"I think we have another great matchup with two tremendous teams," said Jeff Siembieda, Gildan New Mexico Bowl Executive Director. "It looks like we are set up for another exciting show at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl."
Utah State, out of the Mountain West, is 9-4 overall and 6-2 in league action. The Aggies head into the postseason winning five of their last six. They boast a league-high 16 all-conference honorees, including the Defensive Player of the Year, Zach Vigil.
"We are really excited to have Utah State making their first appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl," Siembieda said. "They are a first-class program loaded with talent and have had a really nice season. We look forward to hosting the Aggies and their great fan base to Albuquerque for what should be a fun week."
The Aggies are making their fourth straight bowl game appearance and second consecutive under head coach Matt Wells. Utah State has won its last two bowl games, taking the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 41-15 over Toledo, and the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 21-14 against Northern Illinois. Overall, the Aggies are 3-6 all-time in the postseason.
UTEP, representing Conference USA, is 7-5 overall and finished in a tie for second in league play with a 5-3 record. The Miners come to New Mexico on the momentum of a thrilling victory in front of 27,455 raucous fans at the Sun Bowl in their final game of the regular season, which ensured UTEP its first winning season since 2005. The Miners held off Middle Tennessee, 24-21, thanks to senior Jameel Erving's first-career interception in a UTEP uniform and sophomore Aaron Jones' sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season.
"It is with great pleasure that we welcome the UTEP Miners back to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl," Siembieda said. "The Miners have been an exciting team all season and it's been really fun to watch them. We look forward to a talented Miner team and their passionate fans coming to Albuquerque for what should be another great game."
The Miners make their second appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl but first under the guidance of second-year coach Sean Kugler. UTEP competed in the 2010 game as an at-large, falling 52-24 to the BYU Cougars in their final year as MW members. That was UTEP's last postseason appearance, then under the tutelage of Mike Price. The Miners have lost five straight bowl games. Their last victory dates back to the 1967 Sun Bowl, topping Ole Miss, 14-7.
This will not be the first match-up of this two storied programs. Utah State and UTEP opened the 1960 and 1961 seasons with the Aggies winning both. Against current members of the MW, UTEP is 7-6. Utah State is 13-15 overall versus current C-USA affiliates.
Tickets, which are on sale now, range from $25-$40 and can be purchased at the University of New Mexico Ticket Office located in The Pit, online at www.unmtickets.com, or by calling 925-LOBO or 925-5999.
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