LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Aggies are set to return to Aggie Memorial Stadium this Saturday as they welcome Kennesaw State in what will serve as NM State's annual Homecoming game. The Crimson and White will be searching for their fourth home victory of the season, while looking to hand the Owls their first loss in conference play this season. The Aggies currently boast the sixth-ranked defense in the nation in terms of turnovers forced. This will be put to the test on Saturday as NM State faces off against an Owl offense that has turned the ball over just eight times this season to rank first among Conference USA teams.
 
GAME NINE
Who: NM State (3-5, 1-4 CUSA) vs. Kennesaw State (6-2, 4-0 CUSA)
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Aggie Memorial Stadium (28,853)
When: Saturday, November 8, 2025 – 2 p.m. MT
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Adam Young
Analyst: Danny Knee

Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ / TuneIn App
Play-by-Play: Jeff Matthews
Color Analyst: Bob Sherman

Spanish Radio: 96.7 FM La Equis
Play-by-Play: Abel Rodriguez
Color Analyst: Eddie Rubio

Live Stats: NMStateSports.com/Stats
 
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE  
After finishing 129th in the nation in turnover margin in 2024, the Aggie defense has flipped the script and has now forced at least one turnover in every game this season. With the emphasis on taking the ball away, the Aggies currently rank second in the conference (30th nationally) in turnover margin, forcing 18 turnovers while giving the ball away 14 times.
 
On Saturday against Western Kentucky, the Aggies came away with two turnovers (1 INT, 1 FR). With this, NM State has now come away with eight fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions, which rank fifth and 16th in the country, respectively. The Aggies also rank first among CUSA teams in fumbles recovered and second in interceptions.
 
Additionally, the Aggie defense also found the end zone for the third time this season on Saturday as Stilton McKelvey recovered a fumble and returned it 71 yards for the scoop and score. With this touchdown, the Aggies now rank tied for sixth in the nation in defensive touchdowns and are one of just 16 teams in the country with three or more defensive touchdowns this year.
 
This also marks the first time since 2018 that the Aggies have recorded multiple defensive touchdowns in a season. 2018 also represents the last time that the Aggie defense scored touchdowns in back-to-back games when they returned an interception against New Mexico on Sept. 15, 2018, before taking a fumble to the house against UTEP on the following Saturday.
 
PROTECTING HOME TURF                        
A victory on Saturday would mark the Aggies' fourth home win this season and would guarantee a winning record at home for the third time in the last four seasons. In recent history, the Aggies have been able to find success at Aggie Memorial Stadium, and a win would give NM State its fifth season with a winning record at home since 2016, doing so in 2016 (3-2), 2017 (3-2), 2022 (4-3) and 2023 (5-1).
 
This Saturday will also serve as the Aggies' Homecoming game, with festivities surrounding the 2 p.m. kickoff. This includes a parade at 9 a.m. down University Avenue, along with booths and activities in the tailgate area just north of Aggie Memorial Stadium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
NATE THE GREAT                                             
Redshirt sophomore Naeten Mitchell has served as a major catalyst to the defensive effort this season, and with a performance that included two interceptions against Missouri State on Oct. 22, he now has three picks on the year to rank tied for 13th in the nation in interceptions.
 
Against the Hilltoppers on Saturday, Mitchell tallied eight tackles to move his season total to a team-best 64 total tackles on the year, ranking sixth among CUSA defenders. This includes 42 solo tackles, a mark that ranks him 12th in the nation and third in the league in solo tackles per game (5.25).
 
FINDING FAUPEL                                              
With three catches for 29 yards against Western Kentucky, Faupel continues to pace the Aggies in both receptions and receiving yards through seven games, catching 39 passes for 476 yards. With this total, Faupel has already surpassed the Aggies' leading receiver from 2024 (TJ Pride - 374 yards) with four games remaining on the schedule.
 
