UTEP and Big 12 Conference power Texas Tech have reached an agreement to play a two-game series in football in 2006 and 2007.

The Miners and Red Raiders are scheduled to meet on Sept. 9, 2006 in El Paso, and Sept. 8, 2007 in Lubbock.

“It’s a thrill for our school and our program to play Texas Tech again,” said UTEP head coach Mike Price. “I think the fans on both sides will look forward to the resumption of the series. It’s a natural setup. [Coach] Mike Leach has done a great job at Texas Tech. They run an exciting offense, and hopefully it will be an exciting game.”

“We are excited about this series and the opportunity to play a quality team like UTEP,” said Leach. “UTEP had a good year in 2004 and is an up-and-coming program with a quality head coach in Mike Price.”

The 2006 contest will mark the first meeting between the West Texas rivals since Sept. 5, 1998, a 35-3 Red Raider victory in Lubbock.

Texas Tech hasn’t paid a visit to the Sun Bowl since Nov. 16, 1963. The Red Raiders won 7-3 in only the fourth Miner game played in the Sun Bowl, which opened that year.

UTEP was scheduled to host Texas Tech in a nationally televised (ESPN2) game on Sept. 13, 2001, but the game was cancelled due to the attack on America on Sept. 11.

Texas Tech leads the series 12-6-1, including a 6-3-1 edge in games played in El Paso. The schools have met just twice since 1963, including a 35-7 Texas Tech triumph in the 1980 season opener in Lubbock.

UTEP hasn’t beaten Texas Tech since Oct. 12, 1957, when Bob Forrest rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns to spur the Miners to a 26-14 victory in El Paso. Future NFL Hall of Famer Don Maynard made the only reception of the game for the Miners, a 15-yard catch from Bob Laraba.

The Red Raiders have won eight games or more in each of the last three seasons for the first time in school history. Texas Tech finished the 2004 campaign ranked 17th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and 18th in the Associated Press poll. The Red Raiders downed fourth-ranked California 45-31 in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl to cap an 8-4 season. Texas Tech has won the NCAA passing title the last three years, throwing for 4,796 yards and 34 touchdowns a season ago.