An early Conference USA opener at home against Rice and crossover games with Middle Tennessee and defending champion Western Kentucky highlight the 2017 UTEP football schedule, released by the league on Thursday.
For the second time in three years it will have seven road games and five home games, as back ends of home-and-home non-conference series against Oklahoma, Army and New Mexico State are due. There is a Sept. 16 home game against Arizona.
The non-conference schedule was finalized last year.
The C-USA crossover schedule, which was the only mystery in terms of opponents, features a home game against defending champion Western Kentucky and East runner-up Middle Tennessee on the road.