UTEP coach Sean Kugler said he felt his team's biggest improvement from last year would come on special teams, particularly in the return game.
In a season-opening 38-22 victory against those special teams were essentially flawless. Two punts were downed by Aaron Jones on the 1-yard line, and if a 37-yarder downed on the 1 is thrown out, UTEP netted 45.5 yards per Alan Luna punt.
Five of Jay Mattox's seven kickoffs were touchbacks and the two that were returned were both brought back to their own 19.
And as Kugler predicted, the return game was massively improved.