The Miners compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and in Conference USA (CUSA).

The University of Texas at El Paso (then known as the State College of Mines and Metallurgy) fielded its first intercollegiate football team during the 1914 season.

In 1956, the team won its first-conference championship and received an invite to the Sun Bowl, under then-head coach Mike Brumbelow.

In October 2024, the university accepted an offer to join the Mountain West Conference, prior to the 2026–27 academic year.

Forty-four years later in 2000, the Miners shared the Western Athletic Conference Champions title with TCU.

Two coaches have won conference championships with the Red Raiders: Mike Brumbelow and Gary Nord.

Since the 2024 season, the team has been led by Scotty Walden, who previously served as head coach at the Austin Peay State University.