UTEP football vs. Middle Tennessee at Sun Bowl Stadium: recap

The Saturday night matchup between UTEP and Middle Tennessee will mark the fifth meeting between the programs, which began playing each other in 2013.

Kickoff for the Miners' homecoming game is set for 7 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+. It will broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso. Coming in with a 4-4 record, UTEP needs two more wins to become bowl eligible.

The Miners are supposed to win. The game opened as a pick-em, but the line has moved to have UTEP favored by a point. Combined with an over-under of 53, the Miners are picked to win 27-26.

Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 3-1, though this is the first meeting between the two teams since 2018.

More:Tyrin Smith rises to the top for UTEP football

UTEP Miners live update

10:32 p.m.

Some final stats for UTEP and Middle Tennessee. Miners receiver Tyrin Smith a career-best 10 catches in game and added 117 yards with those catches. UTEP outgained 378-292. Deion Hankins rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries. Cal Wallerstedt had 14 tackles and Tyrice Knight had 11 tackles. Middle Tennessee QB Chase Cunningham had 265 yards passing and Jaylin Lane had 147 yards receiving.

10:22 p.m.

UTEP had sure TD dropped, a pass interference call on offense that negated a TD and were stopped at Blue Raiders 25 in the second half.

10:18 p.m.

UTEP drops one at home, 24-13. Miners are 4-5 overall and 2-3 in Conference USA. Middle Tennessee is 4-4 overall and 1-3 in league play. Miners at Rice on Thursday.

10:15 p.m.

UTEP will lose this one 24-13, Middle Tennessee running out clock.

10:04 p.m.

UTEP curiously punts with under 6 minutes left in game from own 40. Thought they should have gone for it. Miners down 24-13.

10:01 p.m.

On first play from scrimmage after UTEP score, Chase Cunningham hits Jaylin Lane with 75-yard TD pass, Middle Tennessee up 24-13 with 7:20 left in regulation.

9:56 p.m.

UTEP trims lead to 17-13 on Gavin Baechle 48-yard field goal with 7:30 left in regulation, his 17th straight made field goal. Miners had TD called back on offensive interference call.

9:38 p.m.

UTEP forces punt, gets ball back at own 11 with 12:23 left in regulation. Miners down 17-10.

9:33 p.m.

UTEP goes for it on 4th and 10 and Gavin Hardison gets 9, turnover on downs. Blue Raiders ball at own 25 .

9:30 p.m.

UTEP trails 17-10 entering 4th and will attempt a field goal to start the quarter.

9:17 p.m.

Middle Tennessee back ahead, 17-10, as DJ England-Chisolm catches 7-yard TD pass from Chase Cunningham. Blue Raiders convert on 4th and 2 to keep drive intact.

9:12 p.m.

Jakobe Thomas with interception for Middle Tennessee it takes over at UTEP 36.

9:04 p.m.

UTEP forces punt. Miners defense solid, Cal Wallerstedt with 2nd sack.

8:59 p.m.

UTEP punts to start 2nd half. TE Trent Thompson drops sure TD pass.

8:55 p.m.

UTEP starts 2nd half with ball at own 25.

8:43 p.m.

UTEP and Middle Tennessee each had 10 first downs in first half. Kobe Hylton and Tyrice Knight had 5 tackles each for Miners.

8:38 p.m.

UTEP outgained 175-123 in first half but had the one big fumble recovery. UTEP RB Deion Hankins had 53 yards rushing and Ronald Awatt had 40 yards rushing for Miners. UTEP LB Cal Wallerstedy had 8 tackles and a sack for Miners.

8:32 p.m.

At halftime, UTEP 10, Middle Tennessee 10.

8:28 p.m.

Miners tie it at 10 on 4-yard TD pass from Gavin Hardison to Tyrin Hardison. Drive was 83 yards on 14 plays. There is 27 seconds left in first half. Miners have scored 10 straight.

8:13 p.m.

UTEP with another good stop on defense. Miners ball at own 17.

8:09 p.m.

Miners can't take advantage of recovered fumble, punts again. Blue Raiders ball at own 19 with 5:18 left in 1st half, UTEP down 10-3.

8:06 p.m.

UTEP recovers fumble by Middle Tennessee. Tevita Tafuna with recovery. UTEP ball at own 41.

8:02 p.m.

UTEP gains 2 yards and punts. Blue Raiders take over at own 46.

7:56 p.m.

UTEP forces Blue Raiders punt. Miners ball at own 14.

7:50 p.m.

UTEP's Gavin Baechle with a 48-yard field goal and the Miners are down 10-3. He's made 16 in a row, which is a school record. There is 11:12 left in first half.

7:40 p.m.

End of first quarter Middle Tennessee leads UTEP 10-0. Miners on the move at Blue Raiders 33.

7:36 p.m.

Middle Tennessee goes up 10-0 with 2:17 left in 1st quarter on 18-yard TD catch by Jeremy Tate, Jr. from Chase Cunningham.

7:33 p.m.

Middle Tennessee to UTEP 29 after 2-yard gain on 4th and 2.

7:29 p.m.

UTEP gets a first down but forced to punt again Blue Raiders take over at UTEP 39 after horrible punt.

7:21 p.m.

Scott Maynard, son of former UTEP great Don Maynard in attendance tonight. Don passed away earlier this year.

7:20 p.m.

UTEP gives up a first down but forces punt on Blue Raiders 2nd possession. Miners take over at own 2.

7:13 p.m.

UTEP offense goes 3 and out. A sack and intentional grounding call pushes Miners back to own 4.

7:08 p.m.

Middle Tennessee on board first on Zeke Rankin 24-yard field goal. Middle Tennessee drove to the UTEP 6 but Miners defense came up big. There is 12:14 left in first quarter, Miners down 3-0

7:04 p.m.

Middle Tennessee gets ball first and starts at own 25.

7:01 p.m.

UTEP's Kobe Kylton ranks first on team in tackles with 63 and is fourth in league play. He is a safety.

6:58 p.m.

UTEP WR Tyrin Smith has 686 yards receiving this year and that ranks fourth in CUSA. His 46 receptions rank seventh in league play.

6:55 p.m.

UTEP PK Gavin Baechle has made 15 consecutive field goals entering tonight's game.

6:50 p.m.

UTEP QB Gavin Hardison has thrown for 6,735 yards in his career and is third all0time in school history behind Jordan Palmer and Trevor Vittatoe.

6:30 p.m.

Earlier today in Conference USA play, North Texas beat Western Kentucky, 40-13, Charlotte beat Rice, 56-23.

6:45 p.m.

UTEP is ranked fifth nationally in fumbles recovered with nine.

6:42 p.m.

UTEP is 5-2 in games played in October the past two years.

6:30 p.m.

UTEP and Middle Tennessee set to start in about half an hour. Miners are 4-4 overall, 2-2 in Conference USA, the Blue Raiders are 3-4 overall and 0-3 in league play. Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 3-1.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP Miners vs Middle Tennessee at Sun Bowl Stadium