Five of the Aggies’ next six games come against league opponents.
Source: NMSU Athletics (Photo: Courtesy)
WEEK FOUR
Who: NM State at Sam Houston
Where: Huntsville, Texas – Bowers Stadium (14,000)
When: Saturday, September 21, 2024 – 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Tom Franklin
Analyst: Ken Moore
Listen: 99.5 FM KXPZ / TuneIn App
Play-by-Play: Jack Nixon
Color Analyst: Cory Lucas
Live Stats: NMStateStats.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State will return to conference play on Saturday as they travel to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston. In just the second meeting ever between the two programs, the Aggies will look to turn the page against the Bearkats after a disappointing loss at Fresno State last weekend.
Saturday will mark the beginning of an important stretch of games for the Aggies as five of their next six games will come against opponents also donning the CUSA patch on their chest. Meanwhile, the Aggies’ lone non-conference matchup during this period will come next week when they play host to New Mexico in the 113th installment of the Rio Grande Rivalry.
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE
Two weeks ago against Liberty, the Aggie defense was exceptional on third down – limiting Liberty to just one third-down conversion on 11 attempts.
This marks the lowest third-down conversion percentage for an Aggie opponent since Oct. 11, 2023, when Sam Houston finished the game just 1-for-12.
Additionally, NM State is among the best in the nation at stopping teams on third down through the first three weeks of the season. Holding opponents to just a 25% conversion rate, the Aggies currently rank 14th among FBS programs in third-down conversion percentage.
While the Aggies are ranked near the bottom of the FBS in red zone trips (T-113; 6), they have found success when crossing their opponents’ 20-yard line. Thus far, the Aggies are one of just 29 teams in the nation to come away with points on 100% of their trips to the red zone.
In total, the Aggies have produced three rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and two field goals for a total of 34 points including PATs.
DOWNHILL DA’MARCUS CROSBY
On Saturday versus Fresno State, Sam Houston transfer Da’Marcus Crosby tallied a game-high 14 total tackles. This marked the highest single game total count for an Aggie since Oct. 15, 2022, when Chris Ojoh recorded 15 tackles in a win over New Mexico.
Entering Saturday’s contest, Crosby ranks second on the team in tackles with 18, including 10 solo takedowns.
BACK IN BOWERS
This weekend will mark the return to Huntsville for a trio of individuals with the NM State football program.
After serving as Sam Houston’s defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023, Joe Morris will be in the visiting coaches’ booth making the defensive play calls for the Aggies on Saturday. Under Morris last season, the Bearkats finished among top five in CUSA in scoring defense, pass defense, fumbles recovered, turnover margin and opponent third-down conversion percentage.
Joining Morris in his return will be Aggie newcomers Da’Marcus Crosby and Dakerric Hobbs.
Last year, Crosby earned First Team All-CUSA honors after compiling 55 total tackles and four interceptions as the Bearkats’ starting safety.
Meanwhile, Hobbs finished fifth in tackles with 38 for Morris’ Bearkat defense. Hobbs was also tied for the team lead in pass breakups – finishing the year with five.
WATKINS WOWS
Junior running back Monte Watkins has had a thing for the spectacular since arriving on campus. Now in his third season with the Aggies, Watkins has flashed his track speed several times. Including his 64-yard touchdown reception versus Liberty on Sept. 7, Watkins now has three touchdown scores of 60 yards or longer since arriving on campus.
In 2022, Watkins rushed for a 78-yard touchdown against Valparaiso. Last year, Watkins broke free for an 80-yard rushing touchdown against UMass to mark the Aggies first touchdown of the season.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Following the Aggies’ first 10-win season since 1960, NM State has begun year one under Head Coach Tony Sanchez with some new faces in key roles. This year, NM State welcomed 36 transfers during the offseason – a mark that ranks fifth-most at the FBS level, behind only Charlotte (44), Colorado (44), New Mexico (42) and Utah State (38).
Additionally, the Aggies returned just eight of their 22 starters on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. And, in total, NM State brings back 28 of its 67 letterwinners from last season.
In total, 16 different Aggies have logged their first collegiate start this season, including 11 among this group that have appeared in the starting lineup in each of the Aggies’ first two games. This year, the Aggies rank second among FBS programs to feature first-year starters in their lineups through three weeks of action.
This new outlook is also reflected in the amount of returning production entering the year. After having one of the highest rates of returning production entering the 2023 season (returned 83% of total gained yardage), only 23% (1,268/5,606) of its total all-purpose yardage from 2023 belongs to someone still wearing Crimson and White in 2024.
From a broken-down perspective, the Aggies brought back 0% (0/3,206) of their passing yards, 17.3% (471/2,715) of their receiving yards, 32.5% (755/2,325) of their rushing yards and 7.4% (42/566) of their return yards.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES (SAM HOUSTON)
The Bearkats will be led by longtime head coach, K.C. Keeler who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Sam Houston program and 31st overall. Keeler’s career at his current stop is highlighted by a 2020 season in which the Bearkats finished with a perfect 10-0 record on their way to an FCS National Championship.
This year, the Aggie defense will be tasked with stopping quarterback Hunter Watson who is in his first year with the program. Watson has already flashed his potential as he was named the CUSA Offensive Player of the Week after guiding his team to a 34-14 win on the road over Rice.
The dual threat quarterback will also look for help from the Bearkats’ leading rusher Jay Ducker who has compiled 171 yards in his first year with Sam Houston after transferring in from Memphis in the offseason.
WHERE TO WATCH THE AGGIES
After eight of the Aggies’ 15 games were featured on national networks in 2023, including three of the final four contests, the Aggies will once again have their opportunities in the spotlight in 2024. Entering the year, NM State is slated to play six of its 12 games on a national network. The other half of the Aggies’ games will be streamed on ESPN+ where fans can find this weekend’s game.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE AGGIES
Once again, all games this season will be aired live on 99.5 FM KXPZ for those in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas. Additionally, all home games will be available in Spanish on 96.7 FM La Equis. Radio broadcasts for all Aggie games will also be available to listen to nationwide via the TuneIn App. Radio play-by-play will be provided by Jack Nixon with analysis provided by former Aggie running back Cory Lucas.
ONE FINAL RIDE
NM State broadcaster Jack Nixon returns for his 45th and final year of broadcasting Aggie athletics for the NM State radio network. A legend on the Aggie airwaves, Nixon begins the 2024 football season with 500 games under his belt in addition to over 1,400 basketball games.
For much of the season, the “Voice of the Aggies” and NM State Hall of Fame selection, Nixon will handle the radio duties alongside former Aggie Cory Lucas, who joined the broadcaster ahead of the 2017 season.
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