BRISTOL – After a historic 2017 season that culminated in the New Mexico State football team breaking a 57-year bowl drought and winning the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, the Aggies make their return to Aggie Memorial Stadium on ESPN2 when they play host to Wyoming on Saturday, Aug. 25.
 
"Our football program being featured on ESPN2 at Aggie Memorial Stadium is a wonderful way to begin the 2018 season," Moccia said. "With over 450 new season tickets currently sold, there is plenty of excitement in the air surrounding Aggie football. The opportunity to highlight Las Cruces and New Mexico State University to the nation for three plus hours is a huge positive for our community, our university and athletic program. I would encourage every single member of Aggie Nation to do what they can to make it to this game so we can show the country a packed and excited crowd from the moment the ball is kicked off."
 
Kickoff for the zero week match-up between the Cowboys and Aggies moves to 8 p.m. (MT) to accommodate ESPN2's broadcast schedule. This is the first time NM State has played on any ESPN linear network at home since 2009 and the first time on ESPN2 at home since 2007.
 
"This is an exciting time for NM State football," head football coach Doug Martin said. "Playing on ESPN2 at home gives our team, University and Las Cruces a chance to show the nation what a special place this really is. This can have a huge impact on our recruiting for future players and our University for future enrollment. When your fans set an attendance record like ours did at the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, this is the result. Let's break the home attendance record August 25th!"
 
The ability to play on zero week was made possible with Wyoming taking on Hawaii in Honolulu this year in Mountain West Conference play. The NCAA has made an exception for teams playing against the Rainbow Warriors in the Aloha State to play 13 games during the regular-season, but to accommodate that teams have now been allowed to play during zero week.
 
Both NM State (7-6) and Wyoming (8-5) are coming off bowl victories last season when the two meet on the gridiron for just the second in program history. The Aggies are 0-1 all-time against the Cowboys.
 
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