# Frontier Conference (1940–1962)

The Frontier Conference, known as the New Mexico Conference and New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference from 1940 to 1955, was an intercollegiate athletic conference composed of member schools located in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The league existed from 1940 to 1962.

## Membership
### Former members

* The following is an incomplete list of the membership of the Frontier Conference.
| Institution (former name) | Location | Founded | Type | Nickname | Joined | Left | Colors | Current conference |
| Adams State University (Adams State College) | Alamosa, Colorado | 1921 | Public | Grizzlies | 1946 | 1955 | Green & White | RMAC NCAA Division II |
| Northern Arizona University (Arizona State College) | Flagstaff, Arizona | 1899 | Public | Lumberjacks | 1953 | 1962 | Blue & Gold | Big Sky NCAA Division I FCS |
| Eastern New Mexico University | Portales, New Mexico | 1927 | Public | Greyhounds | 1940 | 1953 | Green & Silver | Lone Star NCAA Division II |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas, New Mexico | 1893 | Public | Cowboys and Cowgirls | 1940 | 1962 | Purple & White | RMAC NCAA Division II |
| New Mexico Military Institute | Roswell, New Mexico | 1891 | Public | Broncos | 1940 | 1957 | Red & Black | WJCAC, SWJCFC NJCAA Division I |
| Western New Mexico University (New Mexico State Teachers' College) | Silver City, New Mexico | 1893 | Public | Mustangs | 1940 | 1962 | Royal Purple & Golden Yellow | Lone Star NCAA Division II |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College) | Goodwell, Oklahoma | 1909 | Public | Aggies | 1940 | 1950 | Crimson & Blue | Sooner NAIA Division I |
| St. Michael's College | Santa Fe, New Mexico | 1859 | Roman Catholic | Horsemen | 1948 | 1950 | Light Navy & White | Defunct |
| Sul Ross State University (Sul Ross State College) | Alpine, Texas | 1917 | Public | Lobos | 1946 | 1949 | Scarlet & Grey | American Southwest NCAA Division III |

### Membership timeline

NMC members Frontier members

## Football championships and postseason appearances

New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference football championships :
| Season | Champion | Conference record | Overall record |
| 1940 | New Mexico State Teachers' | 4–0 | 4–3 |
| 1941 | New Mexico Military | 4–0 | 6–1 |
| 1942 | New Mexico State Teachers' | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| 1943–1945 | Competition suspended during World War II | Competition suspended during World War II | Competition suspended during World War II |
| 1946 | Adams State | 4–0 | 5–1 |
| 1947 | Sul Ross | 5–0 | 6–3 |
| 1948 | Sul Ross | 5–0 | 10–0–1 |
| 1949 | Sul Ross | 5–0 | 7–3 |
| 1950 | Eastern New Mexico | 5–1 | 5–5 |
| 1951 | Eastern New Mexico | 5–0 | 8–1 |
| 1952 (co-champions) | Eastern New Mexico | 4–1 | 7–1–1 |
| 1952 (co-champions) | Panhandle A&M | 4–1 | 7–3 |
| 1953 | Panhandle A&M | 6–0 | 8–1–1 |
| 1954 | Panhandle A&M | 5–0 | 6–3 |
Frontier Conference football championships :
| Season | Champion | Conference record | Overall record |
| 1955 (co-champions) | Adams State | 4–1 | 6–4 |
| 1955 (co-champions) | New Mexico Military | 4–1 | 5–3 |
| 1956 (co-champions) | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 3–0 | 8–2 |
| 1956 (co-champions) | New Mexico Military | 3–0 | 6–3 |
| 1957 | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 3–0 | 8–1 |
| 1958 | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 3–0 | 11–1 |
| 1959 | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 3–0 | 6–2–1 |
| 1960 (co-champions) | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 2–0–1 | 6–3–2 |
| 1960 (co-champions) | New Mexico Highlands | 2–0–1 | 6–2–1 |
| 1961 | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 1–0–1 | 3–5–1 |
| 1962 | Arizona State–Flagstaff | 2–0 | 6–4 |
National playoff and bowl games :
| Conference team | Opponent | Result | Score | Location |
| 1949 Tangerine Bowl |||||
| Sul Ross | Murray State | Tie | 21–21 | Orlando, Florida |
| 1958 NAIA Semifinal |||||
| Arizona State–Flagstaff | Gustavus Adolphus | Win | 41–12 | Tucson, Arizona |
| 1958 NAIA Championship (Holiday Bowl) |||||
| Arizona State–Flagstaff | Northeastern State | Loss | 13–19 | St. Petersburg, Florida |