Texas Football: 3 problematic UTEP Miners for Longhorns in Week 1

In their season opener this weekend against the UTEP Miners, Texas football will have to shut down certain players to get a convincing win.

It is almost upon us. Although the 2020 offseason seemed like it lasted forever, in the midst of all the twists and turns in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic and social activism around the globe, we are nearly at the beginning of Week 1 for the Texas football program.

The 2020 college football season has already begun around the country. But the Longhorns have yet to kick off their 2020 season to date. The season opening opposition for Texas did already begin their season, though.

The UTEP Miners began their season last weekend, in a comeback 24-14 home win in El Paso over the FCS Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. That was just the second win in the last two and a half seasons for UTEP. This shouldn’t be the most difficult season opener for the Longhorns, but this will definitely be a campaign unlike any other.

While it is a notable advantage for UTEP to have already played in their season opener, at least the Longhorns have some form of film from this year to study for them. It also gives the number of new faces the Longhorns have on their roster this fall a chance to get off and running before the Big 12 slate begins on Sep. 26 on the road against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Texas is a heavy favorite, by more than five possessions, in their season opener. They’ll still need to focus on getting the right guys the proper amount of playing time in the right situations. But UTEP does have a few weapons worth noting for this weekend.