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The New Mexico State University Aggies embark on a new chapter as they officially began their affiliation with Conference USA July 1.
This move comes after the initial announcement was made nearly two years ago, signifying the end of their nearly 20-year association with the Western Athletic Conference. Along with NM State, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Sam Houston have traded in their league affiliations for the C-USA flag. The four new institutions will join current conference members Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Western Kentucky to make up a nine-member conference entering the 2023-24 seasons.
This transition has extra significance for the Aggie football program. Formerly one of seven FBS independent programs, the Aggies will be affiliated with a conference for the first time since being a part of the Sun Belt from 2014-17. Additionally, the majority of NM State's NCAA Division I men's and women's athletic programs have become full members of Conference USA. The exception is the swimming and diving program, which will remain an affiliate member of the WAC due to the absence of women's swimming and diving sponsorship in C-USA.
In total, NM State spent 18 years as a member of the WAC – beginning its membership in 2005. C-USA now becomes the fifth conference affiliation for the Aggies after representing the Border Conference (1931-62), Missouri Valley Conference (1971-83), the Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference (1983-2001), the Sun Belt Conference (2001-05) and the WAC (2005-23).
Over the course of 18 years in the WAC, NM State secured 85 conference titles, second only to Brigham Young University's 193 championships during its 36-year membership. Since 2005, the Aggies claimed 26 more titles than the next closest institution. The Aggies' legacy extends through their previous affiliations with the Border Conference (1931-62), Missouri Valley Conference (1971-83), Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference (1983-2001), Sun Belt Conference (2001-05), and the Western Athletic Conference (2005-23).
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I athletic conference based in Dallas.
