ASU Football: Sun Devils have long history with New Mexico Lobos

Arizona State travels to Albuquerque this week to face New Mexico for the first meeting between the two teams in 37 years. In an odd twist across the country this week, the game is one of many in which power conference teams will be playing road games against teams from outside the big five. Arizona will play at UTSA, Washington State goes to Nevada, Hawaii hosts Oregon State, and Missouri will travel to Toledo, just to name a few.

The Sun Devils come in as winners of the last 17 in the series, with the Lobos getting their last win in 1942. Needless to say, the maroon and gold have dominated for the majority of the series.

The teams were actually in the same conference from 1931 to 1951, playing in the now defunct Border Conference along with Arizona, Texas Tech, UTEP, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Hardin-Simmons, and West Texas A&M.

The lone tie in the series came in 1941, when New Mexico traveled to Tempe on a hot October day. Arizona State was looking for a solid offensive effort after two poor performances led to losses against Texas A&M Kingsville and West Texas A&M. It didn't get one. The final was 0-0, one of the rarest outcomes for a college football game.

Arizona State's biggest win came more than 30 years later in 1972. The Sun Devils welcomed in New Mexico for their homecoming game and put up their highest point total of their Fiesta Bowl championship season, hanging 60 on a weak Lobo defense en route to a 60-7 victory.

This will be only the second Pac-10/12 opponent they have faced since 2008. They topped Arizona in the Battle for Kit Carson's Rifle in 2008, then lost 72-0 at Oregon to open the 2010 season. The home and home will be rounded out next year when New Mexico comes to Sun Devil Stadium in week three.