The 2024 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies were led by Tony Sanchez in his first year as the program's head coach. The Aggies played home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
This was New Mexico State's first season since 2021 without Diego Pavia as their starting quarterback. Pavia, having led New Mexico State to a 10–5 2023 season that included an upset win against the Auburn Tigers, transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Coaching changes Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, second-year head coach Jerry Kill announced that he would be stepping down. Kill saw one of the largest turnarounds in college football history, leading the Aggies to bowl appearances in both of his seasons including a 10-win season in 2023, the program's first double-digit winning season since 1960. Wide receivers coach Tony Sanchez was named the Aggies' new head coach. Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Tyler Wright was promoted to offensive coordinator while Sam Houston defensive coordinator Joe Morris, originally hired as the Aggies' defensive line coach, was later named defensive coordinator after incumbent defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling left for Utah State.
On October 11, Wright was fired two weeks after a report on the presence of over 150 racist, sexist and homophobic posts on his X account made before joining New Mexico State's coaching staff. Wright was indefinitely suspended while New Mexico State investigated the posts and missed games against New Mexico and Jacksonville State before being dismissed. Offensive line coach Andrew Mitchell assumed play-calling duties on an interim basis during the investigation and remained in the role after Wright's firing.
Preseason C-USA media poll The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Aggies were predicted to finish tied for fifth.
Schedule
Game summaries Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMONMSU First downs 15 20 Total yards 352 270 Rushing yards 57 210 Passing yards 295 60 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 37:24 33:36 Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing Paxton DeLaurent 27/45, 295 yards, TD, INT Rushing Steven Lewis 1 rush, 27 yards Receiving Dorian Anderson 6 receptions, 115 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 5/18, 37 yards, INT Rushing Seth McGowan 11 rushes, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving PJ Johnson III 2 receptions, 35 yards
Liberty
Statistics LIB NMSU First downs 18 18 Total yards 473 275 Rushing yards 217 117 Passing yards 256 158 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:56 31:04 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Kaidon Salter 16/29, 256 yards Rushing Quinton Cooley 12 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TD Receiving Treon Sibley 5 receptions, 155 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 9/22, 158 yards, 2 TD Rushing Seth McGowan 15 rushes, 66 yards Receiving Monte Watkins 1 reception, 64 yards, TD
at Fresno State
Statistics NMSU FRES First downs 11 20 Total yards 138 525 Rushing yards 77 281 Passing yards 61 244 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:00 30:00 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 6/15, 48 yards, INT Rushing Seth McGowan 11 carries, 47 yards Receiving Jordan Smith 2 receptions, 31 yardsFresno State Passing Mikey Keene 12/22, 221 yards, 2 TD Rushing Malik Sherrod 15 carries, 113 yards, TD Receiving Mac Dalena 2 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TD
at Sam Houston
Statistics NMSU SHSU First downs 12 24 Total yards 152 382 Rushing yards 78 280 Passing yards 74 102 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 23:22 36:38 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 14/29, 74 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Seth McGowan 12 rushes, 50 yards Receiving T. J. Pride 5 receptions, 33 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 9/21, 64 yards, 2 INT Rushing Hunter Watson 12 rushes, 116 yards, 2 TD Receiving Noah Smith 4 receptions, 38 yards
New Mexico
Statistics UNM NMSU First downs 28 27 Total yards 579 474 Rushing yards 331 285 Passing yards 248 189 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 33:36 26:24 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico Passing Devon Dampier 13/28, 248 yards Rushing NaQuari Rogers 21 rushes, 122 yards, 3 TD Receiving Caleb Medford 2 receptions, 91 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 13/29, 189 yards, TD Rushing Larenzo McMillan 1 rush, 84 yards, TD Receiving T. J. Pride 3 receptions, 63 yards
at Jacksonville State
Statistics NMSU JVST First downs 22 28 Total yards 350 530 Rushing yards 206 334 Passing yards 144 196 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:04 29:56 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 9/16, 120 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mike Washington 13 carries, 76 yards Receiving PJ Johnson III 3 receptions, 84 yards, TDJacksonville State Passing Tyler Huff 11/18, 196 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tre Stewart 21 carries, 118 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Pettway 1 reception, 54 yards
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTNMSU First downs 20 21 Total yards 360 364 Rushing yards 127 160 Passing yards 233 204 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 37:11 22:49 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Evan Bullock 22/41, 233 yards, 2 TD Rushing Omiri Wiggins 14 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Tru Edwards 9 receptions, 110 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 11/22, 155 yards, TD Rushing Seth McGowan 17 carries, 66 yards Receiving T. J. Pride 4 receptions, 69 yards, TD
at FIU
Statistics NMSUFIU First downs 15 18 Total yards 246 438 Rushing yards 216 100 Passing yards 30 338 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:02 28:58
Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 2/4, 18 yards, INT Rushing Mike Washington 11 rushes, 88 yards, TD Receiving P. J. Johnson III 2 receptions, 14 yardsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 18/27, 338 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kejon Owens 13 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Eric Rivers 11 receptions, 295 yards, 3 TD
Western Kentucky
Statistics WKUNMSU First downs 17 14 Total yards 413 460 Rushing yards 116 331 Passing yards 297 129 Turnovers 2 5 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/27, 246 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Young 16 carries, 74 yards Receiving Kisean Johnson 5 receptions, 88 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 10/20, 129 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mike Washington 19 carries, 152 yards, 2 TD Receiving Seth McGowan 3 receptions, 47 yards
at No. 15 Texas A&M
Statistics NMSUTAMU First downs 12 28 Total yards 214 565 Rushing yards 122 209 Passing yards 92 356 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 25:25 34:35 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 6/19, 80 yards Rushing Seth McGowan 14 carries, 75 yards Receiving Mike Washington 2 receptions, 24 yardsTexas A&M Passing Marcel Reed 20/31, 268 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Amari Daniels 5 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Theo Melin Öhrström 5 receptions, 111 yards
at Middle Tennessee
Statistics NMSUMTSU First downs 18 25 Total yards 382 447 Rushing yards 145 170 Passing yards 237 277 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 27:16 32:44 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 12/16, 221 yards Rushing Seth McGowan 12 rushes, 83 yards Receiving Seth McGowan 6 receptions, 96 yards, TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 30/45, 277 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 10 rushes, 80 yards Receiving Holden Willis 3 receptions, 67 yards, TD
UTEP
Statistics UTEPNMSU First downs 14 33 Total yards 298 543 Rushing yards 121 203 Passing yards 177 340 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 20:28 39:32 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 12/26, 177 yards, TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 18 rushes, 79 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kam Thomas 4 receptions, 90 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 22/51, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Mike Washington 26 rushes, 130 yards, TD Receiving P. J. Johnson III 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
References