Currently, Faupel is averaging 59.5 receiving yards per game to rank fifth among all CUSA receivers. At this rate, Faupel is on pace to finish with 714 receiving yards in the regular season, which would mark the most for an Aggie wideout since Jaleel Scott finished with 1,079 yards in 2017.
 
Faupel also flashed his arm against New Mexico on Sept. 27, as he became the first non-quarterback at NM State to throw a touchdown pass since 2021 when he connected with TJ Pride for a 34-yard touchdown pass on a trick play in the first quarter. The last non-quarterback to do so was Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda on Sept. 11, 2021, when he connected with Thomaz Whitford on the road against New Mexico.
 
SPLIT THE UPRIGHTS                                   
Last week, Ryan Hawk matched his career high in made field goals in a single game with three, including a 50-yarder in the third quarter. With this showing, Hawk has now made 15 kicks and ranks eighth nationally and first among all CUSA kickers in field goals made per game (1.88).
 
LIVING IN THE BACKFIELD                       
In his first season with the NM State program, defensive lineman Ezra Christensen has been a force on the defensive front. Despite missing the Western Kentucky game due to injury, Christensen still leads all CUSA defenders in sacks with six in just seven games. With the Aggies hopeful that he will return on Saturday, he will enter the weekend ranked 13th in the nation in sacks per game (0.86).
 
STEPPING IN AND STEPPING UP          
As is the case for every team in the nation, injuries have been something that the Aggies have had to maneuver early on this season. With injuries that have forced both Aggie linebackers Sone Aupiu and Tyler Martinez to miss some time, junior Tory Gethers has provided a spark. Gethers, who has started the last four games, now ranks second among all Aggies in total tackles with 61. This is highlighted by 54 tackles across the last six games, including back-to-back 13-tackle performances in the Aggies' last two outings. This individual effort marks the most tackles in a single game by any Aggie defender in 2025. His 54 tackles also rank eighth in the conference, with his three sacks ranking tied for ninth in the league.
 
Gethers has been a star for the Aggie defense in conference play as well and has tallied 47 tackles through five league games to rank third in total tackles and seventh in tackles per game (8.5) in CUSA games.
 
INSTANT IMPACT                                             
Including hauling in six catches for 132 yards in his season debut, wideout TK King has continued to serve as one of the Aggies' top offensive weapons. Since making his first appearance on Oct. 2, King ranks fifth among all CUSA receivers in receiving yards with 235 across this stretch.
 
GO, GAVIN, GO                                   
Following three catches for 29 yards in the Aggies' last contest, tight end Gavin Harris continues his stellar first year with the program. Harris now ranks eighth in the nation in receiving yards per game among all FBS tight ends with 47.6 yards per game. This also ranks first among CUSA tight ends and 11th among all CUSA pass catchers.
 
Thus far, Harris has logged at least three catches in seven of the Aggies' eight games after doing so just twice in his two-year collegiate career prior to joining the NM State program.
 
Additionally, Harris' lone touchdown catch of the season served as the game-winning score in the Aggies' 21-14 win over Tulsa on Sept. 6.
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY                  
This season, a total of eight Aggies have started all eight games. On the offensive side of the ball, this includes Logan Fife (QB), Donovan Faupel (WR), BJ Tolo (OL), Mateo Rodriguez (OL) and Malik Williams (OL). Defensively, Josiah Charles (CB), Naeten Mitchell and Cole Schnettgoecke (DL) have each appeared in the starting lineup in every game this season. In 2024, six Aggies started all 12 games, including linebackers Sone Aupiu and Tyler Martinez.
 
BIGGIE, BIGGIE, BIGGIE CAN'T YOU SEE
For the second consecutive week, redshirt junior Isaiah Rudison played a key role as a member of the Aggie backfield. While all of his carries came in the second half, including recording five carries in the fourth quarter, Rudison finished as the team's leader in rushing yards with 34 on seven carries. For Rudison, this marks career highs in both categories just one week after he scored the first rushing touchdown of his career.
 
