NM State Aggies Secure Postseason Bid with NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl

What a big week it has been for the New Mexico State Aggies football program.

First, it was the announcement that head coach Doug Martin was signed to a new four year contract extension.

Then, it was the surprise of learning Aggie Memorial Stadium will be featured to open the season against Wyoming on ESPN2. Which will be the first time in nearly a decade the Aggies have played a home game on ESPN2, the last of which gave us this great youtube clip.

Now it has been learned that the university has secured a postseason bid with the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl for the 2018 and 2019 seasons!

This news is huge as it comes as the Aggies prepare for life as a football independent for at least the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Fans had worried about the prospect of a bowl invitation, should the Aggies reach six wins, since they are not affiliated with a conference and can not use its bowl tie ins.

Fortunately, this alleviates some of those concerns, but not all of them.

For the Aggies to get an invite, either the Sun Belt or Mountain West conferences must fail to fill all of their bowl slots and the Aggies must reach six wins. Fortunately, the Aggies play a few MW teams this year and can help their own cause with a few wins!

Still, with that being said, this deal came out of nowhere and is a pleasant surprise, especially since newly independent school Liberty made their own agreement with the Cure Bowl a month ago.

It also helps out on the recruiting trail, as the postseason will be less of an uncertain prospect to pitch to potential Aggies. It will also guarantee the players and fans a close game and a chance to experience 25,000 screaming fans again like last year!

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

As always, I’m impressed with the job AD Mario Moccia (and Doug Martin) do and look forward to seeing the Aggies playing in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl this December!