EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS4) — On Saturday, the UTEP Miners welcomed fans back to the Sun Bowl for their 2026 Spring Game. It was a chance to compete in a live game setting and to bring the El Paso community together around the program.
The UTEP offense or “Blue Blaze” faced off against the defense or “Orange Swarm” in live game reps. Throughout the game UTEP got the crowd involved in the game. Halftime was filled with fans, football staffers and media competing in mini games that could give points to the teams. UTEP alum and Arizona Cardinals guard, as a well as a few fans in the stands, called a couple of plays that were actually run in the game.
“We wanted to get some good work, but we also wanted to celebrate community and united El Paso front,” UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. “That is what we need going into the Mountain West.”
The stands were filled with friends and family of players, including the family of linebacker Jayden Wilson. After the game, Wilson brought his little brother Aiden down to the press room to join him in some interviews.
“This is the real MVP of the family,” Jayden said.
“I love my brother,” Aiden said. “This is my best friend.”
On the field, the defense, also known as “the Orange Swarm”, would take the victory. UTEP has been emphasizing the importance of takeaways and it translated to the game setting. The Orange Swarm forced a fumble and inceptions from multiple quarterbacks.
“I wanted to see our defense come out early and attack,” defensive coordinator Kyle Beyer said. “I thought we did that today. I believe you have to talk about take backs daily and drill them daily. You have to instill the ball mindset, so we’ve been working hard at that.”
Things were up and down for the UTEP offense on Saturday. Quarterback EJ Colson threw an early interception, which Walden noted was only his of the spring. However, Colson and the Miners bounced back. In the second half, Colson led a 15-play touchdown drive and capped it off with a touchdown pass on a fade ball.
UTEP scheduled their spring game to be able to have two practices afterwards. The Miners returned to the field on Monday looking to fix some mistakes and issues that were exposed during the spring game.
One such area is the quarterback-center exchange. During the spring game, there were multiple low snaps that threw off the timing of plays.
UTEP is also introducing some new concepts ran by their 2026 Mountain West opponents throughout their final couple practices.
“We aren’t getting too deep into it, but are giving our guys a couple Mountain West previews,” Walden said. “We are showing some things that these teams do that are a little different or exotic. We are putting it in their brain, so the first time they see it isn’t this summer.”
UTEP will wrap up spring ball on Tuesday with their 15th and final spring practice.