The game featured Utah State from the Mountain West Conference and North Texas from Conference USA (C-USA). This was the eighth all-time meeting against the Mean Green and the Aggies, with Utah State leading the series, 4–3; this meeting was the first in a bowl game.
Utah State[]
Main article: 2018 Utah State Aggies football team
Utah State accepted a bid to the New Mexico Bowl on December 2.[6] The Aggies entered the bowl with a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference). Due to the resignation of head coach Matt Wells, who accepted the same position with the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 29, the Aggies were coached in the bowl game by interim head coach Frank Maile.[7] Utah State previously appeared in the 2014 New Mexico Bowl, defeating UTEP.
North Texas[]
Main article: 2018 North Texas Mean Green football team
North Texas accepted a bid to the New Mexico Bowl on December 2.[6] The Mean Green entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (5–3 in conference).
This was the first appearance by North Texas in a New Mexico Bowl.