EA Sports College Football 25 has taken the nation by storm since it went public on Monday, as millions of college football fans crashed Electronic Arts' servers within minutes of the game's release. It's the first edition of the beloved video game franchise to hit shelves since the summer of 2013, and it's given college football fans a myriad of compelling powers — one of which is the ability to gaze into the respective futures of their favorite programs.

How will UTEP fare in Year 1 of the Scotty Walden era? It's the biggest sports-related question in the 915 for the moment, and hopefully it goes without saying that a video-game simulation is not necessarily indicative of a team's actual prospects heading into a given season. But nonetheless, MinerInsider elected to run an EA Sports College Football simulation to preview the Miners' upcoming campaign, if for no other reason than to gauge artificial-intelligence expectations for UTEP in 2024.

Thus, here's a look at the game-by-game season results. Simulations were performed entirely by the CPU, with no user intervention of any kind.

The Walden era kicks off with a resounding bang, as UTEP goes to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and completely powers down the Huskers' offense in an upset win. Skyler Locklear earns the right to start at QB for the Miners, and throws for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his first taste of action at UTEP. Jevon Jackson carries 14 times for 87 yards and two scores, and the Orange Swarm picks off ballyhooed Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola twice in the season-opening statement victory. It's the first Power 4 win in program history for UTEP.

It's a bit of a tighter contest in the Miners' home opener, but they survive behind three touchdown passes from Locklear, who plays mistake-free football and hits on 16 of his 23 passes for 153 yards. Just like that, UTEP is 2-0 heading into its first conference matchup of the 2024 season.

UTEP simply can't keep pace with the vaunted Liberty offense, which is spearheaded by reigning conference MVP Kaidon Salter. Flames running back Quinton Cooley gashes the Miners for 128 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Salter throws for 211 yards and two TD's of his own. Locklear turns in 207 air yards and a score, but the Miners manage just 80 rushing yards as a team in their first loss of the season.

A late rally from the Miners falls just short, as they can't overcome a 16-point third-quarter hole and drop to 2-2 on the year. The UTEP secondary has no answer for Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who throws for 321 yards and two scores to pace the Rams' offensive attack. The Miners' struggles on the ground continue, as Jackson is the team's leading rusher with a mere 39 yards on 13 carries.

The Miners get back in the win column with a thrilling double-overtime triumph at the Sun Bowl, as Cade McConnell leads a fourth-quarter rally in relief of an injured Locklear. The Miners score the final 10 points of regulation to send the game to OT, and a touchdown pass from McConnell to Trey Goodman gives the Miners the winning edge in the second overtime. All told, McConnell throws for 228 yards, two TD's and an INT on 15-of-20 passing.

The Miners unleash a late scoring flurry, ripping off 22 points in the fourth quarter to overcome the Hilltoppers on the road. Locklear's performance is up and down, as he's picked off twice in the contest, but he keys the rally with a 91-yard touchdown strike to Jaden Smith. Meanwhile, Jackson rushes 17 times for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Panthers are the surprise of Conference USA in this simulation, as they will eventually sail to an 11-1 regular-season record. They get the better of UTEP in this one, and it's another mixed bag for Locklear, who throws for 326 yards and two TD's with a pick and a fumble. Inability to establish the run proves critical, as the Miners muster a season-low 34 total rushing yards. One bright spot is the performance of Trey Goodman, who grabs 10 passes for 133 yards and a TD.

It's a rout in Ruston, as Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner carves up the Miners' defense to the tune of 388 yards and four touchdowns. Sonny Cumbie's program turns in a near-flawless defensive performance, holding the Miners to 256 yards of offense and a 4-of-15 conversion rate on third downs. Locklear throws for just 124 yards and an INT on 16-of-26 passing. The Miners sit at 4-4 as they prepare for the homestretch of their 2024 conference slate.

Fourth-quarter theatrics have become a hallmark for Walden and the Miners, as they erase a 31-17 deficit in the final period to claw within one victory of bowl eligibility. McConnell again plays the hero off the bench, as he leads the final scoring drive for the Miners and finds Emari White for a game-winning 28-yard TD after Locklear exits the game. Jevon Jackson enjoys a career day with 14 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown as the Miners finally experience some success on the ground.

The Owls get a late touchdown to overcome the Miners in El Paso, as quarterback Davis Bryson finds Christian Moss for the eventual winning score. Locklear goes 19-for-30 for 239 yards and three TD's, but the Miners are again stuck in a one-dimensional offensive rut, as they cobble together just 31 rushing yards. With Tennessee on deck, the Miners will likely have to win the Battle of I-10 in the regular-season finale to secure bowl eligibility.

After shocking Nebraska in Lincoln to open the year, UTEP nearly does the same to the Vols in Knoxville, but can't quite pull the upset in the end. Locklear throws for 220 yards and adds a rushing touchdown, but his late interception is the game's only turnover, and it dooms the Miners' hopes of securing a bowl bid in the most dramatic of fashions. UTEP actually outguns Tennessee (335 yards of offense to the Vols' 299) in this one, but can never seem to get all the way down the field. The Miners' only red-zone trip results in a field goal.

It's a clean game in the Battle of I-10; neither team commits a turnover, and both enjoy a relatively solid all-around contest. But the Aggies manage a decisive fourth-quarter scoring drive that UTEP can't answer, as a touchdown run from running back Monte Watkins proves to be the game-winner. It's arguably the best game of the year for Locklear, who goes 24-of-33 for 350 yards and three total TD's (two passing, one rushing). Goodman goes over the century mark for the second time on the year, as a 75-yard touchdown catch and run highlights his 102-yard performance. But that's a small consolation, as the Miners needed just one win over the season's final three games to go bowling. Alas, it was not to be.

All in all, this simulation is a modest success, as the Miners crack the five-win mark for just the third time since 2015 and beat a Power 4 opponent for the first time in school history. Several close losses (i.e. CSU, Kennesaw State, NMSU and even Tennessee) could have very easily gone the Miners' way, and a victory in any one of those contests could have sent UTEP to a bowl for just the third time since 2005. If the Miners' actual 2024 season unfolds remotely in accordance with the simulation, the faithful fans of the orange and blue will have plenty of reason to believe that their program is headed in a promising direction under the guidance of their first-year head coach.

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