NMSU 's teams are called the Aggies , a nickname derived from the university 's agricultural beginnings . New Mexico State is in its thirteenth season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ( WAC ) , except in football where NMSU competes as an independent . The Western Athletic Conference was the fifth conference NMSU has been affiliated with in its football history . New Mexico State spent the past six seasons as a member of the Sun Belt Conference . Before that , NMSU was a member of the Big West Conference ( called the Pacific Coast Athletic Association until 1988 ) , Sun Belt Conference , Missouri Valley Conference and the Border Conference . Another athletic program at New Mexico State was the women 's Equestrian Team . The Equestrian Team was first established in 2004 . The Equestrian team was cut following the 2016-2017 season due to budget cuts
independent
NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
New Mexico State University