New Mexico
Gameday Central: Everything to know for New Mexico State vs Florida International
New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) plays its third consecutive weekday game and second weekday game of the season against Florida International (2-6, 1-3 CUSA) at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Aggies are coming off their first win since their season opener and their first FBS win of 2024 against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 15, defeating the Bulldogs 33-30 in double overtime. Sophomore quarterback Parker Awad started his fourth game of the season and threw a touchdown pass, while senior quarterback Brandon Nunez scored two rushing touchdowns and replaced Awad for NM State’s final three drives in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Aggies blocked a late LA Tech field goal as time expired in regulation and junior running back Mike Washington scored a game-winning four-yard rushing touchdown after being suspended for the first quarter by NM State coach Tony Sanchez for being late to a team meeting.
Senior defensive end Kale Edwards earned four sacks against LA Tech, becoming the first NM State player to record more than 3.5 sacks in a game since Cedric Wilcots II against Idaho in 2017. He became the second Aggie to win a CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honor this season after redshirt sophomore safety Tayden Barnes for his performance.
The Panthers are on a three-game losing streak, recently falling to Sam Houston 10-7 on Oct. 22. Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins was benched for junior Chaydeen Perry during the contest, but FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said Jenkins will start against the Aggies. Jenkins has thrown for 1,438 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a quarterback rating of 27.9 this season. The Panthers’ defense ranks fourth in CUSA in yards allowed per game and fifth in points allowed per game in 2024.
Nunez will start his first game of the season at quarterback.
Here’s everything you need to know for game day:
More: NM State football: Mike Washington scores game-winning touchdown after first quarter suspension
New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3) at FIU (2-6, 1-3)
Location: Pitbull Stadium, Miami, Fla.
Kickoff time: Oct. 29, 5 p.m.
Channel: CBS Sports Network (Commentators: Dave Ryan and Donte Whitner)
Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ and Sirius XM 970 (Commentators: Jack Nixon and Cory Lucas)
More: Complete scoring summary of the Louisiana Tech vs New Mexico State game
Things to know
- NM State has a 2-1 record against FIU, with wins in 2004 and 2023. The Aggies defeated the Panthers 34-17 last season in Las Cruces and will play a game in Miami for the first time.
- NM State has the ninth-best red-zone offense in the FBS, having scored on 94.1% of its red-zone trips (11 touchdowns, five field goals). It’ll face an FIU red-zone defense that ranks 27th in the FBS, allowing scores on 76.5% of red-zone possessions.
- Junior running back Monte Watkins will miss a second straight game due to remaining in concussion protocol after leaving the game against Jacksonville State on Oct. 9 in an ambulance.
- Both the Aggies and Panthers rank in the bottom half of CUSA in offensive yards per game and points per game. NM State ranks seventh and ninth in those categories, respectively, while FIU rank seighth and sixth, respectively.
- The Aggies are 0-3 on the road this season, losing all three games by an average of 36.3 points.
Pregame reading
Meet NM State DE Kale Edwards: New Mexico State football’s Kale Edwards hopes 4-sack game is just the start
QB battle continues for Aggies: New Mexico State football: 3 QBs in play to start, Sanchez talks transfer portal changes
Vote for who should be NM State’s QB: The polls are open! Who should be NM State football’s starting quarterback against FIU?
Read more about NMSU’s Brandon Nunez: Who is Brandon Nunez? NM State quarterback leads Aggies to OT victory against Louisiana Tech
Meet Aggies RB Seth McGowan: ‘I’ll never waver’: Seth McGowan enjoys fresh start at NM State three years after OU exit
Meet NM State coach Tony Sanchez: The coach with a chip on his shoulder: NM State’s Tony Sanchez determined to succeed
According to the Cibola National Forest District, a fire that started on private land near Grants has now spread into the National Forest. The Merrill Fire started Friday evening south of I-40 and west of Grants. It is now about 40 acres and multiple fire agencies are on scene, including US Forest Service, New Mexico Forestry Division and McKinley County. No evacuations are in place. Smoke could be visible in the area of the Zuni Mountains.
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
-
Now Playing
‘Rust’ armorer released from New Mexico prison
00:32
-
UP NEXT
Neighbors help each other escape San Diego plane crash
03:31
-
Army soldiers temporarily decertified after allegedly firing blanks at Florida beach
02:13
-
Employees dress as bears to care for rescued cub
00:54
-
New details in fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers
01:36
-
Investigation into 18 Army instructors
01:16
-
Judge blocks Trump administration from banning international students at Harvard
00:56
-
Billy Joel announces brain condition diagnosis
02:25
-
Trump threatens new tariffs on iPhones
02:28
-
Record number of travelers expected this holiday weekend
02:13
-
Memorial Day sales heat up as tariff hikes loom
02:48
-
Kim Kardashian Paris robbery trial finds 8 of 10 guilty
02:23
-
Billy Joel cancels U.S. tour after brain disorder diagnosis
05:31
-
Third woman arrested in connection to Louisiana jailbreak
02:36
-
Supreme Court grants Trump request to fire independent agency members
00:57
-
Small plane makes belly landing in Texas after landing gear fails
00:22
-
3rd woman arrested after 10 inmates escape New Orleans jail
00:25
-
PCH in California reopens ahead of Memorial Day weekend
00:26
-
New video shows explosion after small plane crash in San Diego
02:11
-
FBI calls Jewish museum shooting ‘targeted antisemitic violence’
02:29
NBC News NOW
-
Now Playing
‘Rust’ armorer released from New Mexico prison
00:32
-
UP NEXT
Neighbors help each other escape San Diego plane crash
03:31
-
Army soldiers temporarily decertified after allegedly firing blanks at Florida beach
02:13
-
Employees dress as bears to care for rescued cub
00:54
-
New details in fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers
01:36
-
Investigation into 18 Army instructors
01:16
NBC News NOW
NBC News NOW
NBC News NOW
NBC News NOW
Play All
When Will the June SNAP Payments Be Deposited in the 48 Contiguous States, Alaska, and Hawaii?
Arizona baseball’s pitching hitting stride at perfect time
Arkansas wins ugly to extend season; now need just one more to make history
Nature: Poppies in California
Deion Sanders Sends Reminder To Colorado Buffaloes Players, Staff Amid Memorial Day Weekend
-
Technology1 week agoMeta asks judge to throw out antitrust case mid-trial
-
World1 week agoCommissioner Hansen presents plan to cut farming bureaucracy in EU
-
News1 week agoVideo: Doctors Heal Infant Using First Customized-Gene Editing Treatment
-
News1 week agoNew Orleans jailbreak: 10 inmates dug a hole, wrote ‘to easy’ before fleeing; escape plan found
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoDevil’s Double Next Level Movie Review: Trapped in a punchline purgatory
-
Business1 week agoVideo: How Staffing Shortages Have Plagued Newark Airport
-
Business1 week agoConsumers Show Signs of Strain Amid Trump's Tariff Rollout
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Nouvelle Vague’ Review: Richard Linklater’s Movie About the Making of Godard’s ‘Breathless’ Is an Enchanting Ode to the Rapture of Cinema