NM Bowl is set
Utah State, North Texas matched in NM Bowl
Utah State, North Texas will meet in the 13th annual postseason game in Albuquerque
The Gildan New Mexico Bowl has had its share of high-scoring games during its previous 12 years of existence. Five times, the two teams on the field have combined for 75 points or more, topped by the 97 points Arizona and Nevada put up in 2012.
There are, of course, no guarantees. But the 2018 matchup of Utah State-North Texas in New Mexico Bowl No. 13 on Dec. 15 promises to rival them all.
After all, the Aggies (10-2) of the Mountain West Conference and the Mean Green (9-3) of Conference USA averaged a combined 83 points — 47 for Utah State, 36 for North Texas — this season.
“They’re great teams that have had terrific seasons. Explosive offenses,” New Mexico Bowl executive director Jeff Siembieda said in a phone interview after the pairing was announced.
Yet, he said, neither team will be easy to score on. Both teams rank in the top 40 in scoring defense among the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision’s 129 teams.
Siembieda said the two teams’ combined win total of 19 during the regular season is the highest in New Mexico Bowl history. Their combined win percentage of .791, he said, is the best of any two teams outside of the New Year’s Six bowl games.
In terms of attendance, Siembieda said he likes the proximity of the two schools to Albuquerque and their accessibility to the Sunport.
Logan, Utah, home of Utah State, is an hour-and-a-half drive from Salt Lake International Airport. Denton, Texas, home of North Texas, is a 45-minute drive from Dallas Love Field.
The Utah State offense is led by sophomore quarterback Jordan Love, who during the regular season completed 247 of 374 passes for 3,208 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Sophomore linebacker David Woodward (124 total tackles, 12½ total tackles for loss) keys the defense.
North Texas can counter with junior quarterback Mason Fine, who completed 295 of 437 passes for 3,734 yards, with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Senior linebacker E.J. Ejiya leads the Green Mean defense with 102 total tackles and seven sacks.
North Texas is coached by Seth Littrell, who is in his third year.
Matt Wells, Utah State’s coach the past six years, last week accepted the head coaching Job at Texas Tech.
Wells, a former UNM assistant coach (2007-08, 2010), won’t coach the Aggies in the New Mexico Bowl but has said he plans to be here for the game.
Assistant Frank Maile has been named interim head coach.