New Mexico State Inks Partnership with Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino

Nowadays, athletic programs across the country are always looking for new ways to create new partnerships within the new landscape of generating college athletics revenue, visibility, and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness).

New Mexico State announced such a partnership late Monday.

A Conference USA member, the Aggies announced a new three-year partnership with Mescalero-based Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, which will become the exclusive jersey patch partner for the entire athletic program starting in the fall of the 2026-27 seasons. This is the first Conference USA school to announce a jersey patch partnership, the first-ever for the school, and is the largest partnership commitment that the athletics program has ever received.

"This partnership marks a groundbreaking moment for NM State Athletics. Inn of the Mountain Gods is an organization that represents the heritage and excellence of New Mexico, and we're proud to have their brand featured on our uniforms. Being the first program in Conference USA to announce a jersey patch partnership speaks to the momentum of Aggie Athletics. We're excited to collaborate with a partner that shares our values and our vision for elevating the student-athlete experience while strengthening our connection to communities across the state," said Joe Fields, New Mexico State Director of Athletics in a news release.

The resort/casino logo will appear on jerseys for the following sports: football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball.

"This collaboration goes beyond visibility - it's about storytelling, identity, and shared pride. Inn of the Mountain Gods is shaped by where it comes from and the cultural foundation connected to the Mescalero Apache community that inspires our enterprise. Being represented across NMSU Athletics uniforms allows us to celebrate New Mexico's heritage while connecting with fans in an authentic way. We're proud to see our brand on the field and honored to be part of Aggie tradition in such a bold and historic way," said Sarah Kazhe, Chief Marketing Officer of Inn of the Mountain Gods.

Details on branding placement and future partnership initiatives will be announced as the launch approaches later this year.

Other Division I casino-related deals

University of Arizona: A more than $60 million, 20-year naming rights deal with Casino Del Sol (Pascua Yaqui Tribe) that will rename Arizona Stadium to Casino Del Sol Stadium starting in the 2026-27 season.

Iowa State: Last year, the program partnered with Elite Casino Resorts, which includes sponsorship assets and NIL support.

Sacramento State: Partnered with Sky River Casino (tribal) on a five-year, $7.5 million deal that is focused on student-athlete development and Native/Indigenous opportunities.

Look Back at Three Aggie Programs

Here are the records of three of the school's top sports in 2025-2026:

Football: 4-8 (2-6 Conference USA)
Men's Basketball: 16-16 (8-12)
Women's Basketball: 9-21 (5-13)

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