Bowl Projections: Isleta New Mexico Bowl Preseason Prediction, Breakdown and History

Before the season gets underway, what's the first guess on what the 2024 Isleta New Mexico Bowl might be? Why did we make this call, who else should be in the mix, and what's the history of the bowl?

This will all change throughout the season with its twists and turns, but in the preseason, the Isleta New Mexico Bowl projection is ...

Isleta New Mexico Bowl Projection

Saturday, December 28
2:15, ESPN
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Bowl Affiliations : AAC, MW, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Fresno State 37, New Mexico State 10
Preseason Bowl Projection (with predicted final regular season records)
North Texas (6-6) vs Air Force (9-3)

CFN Preview of All 134 Teams

Why this is the preseason Isleta New Mexico Bowl Projection

Assume there won’t be any Conference USA teams available, and also assume the bowl would like someone slightly bigger than a midrange MAC team.

The Mountain West is a mortal lock, and there will be plenty of options to choose from. Some MW teams will likely be left out of a bowl spot with so many Power Four programs likely to be forced in, so a star like Air Force would be a premium get.

North Texas was in this in 2018 - and got walloped by Utah State 52-13. It might not be the strongest of all-around matchups, but the idea would that Air Force is the draw, at least from the TV audience.

5 teams also in the mix for the Isleta New Mexico Bowl

1. Colorado State
2. Rice
3. UNLV
4. Western Michigan
5. Wyoming

Isleta New Mexico Bowl History

Dec 16, 2023 Fresno State 37, New Mexico State 10
Dec 17, 2022 BYU 24, SMU 23
Dec. 18, 2021 Fresno State 31, UTEP 24
Dec. 24, 2020 Hawaii 28, Houston 14
Dec. 21, 2019 San Diego State 48, Central Michigan 11
Dec. 15, 2018 Utah State 52, North Texas 13
Dec. 16, 2017 Marshall 31, Colorado State 28
Dec. 19, 2016 New Mexico 23, UTSA 20
Dec. 19, 2015 Arizona 45 New Mexico 37
Dec. 20, 2014 Utah State 21 UTEP 6
Dec. 21, 2013 Colorado State 48 Washington State 45
Dec. 15, 2012 Arizona 49 Nevada 48
Dec. 17, 2011 Temple 37 Wyoming 15
Dec. 18, 2010 BYU 52 UTEP 24
Dec. 19, 2009 Wyoming 35 Fresno State 28 (2 OT)
Dec. 20, 2008 Colorado State 40 Fresno State 35
Dec. 22, 2007 New Mexico 23 Nevada 0
Dec. 23, 2006 San Jose State 20 New Mexico 12