LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Now officially bowl bound, the Aggies will now look to check another box off on their list of goals for the season as they visit Bowling Green, Ky., to take on Western Kentucky in what will ultimately be a bout for a spot in the CUSA title game against Liberty. 

Game Information
NM State (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) at Western Kentucky (5-4, 3-2 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m. MT
TV: ESPN+

• Randy Lee (Play-by-Play)
• Jared Holland (Color Analyst)
• Mike Cleff (Sideline)

Radio: The Aggie Radio Network, Powered by LEARFIELD

• Adam Young (PxP)
• Danny Knee (Color Analyst)

PICK SIX
5 - With a win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday, the Aggies have put together their first five-game conference win streak in program history.
63 - With a win on Saturday, the Aggies became bowl eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time in 63 years when they did so in the 1959-60 seasons.
4 - A win over WKU on Saturday would give the Aggies an opportunity to win just its fourth conference championship in program history.
15 - The Aggie defense has held its opponents to 15 points per game across the last seven contests.
58 - A victory over Western Kentucky would give the Aggies four road wins for the first time in a single season since the 1965 campaign.
6 - Head Coach Jerry Kill now ranks 6th all-time in win percentage among NM State head coaches with at least 10 games under their belt. Entering Saturday, Kill hoists a 14-9 record for a .609 win percentage.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
After fighting for bowl eligibility last weekend, NM State will once again be entering a game with historical implications on the line as they look to earn a spot in the CUSA Championship in just its first year as a member of the league.
 
With seven wins in hand and a bowl game already in the future, the Aggies can secure a spot across from Liberty in the title game that is set to be played on Friday, Dec. 1, in Lynchburg, Va.
 
In its nearly 130-year history, the NM State program has been crowned conference champions just three times - 1938, 1960 and 1978. A win on Saturday would put this Aggie team in unique territory as the winner of Saturday's game is essentially a playoff for the conference title game as the winner will be guaranteed a spot due to Jax State being ineligible for the postseason.
 
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS... AND GAMES
In the first three games of the season, Aggie opponents averaged 31.7 points per game. Since then, Nate Dreiling and Melvin Rice have the NM State defense clicking as the last seven opposing offenses are averaging just 15.0 points per game. This includes performances against UTEP and Middle Tennesse in which they held the opposition to just seven points apiece.
 
Against Middle Tennessee, this stout defense proved to be essential to collecting the Aggies' seventh win of the season as NM State earned its first win while scoring 13 or fewer points since Sept. 13, 1980 when it knocked off UTEP 6-3.
 
OCTOBER'S VERY OWN
Since Jerry Kill took over the Aggies, the month of October has been friendly to the men in crimson and white and that trend has only continued this season.
 
With last Tuesday's result, the Aggies finished this October with a 4-0 record and moved to 6-1 in the 10th month of the year across the last two seasons. With the win over LA Tech, the Aggies surpassed their number of October wins during the previous regime which spanned nine seasons.
 
In this year's October span, the Aggies put up some staggering statistics that rivaled that of the best in the nation.
 
• T-5th in rushing yards per attempt (6.0 yards per rush)
• 6th in opponent 3rd-down conversion percentage (22.9%)
• 10th in scoring defense (15.3 ppg)
• 19th in yards per play (6.6 yds)
• T-19th in rushing offense (210 ypg)
• T-19th in rushing defense (106.8 ypg)
 
Additionally, in the month of October, the Aggies were one of only five teams inside the top 20 in both rushing offense and defense.
During this stretch, the Aggies were also among the top two teams in CUSA in 12 different categories - total defense (1st, 359.8 ypg), touchdowns allowed (1st, 8), scoring defense (1st, 15.25), yards per play (1st, 6.6), rush yards per attempt (1st, 6.0), rushing defense (t-1st, 106.75), rush yards per carry allowed (1st, 3.5), turnover margin (1st, +3), opponent 3rd down conversion percentage (1st, 22.9%), touchdowns scored (2nd, 14), total offensive yards per game (2nd, 415.75), rush yards per game (2nd, 210).
 
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
With the Aggies' win over MTSU on Oct. 11, NM State has now rattled off four consecutive home wins, a feat that has been accomplished only four times since 1992.
 
During the win streak, the Aggies have outscored opponents 132-58. NM State's offense has averaged 487.3 yards of offense per game while holding opposing teams to just 339.3 yards per game. On the ground, the Aggies have limited opponents to just 92.3 rushing yards per game while averaging 201.8 rushing yards themselves.
 
This is also be the second consecutive season that the Aggies would stack four home wins to mark the first time that NM State have done so since 1966-67.
 
WHAT CAN CRIMSON DO FOR YOU?
Despite often leaning on the passing attack, this year's Aggie squad has also been dominant in the trenches as they have outgained their opponents in rushing yards in all but one game this season.
 