TREMENDOUS TRANSFERS                      
Several transfers have contributed to the Aggies' success on the defensive side of the ball. Through seven games, three of the Aggies' top six tacklers joined the team in the offseason as Tory Gethers (61) ranks second and Jamall Thompson Jr. (46) ranks fourth, while Ezra Christensen ranks sixth with 32 tackles.
 
Additionally, Christensen, Gethers and Thompson Jr. account for 13 of the Aggies' 16 sacks this season.
 
AIR AGGIE                                             
With 13 completions for 112 yards last week, Logan Fife now has 153 completions for 1,831 passing yards this season. With this total, Fife has surpassed the Aggies' total passing yards from 2024 by 113 yards after a multi-quarterback approach produced 1,718 yards last year.
 
Fife has also thrown nine touchdowns this season. This output, combined with one touchdown pass on a trick play from Donovan Faupel, gives the Aggies 10 touchdown passes entering Saturday. This is just two touchdown passes shy of NM State's total from last season (12).
 
FIRST CLASS PJ                                                   
In the Aggies' outing against LA Tech on Sept. 13, wide receiver PJ Johnson III became the first Aggie to record over 150 receiving yards in a single game since 2017. Johnson III tallied a game-high 157 yards and one touchdown on seven catches, including 87 yards after the catch.
 
The last Aggie to accomplish this feat was future fourth-round NFL Draft pick Jaleel Scott, who notched 174 receiving yards and one touchdown on nine catches in a road bout against SEC foe Arkansas on Sept. 30, 2017.
 
For Johnson III, this surpassed his previous career-high of 90 yards, which he recorded in the Aggies' final game of the season last year.
 
Currently, Johnson III sits at 227 receiving yards, which is just 135 yards shy of his 2024 total.
 
 
ROSTER ROLL CALL                      
NM State wide receiver is the only Aggie on this year's roster from the Peach State as he hails from Jesup, Ga., a town of 10,000 that is about a four-hour drive from Kennesaw State's home city of Atlanta.
 
Meanwhile, Kennesaw State does not have any players on its roster from New Mexico.
 
FANTASTIC FIFE                                                
In the Aggies' victory over Tulsa earlier this season, Logan Fife submitted one of the more impressive passing performances among Aggie quarterbacks in recent history. Against the Golden Hurricane, Fife finished with 28 completions for 252 yards on 45 attempts. His 28 completions marked the most completions for an Aggie quarterback in a single game since Nov. 6, 2021, when Jonah Johnson had 30 completions at home against Utah State.
 
FEAR THE FRONT LINE                                
Through six weeks, the Aggie defense has tallied 16 sacks, 46 tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hurries.
 
With this, the Aggies have already equaled their sack total from 2024, have surpassed their number of quarterback pressures from last year (25), and sit just two tackles for loss away from matching their production from their first year under Defensive Coordinator Joe Morris.
 
SECOND YEAR UNDER SANCHEZ          
NM State is amid its second season under the leadership of Head Coach Tony Sanchez, who led the Aggies to three wins last season - defeating SEMO, LA Tech and Middle Tennessee. This marks Sanchez's seventh season as a head coach of an FBS program after previously spending five seasons coaching UNLV (2015-19).
 
In year one under Sanchez, the Aggies put forth one of the best rushing attacks in Conference USA as they finished the year average of 180.0 rushing yards per game to rank third in the conference and 40th in the nation.
 
During Sanchez's first season, the Aggies saw 11 individuals earn all-conference honors, including six Second Team All-CUSA selections.
 
This year, the Aggies are seeking their third appearance in a bowl game in a four-year span - a feat that has never been done at NM State.
 
SOPHOMORE SURGE                    
This season, the Aggies brought back just four returning starters on the offensive side of the ball; however, this does include sophomore TJ Pride, the squad's leading pass catcher from a season ago. As a true freshman in 2024, Pride paced the Aggies in both receptions (34) and receiving yards (374), while also serving as the Aggies' primary punt returner.
 
