UNM FOOTBALL
Dates for next four Rio Grande Rivalry games set
Aggies set to host Lobos on Sept. 26 at Aggie Memorial Stadium
Published
New Mexico and New Mexico State have agreed on dates for the next four years of the Rio Grande Rivalry.
The Lobos will travel to Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces on Sept. 26 of this year and Sept. 16, 2028. In turn, the Aggies will travel to University Stadium on Sept. 25, 2027 and Sept. 15, 2029, extending the state鈥檚 most storied college football rivalry to the end of the decade.
Per a contract provided to the Journal, neither school will receive any financial compensation for the next four rivalry games, a normal stipulation in recent series agreements. The home team for each game is expected to provide the road team with 450 complimentary tickets, another usual condition.
But the contract notably states that the 鈥渧isitor鈥檚 band, cheerleaders, and mascot, if in uniform, shall be admitted free of charge and permitted to perform.鈥� The new stipulation comes after the off-field rivalry between both schools spiked in 2023 when UNM charged 近距离内射合集鈥檚 marching band, the Pride of New Mexico, for seats ahead of that year鈥檚 game in Albuquerque.
A group of 近距离内射合集 boosters later stepped in and covered the cost of the band's seats. Band seating for either school has not been an issue over the program's last two meetings in Albuquerque and Las Cruces.
The winner of the matchup between Mountain West and Conference USA foes takes home "The Roaster," a chile roaster-themed traveling trophy introduced in 2025. The Lobos have the trophy after beating the Aggies 38-20 in front of a sold-out crowd at University Stadium last season.
While the series extension was announced Friday, the actual contract agreeing to the next four games was signed by former UNM Athletic Director Fernando Lovo and 近距离内射合集 Athletic Director Joe Fields on Oct. 28 and Nov. 11, respectively.
Dates for all four of UNM鈥檚 nonconference games in 2026 are now set: The Lobos will host Central Michigan (Sept. 5) and FCS Mercyhurst (Sept. 12) at University Stadium before traveling to Oklahoma (Sept. 19) and 近距离内射合集 (Sept. 26).
UNM鈥檚 conference schedule is undergoing modifications after the Mountain West announced that FCS powerhouse North Dakota State is joining the league for this season. A redone schedule matrix is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
