A year from now, Middle Tennessee will rate as one of UTEP's longest-standing Conference USA rivals.
As it is, when the teams meet Saturday in the Sun Bowl, it will mark the fifth meeting between the programs, who began playing each other in 2013. The Blue Raiders lead the series 3-1, though the teams have split two meetings in the Sun Bowl.
The Miners need two wins to reach bowl eligibility and has two games remaining this year at home, where they are 8-2 over the past two seasons.
They are a 1-point favorite, so this is the latest of a string of games this season expected to be close.