Guess who just turned 110? It’s not a person — it’s one of the Southwest’s longest-running football rivalries.

This fall marks the 110th meeting of the Battle of I-10, the annual gridiron showdown between New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso.

What began in 1914 as a simple matchup between neighboring schools has evolved into a cherished tradition, one that has seen generations of Aggies and Miners line up under the desert sun and stadium lights for bragging rights, trophies, and history.

In the early days, NMSU was known as New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts and UTEP was the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Fast-forward halfway through their rivalry, and the two universities adopted their current names, even though the rivalry remained intense from the beginning.

“Two of my most memorable moments playing at New Mexico State were going 2-0 in the Battle of I-10,” says Aggies head coach Tony Sanchez ’98, ’03. “In 1994, we were down 19-0 and stormed back to beat UTEP on a last-minute field goal, 23-22, at the Sun Bowl in front of a crowd of 40,000. In 1995, we opened the season at Aggie Memorial in front of a crowd of over 29,000 and defeated UTEP 45-17. I’m proud to have been a part of those teams, and there’s nothing better than a good college football rivalry game. Go Aggies!”

But this year’s game on November 22 in El Paso carries extra weight: it’s the final official Battle of I-10 under Conference USA, as UTEP prepares to move to the Mountain West Conference in 2026. Though both programs intend to keep the rivalry alive, the change marks the end of an era.

“Throughout my four years at NMSU, our rivalry games with UTEP were always intense and fiercely competitive,” remembers John Cordova ’81, ’83, a former NMSU football player and coach and current NMSU Foundation board member. “One of my most vivid memories is inaugurating a sold out, brand-new Aggie Memorial Stadium with a hard fought 35-32 win over UTEP in 1978. In the four games I played from 1976 to 1979, we prevailed in three out of four! Still, these matchups were never easy, and each game was a close affair, with the total margin of victory across all four games amounting to just nine points!”

Over the decades, the series has produced unforgettable moments, record crowds and some lopsided victories on both sides. The teams compete for two traveling trophies: the Silver Spade, introduced in 1955 and modeled after a prospector’s shovel from an Organ Mountains mine, and the Mayor’s Cup, added in 1982 and often nicknamed the “Brass Spittoon.”

The numbers over more than a century tell a story all their own:

• 110 meetings since 1914, interrupted only occasionally over the decades
• UTEP leads the series 59–38–2
• The most decisive Aggie win came in 1922 (64–0); UTEP’s biggest was in 1948 (92–7)
• The 1998 game at Aggie Memorial Stadium set an all-time attendance record of 32,993

Separated by just 40 miles of Interstate 10, Las Cruces and El Paso have shared more than a century of football, friendship, and fierce competition.

As the Aggies and Miners prepare for their 110th meeting and their last as CUSA foes, NMSU Athletic Director Joe Fields says the milestone feels both nostalgic and motivating.

“It’s my first year as athletic director, and the last year for this rivalry as we know it,” Fields said. “That makes it special. The Battle of I-10 isn’t just about football; it’s  about pride, neighbors, and generations of Aggies who’ve worn crimson with heart. No matter what conference we’re in, this rivalry will always run deep.”

The Battle of I-10 may be entering a new chapter, but its spirit remains timeless.