The Frontier Conference, known as the New Mexico Conference and New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference from 1940 to 1955, was an intercollegiate athletic conference composed of member schools located in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The league existed from 1940 to 1962.

Membership

Former members

  • The following is an incomplete list of the membership of the Frontier Conference.
Institution (former name)LocationFoundedTypeNicknameJoinedLeftColorsCurrent conference
Adams State University (Adams State College)Alamosa, Colorado1921PublicGrizzlies19461955Green & WhiteRMAC NCAA Division II
Northern Arizona University (Arizona State College)Flagstaff, Arizona1899PublicLumberjacks19531962Blue & GoldBig Sky NCAA Division I FCS
Eastern New Mexico UniversityPortales, New Mexico1927PublicGreyhounds19401953Green & SilverLone Star NCAA Division II
New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, New Mexico1893PublicCowboys and Cowgirls19401962Purple & WhiteRMAC NCAA Division II
New Mexico Military InstituteRoswell, New Mexico1891PublicBroncos19401957Red & BlackWJCAC, SWJCFC NJCAA Division I
Western New Mexico University (New Mexico State Teachers' College)Silver City, New Mexico1893PublicMustangs19401962Royal Purple & Golden YellowLone Star NCAA Division II
Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College)Goodwell, Oklahoma1909PublicAggies19401950Crimson & BlueSooner NAIA Division I
St. Michael's CollegeSanta Fe, New Mexico1859Roman CatholicHorsemen19481950Light Navy & WhiteDefunct
Sul Ross State University (Sul Ross State College)Alpine, Texas1917PublicLobos19461949Scarlet & GreyAmerican Southwest NCAA Division III

Membership timeline

NMC members Frontier members

Football championships and postseason appearances

New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference football championships
SeasonChampionConference recordOverall record
New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference football championships Season Champion Conference record Overall record 1940 New Mexico State Teachers' 4–0 4–3 1941 New Mexico Military 4–0 6–1 1942 New Mexico State Teachers' 1–0 2–2 1943–1945 Competition suspended during World War II 1946 Adams State 4–0 5–1 1947 Sul Ross 5–0 6–3 1948 Sul Ross 5–0 10–0–1 1949 Sul Ross 5–0 7–3 1950 Eastern New Mexico 5–1 5–5 1951 Eastern New Mexico 5–0 8–1 1952 (co-champions) Eastern New Mexico 4–1 7–1–1 Panhandle A&M 4–1 7–3 1953 Panhandle A&M 6–0 8–1–1 1954 Panhandle A&M 5–0 6–3Frontier Conference football championships Season Champion Conference record Overall record 1955 (co-champions) Adams State 4–1 6–4 New Mexico Military 4–1 5–3 1956 (co-champions) Arizona State–Flagstaff 3–0 8–2 New Mexico Military 3–0 6–3 1957 Arizona State–Flagstaff 3–0 8–1 1958 Arizona State–Flagstaff 3–0 11–1 1959 Arizona State–Flagstaff 3–0 6–2–1 1960 (co-champions) Arizona State–Flagstaff 2–0–1 6–3–2 New Mexico Highlands 2–0–1 6–2–1 1961 Arizona State–Flagstaff 1–0–1 3–5–1 1962 Arizona State–Flagstaff 2–0 6–4
1940New Mexico State Teachers'4–04–3
1941New Mexico Military4–06–1
1942New Mexico State Teachers'1–02–2
1943–1945Competition suspended during World War II
1946Adams State4–05–1
1947Sul Ross5–06–3
1948Sul Ross5–010–0–1
1949Sul Ross5–07–3
1950Eastern New Mexico5–15–5
1951Eastern New Mexico5–08–1
1952 (co-champions)Eastern New Mexico4–17–1–1
Panhandle A&M4–17–3
1953Panhandle A&M6–08–1–1
1954Panhandle A&M5–06–3
SeasonChampionConference recordOverall record
1955 (co-champions)Adams State4–16–4
New Mexico Military4–15–3
1956 (co-champions)Arizona State–Flagstaff3–08–2
New Mexico Military3–06–3
1957Arizona State–Flagstaff3–08–1
1958Arizona State–Flagstaff3–011–1
1959Arizona State–Flagstaff3–06–2–1
1960 (co-champions)Arizona State–Flagstaff2–0–16–3–2
New Mexico Highlands2–0–16–2–1
1961Arizona State–Flagstaff1–0–13–5–1
1962Arizona State–Flagstaff2–06–4
National playoff and bowl games
Conference teamOpponentResultScoreLocation
1949 Tangerine Bowl
Sul RossMurray StateTie21–21Orlando, Florida
1958 NAIA Semifinal
Arizona State–FlagstaffGustavus AdolphusWin41–12Tucson, Arizona
1958 NAIA Championship (Holiday Bowl)
Arizona State–FlagstaffNortheastern StateLoss13–19St. Petersburg, Florida

See also