Isleta New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State vs. North Texas
There is a special kind of charge that comes with bowl season in the desert, and the New Mexico Bowl captures it every December at University Stadium in Albuquerque. Since 2006, this matchup has brought together programs from the Mountain West and Conference USA, along with occasional at-large guests, under clear, high desert skies with the Sandia Mountains on the horizon. Fans pack into an intimate, football-first venue to cheer through crisp winter air and big momentum swings that feel even louder at altitude. Line up your New Mexico Bowl tickets through Event Tickets Center and turn bowl season into a weekend getaway in the Land of Enchantment.
Recent chapters have set a high bar for whatever the New Mexico Bowl 2025 matchup becomes. The 2025 Isleta New Mexico Bowl features the San Diego State Aztecs and North Texas Mean Green at University Stadium, pairing a strong Mountain West defense with a high-powered American Athletic Conference offense. With conference tie-ins to the Mountain West and Conference USA, future fields are expected to continue delivering contrasting styles. The specific teams for 2026 have not been announced yet, but fans can expect another lively postseason clash in Albuquerque.
If you are planning ahead and wondering when is the New Mexico Bowl, recent editions have landed in late December. The 2024 game kicked off on Saturday, Dec. 28. This year, the Isleta New Mexico Bowl is set for Saturday, Dec. 27 at 3:45 p.m. at University Stadium.
University Stadium is situated on the south campus of the University of New Mexico, an open-air bowl with a capacity of approximately 37,000 and offering views of the Sandia Mountains. The venue has hosted Lobo football since 1960 and has been the home of the New Mexico Bowl since its inception, providing the game with a consistent home base every December. Sideline seats near midfield keep you close to the action, while end zone and upper sections offer value and wide views of both the field and the surrounding landscape.
If you enjoy meaningful college football in a setting that feels both scenic and spirited, the New Mexico Bowl belongs on your postseason checklist. Tailgates in the parking lots, crisp desert nights under the lights, and the chance to see emerging stars all turn a single game into a full weekend. Buy your New Mexico Bowl tickets at Event Tickets Center and be there for the next desert showdown.