The UTEP Miners and the Utah State Aggies will meet in Logan this Saturday in a Week 1 college football opener. Both of these teams failed to win five games in 2024 and will try to get off to a better start to their 2025 campaign. Before kickoff in Utah, continue reading to get my UTEP vs Utah State prediction for Saturday night.
Our UTEP vs Utah State Pick
- Pick: Utah State -5.5
- Confidence: 3/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: UTEP Miners vs Utah State Aggies
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT
- Broadcast: CBSSN
UTEP vs Utah State Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Utah State –5.5 | Utah State –200 / UTEP +170 | 60.5 |
Key Storylines
Utah State enters 2025 as a Mountain West side with expectations to show improvement after a 4–8 season last year. They are entering their first season under head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Mendenhall was the head coach at New Mexico last season and they struggled last year as well. This game is a great test early in Mendenhall’s tenure against a team that had its share of problems a season ago.
UTEP hopes to take a step forward under second-year head coach Scotty Walden. This game might be their only chance at winning a non-conference game against an FBS opponent. The Miners play FCS UT Martin and the top-ranked Texas Longhorns to round out non-conference play. The Miners will be in a bad spot with a loss in this contest and will try to get the job done on the road.
Quarterback Play
UTEP’s quarterback situation is still unsettled. Last year’s starters included Skyler Locklear. He totaled 1,583 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024. There’s competition for the starting job heading into 2025 with former top recruit Malachi Nelson.
Utah State’s signal caller is going to be Bryson Barnes to start the year. Barnes spent time with the Utah Utes before joining Utah State last season. He threw 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions and will try to get off to a good start in his second season with the Aggies.
Betting Trends & H2H
UTEP and Utah State have played once previously. That game took place in 2014 and Utah State won 21-6 in the New Mexico Bowl.
UTEP vs Utah State Model Projection
- Score Projection: Utah State 31 – UTEP 20
- Win Probability: Utah State 75%, UTEP 25%
Final Thoughts
Both of these teams are looking for a huge win to get their season started the right way. I think Utah State has a better chance of doing so than UTEP. The Aggies should improve under an experienced head coach in Mendenhall. They will win this game by at least a touchdown at home and inject some hope into their fanbase immediately.
