The UTEP football team has one huge intangible matchup issue to face on its 1,500-mile trip to play Charlotte.
The Miners are 0-26-1 all time in the Eastern Time zone, including Charlotte's 38-28 victory there in 2020. To break that UTEP will have to be at least a point better than it was in 1949 when it tied at West Virginia. The Miners may have to do this wearing snorkels, as the remnants of Hurricane Ian could be pounding rain on them throughout, not a normal occurrence in Sun Bowl home games.
The 49ers certainly seem to present an opportunity for the Miners to snap that streake, as Charlotte comes in ranked 131st out of 131 teams in total defense and 130th in scoring defense.