There are two radical differences between this UTEP offense and the one that kicked off in 2016.
For the first time since 2012, they won't go in with Aaron Jones and what turned into a 4,114 career rushing yards. They go in with tailback as the major question mark.
For the first time since 2014, when an underrated team had the program's only winning record since 2005, they go in with their best option playing quarterback.
Ryan Metz, who began the last two seasons third team and ended it first, will look to duplicate the offensive success he had late last season when he led the Miners and improved their efficiency dramatically in the final month.