Thus far, the Aggies are one of only three CUSA teams to average more than 200 rushing yards per game this season as both Liberty and Jax State also average 200-plus.
 
"IT'S A SIMPLE GAME"
As Jerry Kill would say, "It's a simple game, we just like to make it hard sometimes." A primary focus for all offenses, including the Aggie offense, is to protect the ball. When that happens and the Aggies commit zero turnovers, NM State is a perfect 5-0 this season.
 
On the contrary, the Aggies are 2-3 when the opposing defense comes up with at least one turnover.
 
This weekend will be a stronghold as the Hilltoppers are among the very best in the nation at forcing turnovers - ranking fifth in the country in total forced turnovers (19).
 
GO-GO GADGET ELI
In his first season with the Aggies, quarterback Eli Stowers has quickly become one of the Aggies' top weapons and has done so from almost everywhere on the field.
 
The Denton, Texas, native made his first appearance at the tight end position against FIU on Oct. 4 and has since appeared at tight end, wide receiver, running back and even safety.
 
In the last four games, Stowers has led the Aggie offense in receptions, receiving yards or both after beginning the season as the Aggies primary backup at the quarterback position.
 
On the season, Stowers ranks second on the team in receptions (24) and third in receiving yards (271). Stowers also has one touchdown pass this year as he hooked up with Jordin Parker for a 63 completion on Sept. 2 against Western Illinois.
 
100 YEARS
The win over UTEP in El Paso coupled with the win over New Mexico in Albuquerque earlier in the season helped NM State accomplish something it hadn't done since 1923.
 
The pair of victories marked the first time that the Aggies knocked off both of their rivals on the road in the same season in 100 years. However, the 2023 season is just the first time since 1999 that the two tilts came on the road as most years the Aggies host either the Lobos or the Miners.
 
WINNING WAYS
With a win last Tuesday, NM State extended its win streak to five games to match its longest stretch without a loss since the 2002 season. In fact, the 2002 streak of four consecutive wins is the program's only four game win streak since 1975.
 
On Saturday, NM State will look to push that streak to six games - something that it has not accomplished since the historic 1960 season when the Aggies finished the season with a perfect 11-0 record. This would also be just the fourth time in program history that the Aggies rattle off six wins in a row.
 
KINGS OF NEW MEXICO
For the first time since 2017, NM State tallied a win in Albuquerque as they defeated the Lobos 27-17 on Sept. 16. This also marked the second consecutive win over the Lobos and makes Jerry Kill the first Aggie coach since Dewayne Walker to begin his career with a perfect 2-0 record against the Aggies' in-state rival.
 
In the win, the Aggies were led offensively by Albuquerque native Diego Pavia who finished the night with 203 passing yards, two throwing touchdowns and 99 rushing yards. The 99-yard rushing total marked the most by any Aggie at that point in the season.
 
SPECIAL TALENT
Since his arrival in 2019, Ethan Albertson has established himself among the top kickers in the country. Earlier this season, Albertson received recognition for his performance against New Mexico as he was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week.
The award came on the heels of a Saturday performance in which he made a pair of field goals and went a perfect 3-for-3 on PAT attempts.
 
Amid his senior season, the San Diego native ranks inside the top ten in NM State history for field goals made (t-2, 40), field goals attempted (t-4, 54), field goal percentage (1st, 74.1%), extra points made (5th, 93), extra points attempted (5th, 97) and extra point percentage (4th, 95.9%).
 
DUAL THREAT
After an impressive first season in the Crimson and White, quarterback Diego Pavia already finds himself among the Aggie greats. He currently ranks 15th all-time in program history in career passing yards (3,566) and third in career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,167). Against LA Tech, Pavia also became just the second quarterback in program history to surpass 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in an Aggie uniform.
 
AIR IT OUT
Between Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck and Wide Receivers Coach Tony Sanchez, the Aggies have formed an offensive attack that produces big play after big play in the passing game.
 
Currently, the Aggies rank seventh in the nation in passing yards per completion - averaging over 15 yards per reception (15.1).
 
Thus far, the Aggies have compiled 23 passing plays of 25 yards or more in nine games. This also includes 11 passing plays of 40 yards or longer (40, 40, 42, 42, 49, 52, 63, 75, 75, 78, 80). This all begins in the backfield with Diego Pavia who now ranks 20th among FBS quarterbacks in yards per pass attempt at 8.85.
 
BLOCK THAT KICK!
On Sept. 9, the hand of Gabe Peterson helped NM State's special teams unit came up with a blocked point after attempt for the first time since Dion Henrique did so at Florida on Sept. 5, 2015.
 
The big paw of Peterson did it again on Oct. 24 when he swatted away a PAT attempt against LA Tech.
 
With the pair of blocks, he is one of only 13 players in college football with two blocked kicks and the only athlete with two blocked PATs.
 
BIG PLAYS ONLY
Jordin Parker has put together one of the most unique seasons in all of college football as he has now caught three touchdown passes on just four receptions on the season.
 
His stat line gets even stranger when you look at his total receiving yards this year. Following yet another big catch against FIU, Parker ranks third on the team in receiving yards with 194. That is good for an astonishing 48.5 yards per reception.
 
A WINNING TRADITION
With 14 wins under his belt at NM State, Jerry Kill is the tenth winningest active coach in FBS football.
 
Of note, three of the top 10 coaches on the active wins list lead CUSA programs as K.C. Keeler (ranked 4th) and Rich Rodriguez (ranked 9th) lead Sam Houston and Jacksonville State, respectively.
 
Aside from Keeler and Rodriguez, Kill trails just Nick Saban (Alabama), Mack Brown (North Carolina), Brian Kelly (LSU), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Willie Fritz (Tulane), Chris Creighton (Eastern Michigan), and Terry Bowden (Louisiana - Monroe).
 
IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT
When HC Jerry Kill replaced Doug Martin, the Aggies cleaned house for the remainder of the coaching staff as well. In fact, just one staff member was retained from the 2021 team - Defensive Graduate Assistant Quinn Thomas.
 
However, from 2022 to 2023, all 10 assistant coaches will make the return. This makes Kill's staff one of just seven schools in the country to bring back its entire staff - joined by Colorado State, Louisiana, Kansas, USC, Iowa and Pitt.
 
NO LIMITS ON THE AGGIES
As the Aggies enter the heart of their conference schedule, some of NM State's numbers stack up against the best of the best in the new league.
 
Currently, the Aggies have three individuals who rank inside the top five in the conference in a total of 17 statistical categories.
 
Diego Pavia
Pass Efficiency (2nd, 152.7)
Passing TDs (3rd, 17)
Passing Yards (3rd, 2,116)
Passing Yards per Game (4th, 211.6)
Passing Yards per Completion (2nd, 14.80)
Total Offense per Game (3rd, 277.5)
Yards per Pass Attempt (2nd, 8.85)
Rushing Yards (4th, 659)
Rushing Yards Per Game (4th, 65.9)
Rush Yards per Carry (3rd, 5.63)
Completion Pct. (3rd, 59.8%)
Completions Per Game (4th, 14.30)
 
Ethan Albertson
Field Goal Pct. (3rd, 73.7%)
Field Goals Per Game (1st, 1.40)
Scoring (1st, 74 pts)
 
Trent Hudson
Receiving TDs (2nd, 6)
Total TDs (4th, 6)
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES (WKU)
NM State will hit the road once again as they travel to Bowling Green, Ky., to take on Western Kentucky for the first time in program history.
 
Head Coach Tyson Helton will lead the Hilltoppers in the Saturday matchup between the two CUSA Championship hopefuls. Helton has now been at the helm of the MTSU program for almost five seasons and has racked up 37 wins.
 
The centerpiece of the Western Kentucky offense will be quarterback Austin Reed who led the country in passing yards during the 2022-23 season and now currently ranks 10th in the nation in passing touchdowns and 25th in passing yards after. Additionally, the WKU offensive line is among the best at protecting its quarterback as they rankd third in the nation in sacks allowed.
 
Reed's go-to target will be WKU leading receiver Malachi Corley who ranks 14th in the nation in receiving touchdowns (8) and is currently projected to be a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
 
Meanwhile, the run game will flow through Elijah Young and Markese Stepp who combine to average just 33.5 rushing yards per game this season.
 
Defensively, the Hilltoppers rank fifth in the nation in turnovers forced - led by Kendrick Simpkins who has forced four fumbles this season.
 
THE VARSITY NETWORK
Last season, NM State Sports Properties and its parent company LEARFIELD, announced the creation of "THE VARSITY NETWORK" an interactive application that features free live gameday broadcasts, original content, and national college programming such as College Sports Now, College Football Biltz and the new College Football Saturday Night.
 
Fans can download the app for iPhone or android and will gain instant access to free gameday audio streams, including NM State football brought to you by Adam Young and Danny Knee, and receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts.
 
THE VOICE(S) OF THE AGGIES
NM State broadcaster Jack Nixon returns for his 44thyear of broadcasting Aggie athletics for the NM State radio network. A legend on the Aggie airwaves, Nixon has broadcast over 400 Aggie football contests and over 1,000 Aggie men's basketball games.  An NM State Hall of Fame selection, Nixon will handle of the radio duties with former Aggie Cory Lucas, who joined the broadcaster ahead of the 2017 season.