THE ERA OF THE TRANSFER PORTAL               
Since Head Coach Tony Sanchez took over in December of 2024, the Aggies have seen 66 players enter the transfer portal and land at FBS and FCS schools. Of this group, 28 of these former Aggies found their way onto the roster of a Power Four program. This includes key contributors at No. 15 Vanderbilt (Diego Pavia, Eli Stowers, Makhilyn Young), No. 2 Indiana (Jonathan Brady), No. 23 Tennessee (Star Thomas), Arizona State (Myles Rowser, Keyshaun Elliott), Kentucky (Shiyazh Pete, Seth McGowan) and Arkansas (Mike Washington).
 
COACHING STAFF CONTINUITY            
Despite some heavy turnover on the field, NM State entered the second season under Tony Sanchez with some continuity on its staff as nine full-time staffers returned for the 2025 season. Only David Yost (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) and John Cannova (Offensive Line) will be in their first season with the program.
 
AGGIE THROUGH AND THROUGH      
From student-athlete to head ball coach, Tony Sanchez has had crimson running through his veins since the day he transferred to NM State as a player. Now, Sanchez is one of just 12 coaches at the FBS level currently serving as the head coach at his alma mater.
 
Following two seasons at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., Sanchez began his Aggie playing career in 1994. During his time, Sanchez made 54 catches for 741 yards and five touchdowns to help the Aggies win seven games. His career was highlighted by a senior season in which he tallied 42 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Sanchez's first win as a player came on Sept. 17, 1994, in El Paso, Texas, where the Aggies earned a 23-22 come-from-behind victory over UTEP after falling behind 19-0 to open the game. Sanchez collected his first win as the Aggies' head coach on Aug. 31, 2024, when NM State defeated SEMO 23-16.
 
INTRODUCING JOE FIELDS                        
On September 29, New Mexico State University announced the hiring of Joe Fields as the institution's 24th Director of Athletics. Fields most recently spent one year at Tulsa, and his time in collegiate athletics also includes stops at his alma mater, Syracuse, as well as Texas A&M. Fields also competed as a student-athlete himself, playing safety at Syracuse (2004-07), where he earned All-Big East Conference honors. He also spent one year in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.
 
QB1                                                             
After finishing 127th among FBS teams in passing offense one season ago, Head Coach Tony Sanchez made it a point to bring in a proven passer in the offseason, and he did just that in the form of Montana transfer Logan Fife.
 
Fife joined the program after appearing in all 14 games and making eight starts while finishing as the Grizzlies' top passer with 167 completions for 1,890 yards and 14 touchdowns. He submitted a completion percentage of 63.5% in 2024 to help lead the Grizzlies to the second round of the FCS playoffs.
 
This marks Fife's second stint at the FBS level, as he spent a total of four seasons at Fresno State, where he began his collegiate career. With the Bulldogs, Fife appeared in 21 total games, including 12 in 2023 when he made two starts and threw for 642 yards and three touchdowns. He also played in 10 games in 2022, when he stepped in for an injured Jake Haener and made four starts. Entering the year, Fife had tallied 143 completions for 1,585 yards and six touchdowns at the FBS level.
 
This experience comes as a stark contrast to last year, when the Aggies entered the season with just one combined start at the FBS level among the seven individuals in the quarterback room.
 
Beyond the midway point of the season, Fife has recorded 227 or more passing yards in six of the Aggies' eight games after the team did so just once during 2024.
 
YEAR ONE WITH YOST                                 
Along with a new quarterback, the Aggies began the year with a new playcaller on the headset as David Yost entered his first season at NM State after spending the last three years as the offensive coordinator for CUSA foe FIU.
 
He brings with him 35 years of experience, including stints in well-respected conferences such as the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Mid-American. He boasts a reputation of being one of the top quarterback developers in college football and has helped the growth of former passers, including Justin Herbert (Oregon), Jordan Love (Utah State), Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) and Chase Daniel (Missouri).
 
DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL                             
The Aggie defense is led by Defensive Coordinator Joe Morris, who is in his second season with the program after coming over from CUSA foe Sam Houston ahead of the 2024 season. Highlighted by returning starters Tyler Martinez, Sone Aupiu and Dakerric Hobbs, the Aggie defense is also bolstered by returners Nick Session, Josiah Charles, Naeten Mitchell and Cole Schnettgoecke, who returns from injury after starting the first two games last year.
 
Meanwhile, the Aggies also brought back defensive end Gabe Peterson, who played 12 games for the Crimson and White during the 2023 season, in which NM State finished with double-digit wins for just the second time in program history.
 
ENJOY THE JOURNEY                                 
For NM State running back Kadarius Calloway, his path as a collegiate football player has been quite the journey. Born and raised in the small town of Philadelphia, Miss. (6,938 population), Calloway enrolled at Alabama in the summer of 2021 after finishing his high school career rated a four-star recruit and the No. 2 overall recruit in the state of Mississippi.
 
Following a summer with the Crimson Tide, Calloway elected to withdraw from Alabama, stating he felt he had much more to learn about football before being ready to play big-time college football.
 
From Alabama, Calloway transferred to East Mississippi Community College, where he spent one season. His journey then led him to Old Dominion, where he had a breakout season in 2023, recording 88 carries for 623 yards and five touchdowns. This included a game against Marshall on Sept. 30, 2021, when he rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns.

Ahead of his move to NM State, the running back played the 2024 season at Cal and appeared in 11 games, while tallying 124 rushing yards and one touchdown.
 
During the preseason, Calloway was rated the No. 1 running back in Conference USA by Rat Rundown and will serve as one half of the Aggies' two-headed monster in the backfield alongside Utah transfer Dijon Stanley.
   
RETURNING PRODUCTION                       
Offensive Coordinator David Yost was also tasked with finding a way to replace the offensive production that was lost in the offseason. Most notably, the Aggies returned just 16.6% of their total rushing yardage from the 2024 campaign. Following the departure of its top three rushers from last season, NM State reloaded its backfield with the addition of Cal transfer Kadarius Calloway and Utah transfer Dijon Stanley.
 
From a passing game perspective, the Aggies returned 62.8% of their passing yards and 53.9% of their receiving yards as they brought back their top passer (Parker Awad) and top two wideouts (TJ Pride and PJ Johnson III).
 
Defensively, NM State returned three of its top six tacklers from last year as Tyler Martinez, Sone Aupiu and Dakerric Hobbs remain in Las Cruces and also serve as the lone three returning starters from last season's defense.
 
AGGIE ADDITIONS                                      
In the offseason, the Aggies brought in a total of 54 newcomers, including 42 transfers - 15 coming from the FBS level. In addition to Logan Fife, Kadarius Calloway, Dijon Stanley, Gabe Peterson, some of the notable newcomers include wide receiver AJ Williams III, tight end Gavin Harris, offensive linemen Ma'Kyi Lee and Malik Williams, safeties Bernock Iya and Armahn Hale and defensive end Brad Vislisel.
 
WHERE ARE THEY FROM                           
This year's Aggie roster is made up of 107 players from 26 states and four countries. The largest percentage of the roster hails from California, with 23 Aggies coming from the Golden State. Additionally, 21 players are from Texas, 15 are from the Aggies' home state of New Mexico and 11 are from Arizona.
 
In addition to the United States, the NM State roster also features players from American Samoa, Australia and Germany.
 
SPECIALISTS RETURNING                         
Last season, one of the bright spots on the Aggie team was the special teams unit as both kicker Abraham Montaño and punter George Eberle landed themselves in the Aggie record book, while long snapper Charlie Eberle served as the long snapper for all punts, field goals and extra points and had zero snapping errors.
 
This season, the Aggies will be looking to replace all three of these key contributors and will serve as one of just 11 teams at the FBS level with one or fewer specialists returning among their field goal kicker, punter, kickoff kicker, holder, snapper, kick returner and punt returner.
 
