Overview
- The game will be played at the Sun Bowl in El Paso and will air on FS1 with streaming on FOX One.
- Hawaii enters with a 2-6 record after a dominant win that showcased Micah Alejado, who leads the conference in passing and has thrown for more than 2,100 yards this season.
- DeVon Rice’s three-touchdown performance in Hawaii’s last win has given the run game a short-term lift and creates a matchup chance against UTEP, which allows roughly 187 rushing yards per game.
- UTEP has struggled to score (about 14.1 points per game) while rotating EJ Colson Jr. and Raymond Moore III at quarterback, relying on big plays from Kam Thomas to generate offense.
- Turnovers, pass protection and pressure are key variables: Alejado has been sacked frequently and Hawaii has thrown multiple interceptions recently, while UTEP’s defensive lapses have produced lopsided losses that the Miners must correct to shift momentum.