With their season tottering on the brink of disaster, the UTEP offense found a new gear while the defense picked a timely moment to remember why they were so good a month ago.
That added up to a come-from-behind 38-28 victory against Rice that moved the Miners to 7-4 and solidified their spot in the New Mexico Bowl. This marks UTEP's seventh seven-win season in 53 years.
Switching to a wide-open passing offense with a gun-slinging Gavin Hardison using all his arsenal, UTEP tallied a field goal and three touchdowns in its first four possessions of the second half, turning a 21-14 halftime deficit into a comfortable victory.