Schedule Analysis: UTEP Miners

Scotty Walden won his first offseason in El Paso. He's a human adrenaline shot for a program that's had two winning seasons since 2006, sprinting around UTEP's basketball court in full chest paint and emceeing in front of 4,000 fans at the spring game. There's substance to the spark - in two months, his staff signed the best recruiting class in Conference USA, per Rivals.

But the biggest test begins Aug. 31 against Nebraska. Success won't be determined by the win-loss record in 2024 - a winning record is unlikely with an overhauled roster. Does Walden's energy persist through a daunting early stretch? Do the UTEP fans reciprocate with support at the Sun Bowl? Those questions determine whether or not Walden wins Year One.