LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State football team opens Conference USA action against Louisiana Tech University at 5:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Sept. 13, at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana.
This is the Aggies’ first away matchup this season. If they secure a victory, it will be their first 3-0 start since 1999 and will match their win total from last year. It will also be the first time they start CUSA play with a win.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech (1-1) is coming off a 23-7 road loss to #3 Louisiana State University Sept. 6 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Since joining CUSA July 1, 2023, NMSU has faced LA Tech the past two years. Both games resulted in three-point victories for the Aggies.
After falling behind 16-3 mid-way through the second quarter in a Oct. 24, 2023 matchup in Ruston, the Aggies stormed back to grab a 27-24 win.
The following season, NMSU defeated the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 33-30 in double-overtime Oct. 15, 2024, at home. This came after a blocked field-goal attempt by former Aggie defensive end Malaki Ta’ase at the end of regulation.
As far as this year, junior quarterback Trey Kukuk has started both games for the Bulldogs. Against LSU, he went 12-for-18 passing for 50 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Redshirt sophomore Blake Baker saw the field in the closing minutes. He went 3-for-8 passing for 46 yards with a late touchdown and no interceptions.
LA Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie said his team has not found their identity at quarterback.
“We’ll have a guy by Saturday,” Cumbie said in a press conference Sept. 9. “We’re going to rotate all the guys through this week and see how it looks.”
Aggie head coach Tony Sanchez said NMSU will be prepared for whatever is thrown at them.
“We’ll find out as the week progresses,” Sanchez said in a press conference Sept. 8. “Whoever does play quarterback, we’ll be ready for him.”
Aggie quarterback Logan Fife put together an improved performance in a 21-14 home victory over the University of Tulsa Sept. 6. He went 27-for-44 passing for 252 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Part of his play can be attributed to wide receiver Donovan Faupel. Faupel is coming off an evening where he caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
NMSU has also improved on third down conversions between both games. After going only 4-for-16 on third downs against Bryant University, NMSU followed it up by going 10-for-19 against Tulsa.
The defense has been tenacious as well. Forcing three interceptions and allowing just 17 points through two games has been the key to success for the Aggies.
This is the first time NMSU held opponents to 14 or fewer points in back-to-back games since 2022. They beat Liberty University 49-14 Nov. 26 on the road at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Valparaiso University 65-3 Dec. 3 at home.
According to ESPN, the Bulldogs are 10.5-point favorites with the O/U set at 43.5 total points.
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