UTEP and University of Texas athletic department officials have reached agreement on a two-year football contract for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull said he has been working with Texas Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Programs Butch Worley for the last two years, trying to finalize a deal that will pit the two programs against one another for the first time in over 70 years.

“We were finally able to work out an arrangement that will be beneficial for both of us,” Stull said. “Texas will be coming to the Sun Bowl in 2008 in what should be one of the most anticipated games in UTEP history. There will be a great deal of excitement surrounding the game.”

The Longhorns are scheduled to face the Miners in El Paso on Sept. 6, 2008. UTEP will play the return game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 26, 2009.

Stull said it is natural that the two schools would renew a long-dormant rivalry.

“We’re both a part of the UT system, and there are a lot of Texas alumni and fans in El Paso,” he said.

UTEP and Texas haven’t squared off in football since 1933. Texas leads the series 2-0, with both previous meetings taking place in Austin.

UTEP continues to strongly upgrade its non-conference schedule under the direction of third-year head coach Mike Price. The Miners will host another Big 12 power, Texas Tech, on Sept. 9, 2006. UTEP has never hosted two different schools currently in the Big 12 over a three-year period. The Miners have had 11 home games versus current Big 12 schools in their football history 10 against Texas Tech and one against Baylor with only one occurring since 1963. UTEP met Baylor in El Paso on Sept. 17, 1983.

“It’s great for our players, our program and our fans that we can bring an opponent the caliber of Texas to El Paso,” Price said.

Texas is coming off a 12-0, national championship season. The Longhorns also captured national crowns in 1963, 1969 and 1970, and have played in 45 bowl games in their illustrious history. Among NCAA Division I-A schools, only Alabama owns more bowl appearances with 53.