Sun Belt won’t retain NMSU football after 2017 season

New Mexico State won’t be playing football in the Sun Belt after the 2017 season.

The conference decided not to renew the membership of New Mexico State beyond its current four-year deal, which will expire after 2017’s football season.

Idaho will be joining the Aggies on their exodus from the conference.

That means New Mexico State will have to weigh various options for the future of its program. It could attempt to join another FBS conference, drop to the FCS (one level below FBS), or try to survive as an FBS independent. The Aggies were an independent during the 2013 football season.

New Mexico State athletic programs besides football currently remain in the WAC.

The school released the following statement after the decision:

“New Mexico State University has received word that the Sun Belt Conference presidents and chancellors have decided to remain a 10-football team conference,beginning with the 2018 season.The NMSU Aggie football team will play football in the Sun Belt conference for the next two seasons but will need to consideroptions for the 2018 season and beyond.

‘We’re disappointed with this outcome,but we respect the decision of the Sun Belt Conference,’ said NMSU President Garrey Carruthers. ‘We appreciate being able to play football in the Sun Belt Conference for the past two years and look forward to continuing in the league for the next two years.’

NMSU remains a member of the Western Athletic Conference for its non-football sports.The university is currently evaluating all potential options in regard to football conference affiliation.

‘It appears that the landscape of conference affiliation could see significant movement,especially as current television contracts are renegotiated,’ Carruthers said.

NMSU was a full member of the Sun Belt from 2000-2005.It joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2005.In 2014,NMSU rejoined the Sun Belt as a football-only member.”