LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State football program has inked a deal with Liberty University to play a home-and-home series with the Flames in 2018 and 2019. The announcement now puts NM State at eight games for the 2018 season.
 
"We are excited to take another step toward the completion of our 2018 and 2019 football schedules," Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said. "I would like to thank Liberty Director of Athletics Ian McCaw for his hard work and creativity in bringing our two universities together for what should be four very exciting football games."
 
The first-ever meeting between the Aggies and Flames will take place on Oct. 6, 2018, at Aggie Memorial Stadium. New Mexico State will then return the trip to Williams Stadium seven weeks later on Nov. 28.
 
"We are very excited about having Liberty on our future schedule," Aggie head coach Doug Martin said. "Having competed against Turner Gill when we were both head coaches in the MAC, I can assure you they will be a very well coached opponent and these four games will be very exciting."
 
The two teams will keep the same format the following year in 2019 with Liberty coming back to Las Cruces on Oct. 5 before the Aggies make their way back to Lynchburg, Va., on Nov. 30 to complete the series.
 
Neither programs will be penalized should either team accept an invitation to a conference and is obligated to use those contracted dates for conference games.
 
Liberty was approved by the NCAA on Feb. 16 of this year for Football Bowl Subdivision reclassification. The two-year FBS reclassification process for the Flames will start in the 2017-18 academic year.
 
As it stands, New Mexico State's 2018 schedule consists of Wyoming, Minnesota, New Mexico, UTEP, Georgia Southern, Louisiana and two games with Liberty.