EL PASO, Texas (Ticker) -- Rejuvenated No. 25 Texas-El Paso tries to match the longest winning streak in school history when it hosts SMU on Saturday in a Western Athletic Conference matchup.

The Miners (7-2, 5-1 WAC) have won six straight games, one shy of their record streak set in 2000. Last week, they edged Rice, 35-28 in double overtime, to notch their first November victory since a 38-21 win over the Owls on November 11, 2000.

Jordan Palmer threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins and Robert Rodriguez recovered a fumble at the goal line to preserve the win.

Coach Mike Price has done an outstanding job turning around the Miner program in just one season. UTEP's seven victories this year eclipses the win total from the previous three seasons combined, and the program has clinched just its fourth winning season since 1971.

SMU (3-7, 3-4) has won two in a row for its longest win streak since 2002. Last week, the Mustangs knocked off Nevada, 38-20.

The Mustangs held just a 10-6 lead at the half before pulling away with a 28-point third quarter. Alvin Nnabuife became just the third player in NCAA history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in the same game and Jerad Romo ran for 79 yards and a TD and threw for another 101 yards for SMU.

SMU leads the all-time series with UTEP, 8-3. Last season, the Miners posted a 21-19 victory in Dallas.

This will be the last meeting between the schools as members of the WAC but they will see each other again. Next season, both schools will be members of Conference USA.