Opponent offseason intel: Looking at UTEP and Sam Houston State

We break down what to expect from UTEP and Sam Houston State as the Texas Longhorns open their season. Carter Yates of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football joins to assess key threats, roster changes, and how these matchups set the tone for 2025.

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The interview with Carter Yates of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football provides an in-depth look at the current states and outlooks of two Texas-based college football programs: the UTEP Miners and the Sam Houston Bearkats, both non-conference opponents for the Texas Longhorns. Yates shared insights gathered during extended visits with both programs, offering a rich understanding of their progress, challenges, and expectations for the upcoming season.

UTEP, under second-year head coach Scotty Walden, is aiming for bowl eligibility after finishing 3-9 last season. The program is in a rebuilding phase, focusing on incorporating more Texas high school talent rather than just transfers. The arrival of former five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson highlights UTEP’s offensive potential, particularly their high-tempo “pace and space” offense which operates with snaps every 12 seconds or less. However, competition at the quarterback position remains unsettled with Skyler Locklear posing a strong challenge. Walden’s culture-first approach, visible recruiting success, and community engagement signal optimism around El Paso’s football future despite ongoing roster and depth challenges, especially on the defensive line.

The Sam Houston Bearkats, transitioning from FCS to FBS, face an ambitious but difficult year under new head coach Phil Longo, known for his air raid offense but with mixed success at Power 5 schools. The Bearkats lost key defensive players to transfers and must play home games temporarily at Houston Dynamo Stadium due to renovations of their own facilities. They are managing a quarterback competition between incumbent Hunter Watson and newcomer Mabrey Mettauer, indicating some offensive adaptability. The defense is likely to struggle given depleted personnel, but the program is courting long-term growth. Yates places realistic expectations on this rebuild, projecting a challenging season but emphasizing the significance of playing Texas on a national stage for both schools.

Overall, Yates underscores the importance for these programs to face Texas, both in terms of exposure and financial benefit, within the broader context of evolving college football dynamics, including transfer portals and NIL considerations. He also points out the rising coaching profile of Scotty Walden and the ongoing efforts to elevate Texas football’s depth beyond the Longhorns.

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