UTEP enters a new era in 2026 when the Miners join the Mountain West, which will renew old WAC rivalries from earlier in the century and eventually add money to the coffers in El Paso. Third-year head coach Scotty Walden sees opportunity in his program’s new landscape, even if UTEP won’t be near the top of spending any time soon.
“It is going to put us in a better position on the field because if you can compete in and win this league, you have a chance to reach the playoff,” Walden said of the move to the MWC. “It is a prestigious league. Yes, they’ll have more resources, and that’s fine. I’m excited to compete against the best.”