The 100th rendition of the Battle of I-10 between UTEP and New Mexico State is for more than bragging rights between the two programs and fan bases separated by 41 miles. For the first time in 60 years, the Miners and the Aggies meet as conference foes – the last time was as members of the defunct Border Conference back in 1961. 

“The fact is the rivalry will always be big, but now that conference standings and possible championships hang in the balance, each contest is more meaningful for our players, coaches, and fan base,” UTEP athletic director Jim Senter told DCTF. “The bragging rights for I-10 supremacy means more now than ever.” 

While conference realignment does its best to separate rivals from each other in favor of more lucrative television deals and national championships over regional relevance, Conference USA did the opposite in the case of UTEP and New Mexico State. The Aggies received an invite thanks to departures from the likes of UTSA, North Texas, and Rice. That left the Miners on an island, at least in theory. New Mexico State’s addition provides each with a regional dancing partner in a far-reaching conference landscape. 

The history between the two teams dates to their first meeting in 1914 – a 19-0 win for the Aggies. UTEP won its first game of the meeting in a 6-3 contest two seasons later in 1916, but it was New Mexico State that dominated the first 10 games of the Battle of I-10 with an 8-1-1 record over UTEP that extended through 1926. The two teams didn’t play football in 1917, 1918, or 1919 because of World War I. 

Of course, the rivalry wasn’t called the Battle of I-10 back in those days because the road didn’t link the two cities until construction completed in the late 1960s. The “Silver Spade Trophy” came to being in 1955 with the winner receiving a replica of a prospector’s shovel from an abandoned mine in the Organ Mountains. The Mayor’s Cup was added in 1982 and is nicknamed the “Brass Spittoon.” 

"Most of us weren't (alive) the last time this was a conference game," New Mexico State athletic director Mario Moccia said. "We don't have many schools near us out here in the southwest. Really, it is just New Mexico and UTEP. The game against UTEP gives us a close, unique rivalry here in the southwest that's gone on for over 100 years."

The schools went by different names when the rivalry started, as well. New Mexico State was New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (New Mexico A&M) prior to 1960. UTEP was the Texas School of Mines and Metallurgy (Texas State M&M) until 1949 and Texas Western College from 1949 through 1967. The coaches early in the rivalry included names such as Tommy Dwyer and Harry Van Surdam on the Miners side with Clarence W. Russell and Dutch Bergman leading the Aggies. 

UTEP took control of the series in 1927 and dominated through most of the 1960s with a 29-7-1 record against the rival Aggies from 1927 through 1967. New Mexico State took back control in the years from 1973 to 1985 with a 10-3 record. Overall, the Miners head into 2023 with a 59-38-2 edge over New Mexico State. They’ve played in every season except 10 since that first meeting in 1914. Six of those were cancelled because World War I or World War II. Another was because of COVID in 2020. 

Recent history isn’t lopsided. The Miners enter the 2023 contest on a two-game winning streak over the Aggies who won three in a row from 2017 through 2019. New Mexico State also enters this year’s game as the favorite. The Aggies are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA play after a blowout win over Sam Houston. The Miners improved to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in CUSA play with a Week 7 win over FIU on the road.