TEAM CAPTAINS                                               
Ahead of the season, NM State held a team vote to select its team captains for the 2025 campaign. This year, the Aggie captains are made up of three offensive players and three defensive players.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Aggies are led by quarterback Logan Fife, offensive lineman Malik Williams and wide receiver PJ Johnson. Defensively, linebacker Tyler Martinez, cornerback Dakerric Hobbs and defensive lineman Cole Schnettgoecke will also serve as team captains.
 
DAD STRENGTH                                                   
NM State quarterback Logan Fife became a father during fall camp as his daughter was born on August 12, 2025.
 
TRUE FRESHMEN COME IN ALL SHAPES AND AGES
The youngest player and oldest player on this year's team are both true freshmen as offensive lineman Gavin Jones, born July 21, 2007, and kicker David Barker, born Sept. 10, 1999, were born a full 2,871 (seven years, 10 months and 11 days) days apart and are both beginning their first season of collegiate football.
 
YEAR THREE                                                 
The Aggies are now in their third year as members of Conference USA. NM State made quite the splash in its debut campaign - going 7-1 in league play on its way to an appearance in the CUSA Championship Game in addition to being one of only 27 FBS programs to reach the 10-win mark in 2023.
 
Including this season, NM State has now won 10 games across its first three seasons in the new league.
 
For the second straight season, the league makeup has changed as Delaware and Missouri State make the move to bring the league total to 12 for the 2025 season. With an eight-game conference schedule, the Aggies will not see newcomer Delaware, Jax State or FIU this season, but did meet up with Missouri State and will see Kennesaw State this weekend for the first time in program history.
 
HISPANIC HEAD COACHES                        
The Aggies' leader, Tony Sanchez, is one of just five Hispanic head coaches at the FBS level. Sanchez, a second-generation American of Puerto Rican and English descent, is also joined in this group by Baylor's Dave Aranda, Miami's Mario Cristobal, Duke's Manny Diaz and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez.
 
Additionally, Sanchez is the first NM State head coach of Hispanic descent. Sanchez leads the Aggie program, which calls Las Cruces, a city with over 60% Hispanic population, home.
 
WHERE TO WATCH THE AGGIES         
After five of the Aggies' 12 games were featured on national networks in 2024, the Aggies were in the spotlight in 2025 once again. This year, NM State played its three midweek contests on CBS Sports Network.
 
The Aggies' week 11 matchup against the Owls will stream live on ESPN+.
 
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE AGGIES  
Once again, all games this season will air 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 with the call provided by Abel Rodriguez (play-by-play) and Eddie Rubio (analyst). Radio broadcasts for all Aggie games will also be available to listen to nationwide via the TuneIn App. Radio play-by-play for Saturday's game will be provided by Jeff Matthews, with analysis provided by Bob Sherman.
 
This will also mark the first season in over four decades that the Aggies will have a new play-by-play caller on the radio after Jack Nixon retired last season after 45 years of service.
 
FAMILY BUSINESS                                            
The Aggie team will have two student-athletes this season whose fathers also suited up for the Aggies during their respective playing days. NM State also rosters one student-athlete whose brother formerly played for the Aggies.
 
Redshirt sophomore David Barela is the son of David Barela, who also played for the Aggies from 1990-93.
 
Las Cruces native Siddeeq Shabazz will be the fourth member of the Shabazz family to wear Crimson & White. His father, Siddeeq Shabazz, played for the Aggies from 1999-02 and is one of 28 former Aggies to earn a spot in the NFL. Additionally, his family members, Shukree and Sina also played for the Aggies.
 
Meanwhile, Bryant Jackson is also the brother who previously wore the Crimson & White. Jackson first came to NM State along with his older brother, Bryce, in 2022. After transferring in from UNLV, Bryce served as a key cog on the Aggie defense en route to a victory in the Quick Lane Bowl. In his lone year with NM State, Jackson tallied 66 total tackles and two interceptions from his safety position.
 
For complete coverage of the NM State football program, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFB).