With Conference USA about to be down to three members, league commissioner Judy MacLeod will need to recruit winning FCS programs with strong attendance.
With news that six of C-USA's members will be leaving for the AAC, UTEP and the other seven remaining members find themselves with few options at this point.
Much of the discussion involving schools interested in changing Group of 5 conference affiliations like the AAC, MWC, and Sun Belt has not included UTEP.
The Miners needed a split against a quality team but fell short of the feat, as UAB dominated the slumping road team on Saturday (75-60) to sweep the series.
The UTEP men's basketball program will serve as a substitute for NM State and face the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Dec. 12, in the McKale Center (Tucson, Arizona).