UTEP at Nebraska, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Nebraska with 27 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Nebraska, which hasn’t won an opening game since 2019, is expecting a big jump in Matt Rhule’s second season. The game marks the debut of freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, the highest-ranked recruit ever signed by the Cornhuskers. UTEP, which has had just two winning seasons since 2006, is entering the Scotty Walden era. Walden, 34, who lost three of four games as Southern Mississippi’s interim coach in 2020, takes over from Dana Dimel after going 26-14 at Austin Peay. Eleven of his Austin Peay players followed him to El Paso.

KEY GAME

Raiola will make his first career start against a UTEP defense that returns nine starters but will play in a new 3-3-5 system. The key for Raiola will be taking care of the ball — turnovers have been the Huskers’ biggest problem the past two years — and finding rhythm with an improved group of receivers. The Miners will look to pressure Raiola with edge rusher Maurice Westmoreland, who was second in Conference USA with 7.5 sacks last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UTEP: QB Cade McConnell or Skyler Locklear. Walden said he plans to name his starter by Thursday. McConnell started the final six games last season and led the Miners with 1,437 yards passing and six touchdowns. Locklear played a total of four games in two seasons at Austin Peay.

Nebraska: DL Jimari Butler has gained 15 pounds at 6’5″ and now weighs 260 pounds. He is poised to break out after posting a team-best 5.5 sacks last year.

Facts & Figures

UTEP is playing an opponent from a power conference for the first time since 2017. … The Miners are 0-3 against the Big Ten, losing 38-7 at Northwestern last year. Nebraska is 8-1 against Conference USA, with its only loss coming in 2004 against Southern Miss. … Nebraska hasn’t won more than five games in a season since 2016. … Rhule says RBs Rahmir Johnson, Emmett Johnson, Gabe Ervin Jr. and Dante Dowdell will all play. … The Huskers’ kicking situation is uncertain. Tristan Alvano, the starter a year ago, is recovering from offseason groin surgery.

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