New Mexico State is bowl eligible: A look at what bowls the Aggies could play in
Nov. 7—Rejoice, Aggie fans.
For the first time in over 60 years, New Mexico State is going bowling for the second straight season. The Aggies punched their ticket to the postseason with a grinding 13-7 win over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, their seventh win in a 13-game schedule.
Where will the Aggies play their 14th game? A look at several bowls that could select NMSU:
New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16)
Conference affiliations: Conference USA, Mountain West
Location: University Stadium (UNM), Albuquerque
Notes: The most likely option for the Aggies, the New Mexico Bowl is one of 17 bowls operated by ESPN Events in 2023. While in-state rival UNM has played in four New Mexico Bowls of its own (2006-07, 2015-16), an appearance for NMSU this year would mark their first in program history.
"New Mexico State is very attractive," New Mexico Bowl executive director Jeff Siembieda told the Journal. "And we've watched what they're doing and they're having a tremendous season. They're very attractive as we get (closer) to selection Sunday."
Further, with no set selection order among CUSA teams, the Aggies would make the most sense of any qualified teams based on geography alone.
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16)
Conference affiliations: Conference USA, MAC
Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium (UNC-Charlotte), Charlotte, N.C.
Notes: The Bahamas Bowl...in North Carolina? At least for this year, yes, after ongoing renovations at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas forced ESPN Events to move the bowl to an open venue.
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 16)
Conference affiliations: Conference USA, Sun Belt
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Notes: Along with the Bahamas Bowl, this is one of just two bowls obligated to host a CUSA team for the duration of their current bowl cycle from 2020-25.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 23)
Conference affiliations: Conference USA, American Athletic Conference
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium (TCU), Fort Worth, Texas
Notes: While CUSA hasn't sent a team to the Armed Forces Bowl since 2014, it still is the most represented conference in the history of this ESPN Events bowl with 12 overall appearances.
Other options
Depending on how many CUSA teams reach bowl eligibility, NMSU could be a secondary selection for a bowl without a CUSA tie-in. The list:
Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, AL.)Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.)Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, AL.)Cure Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)Fenway Bowl (Boston)First Responder Bowl (Dallas)Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas)Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Fla.)68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, AL)Myrtle Beach Bowl (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
