NMSU Committee: New Mexico State should not drop down to FCS after 2017

LAS CRUCES, N.M – New Mexico State’s 26-member Athletic Review Committee voted Thursday to keep New Mexico State football in the Football Bowl Subdivision, or top-level, after the school is booted from the Sun Belt Conference following the 2017 season.

After Idaho announced it would drop from the FBS to the Football Championship Subdivsion (FCS) last week, there was speculation that NMSU may do the same.

However, the decision by the Athletic Review Committee makes it clear that the Aggies have no intent to drop down.

All 26 members of the committee voted in favor of keeping the Aggies playing at the top level.

Officials with NMSU estimated dropping down to a lower tier would cost the program approximately $2.5 million per year.

NMSU still has not found a new conference home once they leave the Sun Belt. Going independent, as the program has done before, is also an option moving forward.