ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The field is set for the fifth annual New Mexico Bowl. The UTEP Miners officially accepted an invitation today and will play the BYU Cougars on Saturday, December 18th. The Miners, who will represent Conference USA, become the first team from outside the Mountain West Conference and Western Athletic Conference to appear in New Mexico Bowl. The Miners will be playing in their first bowl game since 2005.

“We are all very happy that things worked out the way they did and UTEP is coming to the New Mexico Bowl,” said Jeff Siembieda, New Mexico Bowl Executive Director. “We are thrilled to have the Miners and their incredible fans as a part of this event.  It just seems to be a natural.  With the regional proximity, the great history UTEP athletics has in this area and being able to renew an old rivalry between the Miners and BYU, I’m really excited about this game.”

UTEP, which posted a 6-6 overall record, was in Albuquerque earlier this year when it took on and defeated the University of New Mexico, 38-20. The Miners will play as the home team against BYU (6-6, 5-3 MWC). The Cougars lead the all-time series 28-7-1 and two programs haven’t met since 1998 when they played as Western Athletic Conference foes.

“We’re excited about renewing our long-standing rivalry with BYU in the New Mexico Bowl,” UTEP coach Mike Price said.  “It’s a great opportunity for our fans to drive down for the game, enjoy postseason play and take in the great city of Albuquerque.”

The fifth annual New Mexico Bowl will be played on Saturday, Dec. 18 at noon MT at University Stadium on the University of New Mexico campus. The game, which kicks off the FBS postseason, will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN HD.

 

ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership

The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, WAC). 

ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events, including collegiate football events: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg; Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl; BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Texas Bowl (Houston); MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.) and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards. Collegiate basketball events: 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Cancun Governor’s Cup; Charleston Classic (S.C.); DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational; Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Honda Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); Lane Furniture All-College Basketball Classic (Oklahoma City) and BracketBusters; as well as the new ESPNU Warrior Classic (Lacrosse) and the ESPN National Golf Challenge. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.