Riding a four-game losing skid, Liberty aims to get back in the win column this coming week at UTEP on Wednesday, October 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Since moving to Conference USA, the Flames have defeated UTEP in the team’s only two meetings all-time. In the 2023 regular season finale, Liberty knocked off UTEP, 42-28, in the regular season finale as the Flames capped off a perfect regular season at 12-0 under first year head coach Jamey Chadwell. Last September, the two teams met in Lynchburg on September 14, the Flames came out on top with a 28-10 victory. This year’s meeting might be the last between the two programs as UTEP readies for the move to the Mountain West.
UTEP has struggled in recent years and are coming off consecutive 3-9 campaigns. Going back to the 2015 season, the Miners have just one bowl appearance and one winning record, finishing 7-6 in 2021. Conversely, during this same time period, UTEP has a winless season (2017) and two one-win seasons (2018, 2019). Scotty Walden is in his second season as the head coach at UTEP. He was 3-9 last season, and came to El Paso after four seasons as the head coach of FCS Austin Peay, guiding the Governors to a 26-14 record and one NCAA FCS Playoff appearance.
So far this season, the Miners are 1-4. They opened the season with a 28-16 loss at Utah State. In the team’s home opener the following week, Walden led UTEP to a 42-17 win over UT Martin. Since they have dropped three straight, first losing at Texas, 27-10, before back-to-back setbacks at the Sun Bowl to Louisiana-Monroe (31-25) and in their CUSA opener against Louisiana Tech (30-11).
The former top ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN, Malachi Nelson transferred to UTEP during the offseason. The former five-star recruit began his collegiate career at USC where he appeared in one game during his true freshman season behind starter Caleb Williams. He then transferred to Boise State for the 2024 season where he lost the quarterback battle in training camp and once again entered the portal. He beat out the incumbent Skyler Locklear as starter at quarterback in the summer.
It has been a bit of a rocky start for Nelson at UTEP this season. Through the team’s first five games, he has completed 100 of 180 passes for 1,142 yards, 8 touchdowns, and a staggering 9 interceptions. He has one yard rushing on 20 attempts. Nelson was benched with five minutes left in the game this past week against Louisiana Tech with the Miners trailing, 24-3. Locklear entered and immediately led the Miners to a touchdown drive before throwing a pick-six on his next series. Locklear has played in two games this season, completing 5 of 9 passes for 74 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also has four rushing attempts for 43 yards with a long of 63 (not a typo).
Ashten Emory leads the Miners with 44 rushing attempts that have gone for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Hahsaun Wilson has also rushed 31 times for 214 yards and a touchdown. Kenny Odom leads CUSA with 23 receptions. He has 247 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Trevon Tate has 19 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown.
The Miners are averaging 20.8 points per game this season and rank seventh in CUSA in total offense, averaging 346 yards per game. UTEP is 10th in CUSA and 123rd in the country in rushing offense, averaging 101.2 yards per game and rushing for 3.6 yards per carry. As a team, the Miners have thrown 10 interceptions which is the most in the country. Those turnovers have led UTEP to being ranked 121st in the country in turnover margin.
UTEP does have the top ranked total defense, as they are holding teams to 340.4 yards per game while teams are scoring 26.6 points per game. The Miners are third in CUSA in rush defense, holding teams to 153.8 yards per game, and are third in the league in pass defense. UTEP leads CUSA in third down defense as teams are only converting 24.64% of the time they face a third down.
LB Micah Davey leads CUSA in tackles with 51 while Udoka Ezeani is an early favorite for CUSA Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the conference in sacks (4), tackles for loss (8.5) and forced fumbles (2). Paced by Ezeani, the Miners lead CUSA in sacks with 15.
Previous Meeting
- September 14, 2024: Liberty 28, UTEP 10
- Series: Liberty leads, 2-0
Key Players to Watch
- Malachi Nelson (QB)
- Ashten Emory (RB)
- Kenny Odom (WR)
- Udoka Ezeani (Bandit)
- Micah Davey (LB)
- Neil Campbell (CB)
UTEP Recent/Upcoming Schedule & Results
- September 13: #7 Texas 27, UTEP 10
- September 20: Louisiana-Monroe 31, UTEP 25
- September 27: Louisiana Tech 30, UTEP 11
- October 8: vs Liberty
- October 15: at Sam Houston
