As solid as UTEP has been this year on special teams, the Miners have only made one big play, which was pouncing on a muffed punt against Tennessee.
UTEP has been close at times. Terry Juniel is 10th nationally with 216 combined kick return yards, and Dana Dimel thinks the kicking units have a chance to be a decisive factor this week. New Mexico's punt coverage unit is ranked 119th nationally out of 129 teams.
"We want to try to make plays on special teams," Dimel said. "I feel like our special teams are coming together. If they can have a great game, create some big plays, that always helps in a rivalry game because they are such well-contested football games.