The latest instalment of Weekday CUSA throws together two teams at the wrong end of the conference table, with the UTEP Miners and Sam Houston Bearkats both desperate to secure a result on Wednesday night to turn their fortunes around amid an increasingly lost season that has seen just one win between them through seven weeks of football.
Who gets that much-needed confidence boost in Week 8? Our UTEP vs. Sam Houston preview contains the latest game details, head-to-head record, exclusive PFSN team and player grades, and analysis of the matchup that includes a score forecast.
UTEP vs. Sam Houston Details
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025
- Game time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX
- Predicted Weather at Kick: 83 degrees, mostly clear, 7 mph winds
- How To Watch: CBS Sports Network, YouTube TV
UTEP vs. Sam Houston Head-to-Head Record
Wednesday night marks the fifth edition of the UTEP vs. Sam Houston matchup, and the head-to-head has been heavily stacked in the Miners’ favor since the first meeting in September 1990. UTEP won that encounter 17-10, waiting 13 years to face the Bearkats once more. It was another 20 years before the two were reunited, and UTEP extended its winning record to 3-0.
However, Sam Houston won last season as part of an impressive campaign, pasting UTEP 41-21 in early October. With the Miners moving to the Mountain West next fall, a consecutive season streak is likely to come to an end, with the series standing at 3-1 ahead of the Wednesday night clash in Houston.
UTEP vs. Sam Houston Grades
- UTEP: 61.3 (D-)
- Sam Houston: 63.4 (D)
- UTEP: 79.1 (C+)
- Sam Houston: 62.9 (D-)
- UTEP: 61.4 (D-)
- Sam Houston: 65.2 (D)
- Malachi Nelson, UTEP: 59.1 (F)
- Hunter Watson, Sam Houston: 57.8 (F)
- Hahsaun Wilson, UTEP: N/A
- Alton McCaskill, Sam Houston: N/A
- Kenny Odom, UTEP: 74.4 (C)
- Grady O’Neil, Sam Houston: N/A
- Judah Ezinwa, UTEP: 71.0 (C-)
- Austin Smith, Sam Houston: N/A
- Udoka Ezeani, UTEP: 76.3 (C)
- JaMair Diaz, Sam Houston: 82.2 (B-)
- Ashaad Hall, UTEP: 77.5 (C+)
- Christopher Eaton Jr., Sam Houston: 80.1 (B-)
- Micah Davey, UTEP: 73.1 (C)
- Antavious Fish, Sam Houston: 63.4 (D)
- Neil Campbell, UTEP: 76,4 (C)
- Cecil Powell, Sam Houston: 76.8 (C)
- Xavier Smith, UTEP: 79.3 (C+)
- CJ Brown, Sam Houston: 75.0 (C)
UTEP vs. Sam Houston Prediction
Like a car crash that you just can’t take your eyes off, both UTEP and Sam Houston have been horrifying to watch, but this game comes laden with so much intrigue that you won’t want to turn your head away. The Miners enter this Week 8 matchup sitting 1-5 and 0-2 in CUSA, while Phil Longo’s Bearkats are still searching for an elusive first win of the 2025 college football season.
A defeat for Sam Houston will eliminate them from bowl eligibility, just one year out from challenging for the CUSA crown. KC Keeler’s departure, along with a significant portion of the roster, left the program in an unenviable position, and Longo hasn’t been able to resolve the issues so far. Can the Bearkats hold onto postseason possibilities for one week longer?
There were positive signs from their defeat to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks a week ago, which could be used to bolster hopes of a first win of the year. Running back Alton McCaskill got going on the ground, and Hunter Watson had his most efficient performance as a passer. Meanwhile, Chris Reed became the first Bearkat with multiple receiving scores this season.
The Sam Houston defense also looked more ferocious last time out. For a team that built its early FBS success on the back of being a swarming turnover machine, they’ve largely been trampled so far in 2025. However, they forced two turnovers against the Gamecocks and now face a UTEP team with a penchant for turning the ball over, ranking plum last in CUSA.
The fault for that latter statistic lies at the feet, well, hands, of quarterback Malachi Nelson, a former five-star whose career has seen him bounce from USC to Boise State and now to the Miners, where he leads the nation with nine interceptions. Skyler Locklear came in and threw two picks of his own against Liberty last time out, but presents a more dangerous threat as a runner.
That, and a defense that has performed much better than the Bearkats so far through the first half of the season, could prove the difference here. They’ve allowed, on average, 14.2 points per game less than Sam Houston. If ever there was an opportunity to kick-start your offense, this is it. The PFSN FPM favors the Miners by 2.5 points, and it should be as close as that on Wednesday.
Prediction: UTEP 17, Â Sam Houston 14
