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