HUNTINGTON - Will the real UTEP stand up?

Marshall's final regular season game of the 2009 campaign takes play at 3 p.m. today against a UTEP team which has defeated the likes of Houston and Tulsa, but has turned right around and lost to Confer`ence USA bottom-feeders such as Tulane and Rice.

"Other than Houston, I think the rest of the teams are pretty comparable (in C-USA) - the others are about the same," UTEP coach Mike Price said. "Marshall is the best team we have faced in a month. I think we have players who can make big plays at times. But we haven't made the right plays at the right times. We can look brilliant at times."

Last week's 30-29 loss at Rice was indicative how the season has progressed for the Miners. Rice rallied from a 29-17 deficit in the final 10 minutes to hand UTEP (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) its fifth loss by a touchdown or less this season - which sets a school record.

In that contest, Donald Buckram rushed for 147 yards to shatter a UTEP single-season rushing record that had stood for 61 years. Buckram ranks second in the nation at 142.6 yards per game.

"UTEP has stubbed their toe a couple of times, but they have played a lot of good football," Marshall coach Mark Snyder said. "We will have our hands full.

"But, I will tell you with the resurgence of these new guys, there is a little bit of re-found enthusiasm with our club."

Marshall (6-5, 4-3 C-USA) became bowl eligible with last week's 34-31 victory against SMU. True freshman wide receiver Aaron Dobson hauled in four passes for a career-high 127 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with two minutes remaining in regulation.

Dobson was just one of several young players who stepped up in the absence of Marshall's top two offensive threats: Running back Darius Marshall and tight end Cody Slate. Marshall, who has 1,097 yards rushing this season, did not play due to an ankle injury and Slate, a Mackey Award candidate and the teams leading receiver, did not play due to an ACL tear he suffered two weeks ago against Southern Miss.

"There was a lot of really good individual performances," Snyder said. "Let's not forget Omar Brown, who had a tremendous game. He was our defensive player of the week. He should have had two interceptions. He played extremely well.

"Now he thinks he is a player and has more confidence. This is just good stuff. We have some good mojo going on right now."

The two programs haven't met since 2006 when the Thundering Herd defeated UTEP 49-21 on Senior Day in Huntington. The all-time series is tied at one win apiece.

"Against Houston and Tulsa this season, UTEP put all the pieces together," Snyder said. "They have put the pieces together in a lot of other games, too, but they have hurt themselves with turnovers, or not catching the ball, or not throwing the ball into the end zone on fourth down - things of that nature."