UTEP picked to finish near bottom in CUSA preseason media poll

Optimism for the future is high around the UTEP football program, but the happy days could take a little time to come if the Conference USA preseason media poll is accurate.

The Miners checked in at ninth in the 10-team league's predicted order of finish, coming in ahead of CUSA and FBS newcomer Kennesaw State and four spots behind New Mexico State.

Defending champion Liberty, which went 13-1 last year, was selected first on 18 of the 20 ballots, which were cast by selected media members, and collected 197 of the possible 200 points. Western Kentucky got the other two votes and was picked second with 173 points.

Jacksonville State was third, Middle Tennessee fourth and New Mexico State tied with Sam Houston for fifth with 97 points.

The Miners will work toward proving the prognosticators wrong when they begin practice Aug. 1 at Glory Field. They open their season at Nebraska on Aug. 31.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.

2024 CUSA football media poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Liberty (18)197

2. WKU (2)173

3. Jax State166

4. MTSU98

t5. NM State97

t5. Sam Houston97

7. LA Tech88

8. FIU81

9. UTEP76

10. Kennesaw State27