UTEP-BYU in the New Mexico Bowl

The Announcement, and What It Might Mean
UTEP officially accepted an invitation to play BYU in the New Mexico Bowl.  This could only happen if the WAC gave the thumbs up to give up a bowl slot.  I believe this means that the Las Vegas Bowl (probably with some help from ESPN) made this happen.  I believe that Boise State or Nevada will go to the Vegas Bowl and play Utah. shifting all WAC bowls up (except Hawaii which accepted an invitation to the Hawaii Bowl).  Really, it's a win-win for all parties.

Win for New Mexico Bowl
The New Mexico Bowl gets UTEP, which is just a 3.5-hour drive from Albuquerque.  That is a much better prospect for the Bowl than Fresno State, which typically travels well, but it doesn't have real ties to New Mexico.  It will boost attendance and local interest for the New Mexico Bowl.  UTEP and BYU are also old rivals from the WAC, not to mention this is the 25th anniversary of the season that UTEP upset 6-1, 7th in the country, defending National Champion BYU, ending all hopes of a repeat.

Win for the WAC
Both Nevada and Boise State's bowl prospects improve.  The "best" WAC bowl game would have been against a 7-5 ACC team.  The "second" best WAC bowl game would have been against an 8-4 MAC team.  Then Fresno State would have played a 6-6 BYU team in New Mexico.  Now, Boise State will get to play a 10-2 ranked team in Vegas.  Nevada will get that 7-5 ACC team, and all indications are that Boston College will be nabbed for that game.  Fresno State will get to move into that game with an 8-4 MAC team.  It makes each team's destination becomes a higher profile game (with the potential exception of Fresno State, just because a 6-6 BYU is still a higher profile team than any 8-4 MAC team is going to be).  It gives Boise State or Nevada a chance to play a ranked team in a bowl game that will have a lot of hype and build-up to it.

Win for BYU (Theoretically)
For BYU, they get an easier opponent to beat in 6-6 UTEP.  Though this game will be much more like a road game, which may be even better preparation for next season than playing a better opponent.  BYU played plenty of quality opponents, I think it would probably be better to have a confidence-building bowl game instead.

Win for UTEP
The UTEP Miners were likely headed for New Orleans to play against a Sun Belt opponent, either Florida International or Troy, both of which are currently 6-5.  Playing a bowl against a 6-6, surging BYU team on its way to independence, closer to home, with double the payout, is a much better prospect for them.  They will get more fans out, generate more enthusiasm, and get more money out of the deal.  Everyone is better off!