the 19th.

A contest against Incarnate Word, an FCS opponent, will mark the first home game of the season, and the only contest in the Sun Bowl in non-conference. That game is slated for Saturday, September 26th.

The Miners will host the UTSA Roadrunners on October 3rd to open the C-USA slate, giving them their only two game homestand of the season. Home and away games alternate, with a trip to FIU following the UTSA game, and a bye week after that.

UTEP comes back with Florida Atlantic at home on October 24th, and then finishes up the season at Southern Miss, vs. Rice, at Old Dominion, vs. Louisiana Tech, at North Texas.

UTEP Athletics Director Bob Stull had this to say about the schedule:

"We're excited about our 2015 football schedule, as we look to build on the momentum generated from a winning season. While there are only five home games, there is an opportunity for fans to see a couple more at NM State and Texas Tech, both driving distance from El Paso. The obligation to return games at Arkansas and Texas Tech gave us less flexibility in scheduling this year. The good news for our fans is that we will have seven home games in 2016 as we continue to build the program under coach Sean Kugler."

It will be an interesting season for the Orange and Blue, but one that could still prove to be successful. The five home games certainly throw a wrench into the system, but this is a team that should be talented enough to contend for another bowl appearance and perhaps more.

National signing day is this Wednesday (February 4th), and the Miners are expected to have a very strong class of roughly 17 players, including a number of highly touted prospects from both inside and outside the state of Texas.

COMPLETE 2015 SCHEDULE

* DENOTES CONFERENCE USA CONTEST

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