As UTEP enters the third season of coach Dana Dimel's tenure, the Miners feel they are bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic.
The Miners talk about increased competitiveness, about how they are on the verge of turning around a program that has gone 2-34 since Aaron Jones graduated after the 2017 season.
The task for 2020 is straightforward. Turn those intangibles into wins, starting Saturday at home against Stephen F. Austin where the Miners are an 8 1/2-point favorite.
After months of uncertainty, UTEP replaced a game it was supposed to lose against Texas Tech with one it is supposed to win against an FCS program.