ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Texas-El Paso has accepted an invitation from the New Mexico Bowl and will face BYU on Dec. 18 in a matchup of former Western Athletic Conference rivals.
UTEP (6-6), which is returning to the postseason for the first time since 2005, currently is a Conference USA member. The Miners will be the first team from outside the Mountain West and Western Athletic Conference to appear in the Albuquerque bowl game, which started in 2006.
BYU (6-6) leads the series against UTEP 27-7-1 but the schools haven’t met since 1998 when they played as WAC foes.
Miners coach Mike Price says the New Mexico Bowl offers a great opportunity for UTEP fans to drive to see the game. Albuquerque is about a four-hour trip by car from El Paso.
