The 2022 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and compete as an FBS independent. They were led by first-year head coach Jerry Kill.
The season was the program's last season as an independent as the Aggies joined Conference USA in 2023. Prior to the 2022 season 247Sports predicted them to have a 3–9 record and be one of the ten worst programs in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
Despite having a 6–6 regular-season record with two wins over FCS teams, the NCAA granted a waiver for New Mexico State to be bowl-eligible due to their canceled game against San Jose State.
Schedule New Mexico State's schedule consists of six home games and six away games for the 2022 season.
Game summaries Nevada
Statistics Statistics NEVNMSU First downs 18 16 Total yards 257 303 Rushing yards 179 85 Passing yards 78 218 Turnovers 0 5 Time of possession 31:44 28:16 Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Shane Illingworth 7/12, 51 yards Rushing Toa Taua 19 rushes, 109 yards Receiving Tyrese Mack 4 receptions, 40 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Gavin Frakes 9/13, 143 yards, TD, INT Rushing Diego Pavia 5 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Justice Powers 2 receptions, 74 yards
At Minnesota
Statistics Statistics NMSUMINN First downs 6 31 Total yards 91 485 Rushing yards 38 297 Passing yards 53 188 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 15:30 44:30 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Gavin Frakes 2/7, 43 yards, INT Rushing Diego Pavia 3 rushes, 14 yards Receiving Justice Powers 1 receptions, 34 yardsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 13/19, 174 yards Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 21 rushes, 132 yards, 2 TD Receiving Mike Brown-Stephens 3 receptions, 52 yards
At UTEP
Statistics Statistics NMSUUTEP First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving UTEP Passing Rushing Receiving
At Wisconsin
Statistics Statistics NMSUWISC First downs 14 24 Total yards 242 595 Rushing yards 118 260 Passing yards 124 335 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:43 31:17 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 6/19, 52 yards, INT Rushing Star Thomas 9 rushes, 46 yards Receiving Jordin Parker 1 reception, 36 yardsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 12/15, 251 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Braelon Allen 15 rushes, 86 yards, 3 TD Receiving Skyler Bell 4 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
Hawaii
Statistics Statistics HAWNMSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsHawaii Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving
FIU
Statistics Statistics FIUNMSU First downs 20 14 Total yards 344 221 Rushing yards 162 82 Passing yards 182 139 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:45 29:15 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Grayson James 13/19, 175 yards, 3 TD Rushing Lexington Joseph 14 rushes, 80 yards Receiving Tyrese Chambers 6 receptions, 72 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 8/14, 85 yards Rushing Jamoni Jones 12 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Bryce Childress 5 receptions, 43 yards
New Mexico
Statistics Statistics UNMNMSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving
San Jose State (cancelled)
The day before the game, October 21, San Jose State freshman running back Camdan McWright was struck by a school bus, sustaining fatal injuries. The game between the Spartans and Aggies was postponed to allow San Jose State players time to grieve before the game was outright canceled. New Mexico State later scheduled a game against Valparaiso as a replacement.
At UMass
Statistics Statistics NMSUMASS First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving
Lamar
Statistics Statistics LAMNMSU First downs 14 22 Total yards 247 433 Rushing yards 125 187 Passing yards 122 246 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 25:22 29:37 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Nick Yockey 7/13, 89 yards, TD Rushing Hunter Batten 3 carries, 44 yards, TD Receiving Devyn Gibbs 3 receptions, 47 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 14/19, 154 yards, 2 TD Rushing Diego Pavia 8 carries, 81 yards Receiving Ta'ir Brooks 2 receptions, 70 yards
At Missouri
Statistics Statistics NMSUMIZ First downs 16 24 Total yards 259 443 Rushing yards 115 261 Passing yards 144 182 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 30:34 29:26 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 6/17, 76 yards, INT Rushing Diego Pavia 9 carries, 50 yards Receiving J. J. Jones 2 receptions, 38 yardsMissouri Passing Brady Cook 19/27, 251 yards, 3 TD Rushing Brady Cook 7 carries, 71 yards Receiving Barrett Banister 7 receptions, 91 yards
At Liberty
Statistics Statistics NMSULIB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
Valparaiso
Statistics Statistics VALNMSU First downs 15 20 Total yards 188 621 Rushing yards 28 232 Passing yards 160 389 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 40:09 19:51 Team Category Player StatisticsValparaiso Passing Michael Appel Jr. 16/31, 106 yards Rushing Aaron Dawson 13 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Braden Contreras 4 receptions, 40 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 9/13, 323 yards, 4 TD Rushing Ahmonte Watkins 1 rush, 78 yards, TD Receiving Kordell David 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD
On November 29, New Mexico State announced that a game against Valparaiso had been scheduled in order to make-up for the canceled game against San Jose State. The Beacons, an FCS team, had played 11 games already so the NCAA had to approve a waiver in order for the game to be played. New Mexico State reached out to other schools such as Nevada, Wyoming, and Virginia Tech. As the Aggies had already played an FCS team earlier in the season the program had to get a second waiver approved that would allow the team to become bowl eligible with two wins against FCS opponents. Two days before the game, December 1, the NCAA approved the waiver due to the canceled game against San Jose State.
With the win over the Beacons, and with NCAA approval, the Aggies became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2017 season.
Vs. Bowling Green (Quick Lane Bowl)
Statistics Statistics NMSUBGSU First downs 21 16 Total yards 407 294 Rushing yards 240 84 Passing yards 167 221 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 38:10 21:50 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 17/29, 167 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ahmonte Watkins 9 rushes, 76 yards, TD Receiving Kordell David 5 receptions, 54 yardsBowling Green Passing Camden Orth 14/22, 191 yards, TD Rushing Jaison Patterson 6 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Ta'ron Keith 3 receptions, 69 yards
References