UTEP

The Miners must replace significant offensive production after losing receiver Wondame Davis Jr. (19.0 PPA) to Wake Forest and running back Ashten Emory (12.4 PPA) to Cal through the transfer portal. UTEP's JP+ rating sits at -11.4 points nationally (127th), with the offense bearing most of the burden at -9.3 points (133rd) while the defense grades out significantly better at -1.4 points (81st). The portal additions provide some hope, led by running back Lamar Sperling (10.4 PPA) from Buffalo and complemented by Missouri transfer Tavorus Jones at the same position. Wide receiver Royal Capell arrives from Oklahoma State to help fill the void left by Davis's departure, though the overall talent exchange heavily favored departures with 46.5 PPA lost versus 14.4 PPA gained.

JP+ projects 4.7 wins for the Miners in 2026, a modest improvement over their 2-10 campaign that reflects cautious optimism about the defense keeping games competitive. The schedule presents clear challenges with road trips to Michigan and Oklahoma highlighting the toughest contests, while home games against Nevada, San Jose State, and Texas Southern offer the best opportunities for victories. The quarterback situation remains unsettled after Malachi Nelson's transfer to Syracuse, meaning the new signal-caller will inherit an offense that ranked among the nation's worst last season. If the defense maintains its relative strength and the running game finds stability with Sperling leading the backfield, UTEP could approach bowl contention. If the offensive struggles persist, another long season awaits in El Paso.