UTEP Football Announces Upcoming 2018 Schedule

UTEP announced its 2018 football schedule on Tuesday. The Miners will play four non-league games, followed by eight conference contests.

“Our staff and players are really looking forward to the challenge ahead with our 2018 schedule,” said head coach Dana Dimel. “Eight teams on our schedule were bowl-eligible last season as well as a Northern Arizona team that qualified for the FCS playoffs.”

UTEP is set to open at home Sept. 1, to take on Northern Arizona. The Miners are unbeaten (5-0-1) in six match-ups against the Lumberjacks, the last game between the two teams occurred in 1947.

The squad will then travel to Las Vegas to face UNLV on Sept. 8. The Rebels have a 5-2 series edge when playing the Miners, but the two schools haven’t played each other since 1993. That year UTEP downed UNLV 41-24 in the Sun Bowl.

The team will then battle it out in Knoxville, Tenn. taking on Tennessee on Sept.15. The Vols finished the 2017 season with a 4-8 mark. The Miners are 0-2 all-time versus the Volunteers, both losses at Neyland Stadium.

The Miners will return home to host I-10 rival NM State on Sept. 22. UTEP will look to regain the winning streak after losing last year for the first time in eight match-ups.

“Our C-USA schedule is loaded with quality football teams who are led by outstanding head coaches,” Dimel said. “Just look at the number of Conference USA teams that are on the rise. It’s exciting to have North Texas, UAB, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss coming to the Sun Bowl.”

UTEP will start Conference USA action Sept. 29 when it travels to San Antonio to take on UTSA. The Roadrunners finished their 2017 season with a 6-5 record that included a win versus Baylor.

The Miners will kickoff conference play at home on Oct. 6 when they take on 2017 C-USA West Division Champions North Texas.

The team will then hit the road to face LA Tech on Oct. 20 in Ruston, La. The Bulldogs recorded their fourth straight bowl win versus SMU in the 2017 Inaugural DXL Frisco Bowl.

The squad will host league foes UAB (Oct. 27) and Middle Tennessee (Nov. 10).

UTEP will travel to Houston, Texas to take on Rice on Nov. 3, and will finish the road portion of its schedule against Western Kentucky on Nov. 17.

The Miners will seal the regular season schedule at home versus Southern Miss on Nov. 24.

“This is a tremendous schedule for our fans. We have two home games each month,” said Dimel. “I really think our fans will enjoy watching our team compete from start to finish, whether we’re hosting Northern Arizona in the season-opener, playing in Knoxville against Tennessee, or battling down the stretch in November against an exciting C-USA slate that ends with Southern Miss in the Sun Bowl.”

It is important to take under consideration that all game are subject to date changes and some dates are expected to move in the coming weeks in order to accommodate national television.

Conference USA’s 14th annual Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, is scheduled for Saturday, December 1.

Season tickets can be purchased or renewed starting on Feb. 15 online atwww.utepathletics.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the UTEP Season Ticket Office at (915) 747-6150 or by e-mailingseasontickets@utep.edu. Fans that secure their season tickets before April 30 will be able to see six Miner games for the price of five. Season tickets that are purchased prior to April 30 start at just $55.

FULL SCHEDULE

Sept. 1 NORTHERN ARIZONA

Sept. 8 at UNLV

Sept. 15 at Tennessee

Sept. 22 NM STATE

Sept. 29 at UTSA*

Oct. 6 NORTH TEXAS*

Oct. 13 Bye

Oct. 20 at Louisiana Tech*

Oct. 27 UAB*

Nov. 3 at Rice*

Nov. 10 MIDDLE TENNESSEE*

Nov. 17 at WKU*

Nov. 24 SOUTHERN MISS*

*Conference USA Games