LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following a week off, NM State continues its 2025 campaign with a road bout against in-state rival New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The meeting between the Aggies and Lobos will serve as the 115^th installment of the Rio Grande Rivalry, with the Aggies looking to secure their second consecutive win in Albuquerque for the first time in nearly 15 years.
 
WEEK FOUR
Who: NM State at New Mexico
Where: Albuquerque, N.M. – University Stadium (39,224)
When: Saturday, September 27, 2025 – 2 p.m. MT
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Robert Portnoy
Analyst: DonTrell Moore
 
Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ / TuneIn App
Play-by-Play: Adam Young
Color Analyst: Bob Sherman
 
Live Stats: NMStateSports.com/Stats
 
PICK SIX                                                                                                
115 – Saturday's contest will mark the 115th all-time meeting between NM State and New Mexico.
157 – With 157 receiving yards against LA Tech, PJ Johnson III became the first Aggie receiver with over 150 receiving yards since 2017.
16 – Saturday represents just the 16th time in the history of the Rio Grande Rivalry that the two teams will enter the game with a winning record, including being just the second time since 1964.
10 – With another interception in its last outing, the Aggie defense has now recorded 10 interceptions across the last seven games, dating back to last season.
1999 – NM State is seeking its first 3-1 start since the 1999 season.
2 – The Aggies are looking to win back-to-back road games against New Mexico since the 2009 and 2011 seasons.
 
THE STATE AT STAKE                                  
The Aggies and Lobos will meet on Saturday in what will mark the 115th all-time meeting between the rivals from the Land of Enchantment. The contest colloquially known as the Rio Grande Rivalry was first played on New Year's Day in 1894, and since 1905, the two sides have met in all but seven years (1907, 1910, 1918, 1943, 1944, 1945, 2020).
 
This year's collision carries a little extra weight, as it marks the first time since 1992 that both programs will enter the game with a winning record. Across the history of the rivalry, this has only happened 15 times prior to Saturday, with 14 of these occurrences coming before 1965.
 
In the case of NM State, this will mark the 41st time that the Aggies enter the Battle of I-25 hoisting a winning record.
 
In the last 15 meetings between the two programs, New Mexico holds a slight edge, winning eight times. However, the Aggies have come away with a victory in two of the last three run-ins, including winning by a score of 27-17 the last time that the game was held at University Stadium (2023).
 
Saturday's game will also represent the 60th time that the game will take place in Albuquerque, with the Aggies holding a 14-42-3 record in road games against the Lobos.
 
FIRST CLASS PJ                                                   
In the Aggies' last outing, 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.
 
With this output, Johnson III now paces all Aggie wideouts in receiving yards with 211 while also leading the team in receiving touchdowns with two. Additionally, with 13 catches and 211 yards, the native of Lake Charles, La., ranks fourth among CUSA pass catchers and now sits just six catches and 135 yards shy of his season totals amassed across 12 games in 2024.
 
MOVE THE CHAINS                        
While only 1-for-1, NM State is currently one of just 11 teams in the nation with a perfect conversion rate on fourth down and is one of just three teams in the Group of Five among this group. This may be put to the test on Saturday as New Mexico enters the game as one of just five teams in the nation yet to allow a fourth-down conversion, as it has stopped all three of its opponents' attempts thus far.
 
GOING CLUBBING                                             
After breaking his hand in the season opener, senior linebacker Tyler Martinez has played two games with a club on his right hand, but this has not slowed the standout from Albuquerque down in the slightest.
 
Even with a club on his hand during the last two games, Martinez ranks second on the team in total tackles (16) and leads the team in pass breakups with three. Martinez also recorded his first collegiate interception in the Aggies' road matchup against LA Tech two weeks ago.
 
AIR AGGIE                                             
Thus far, NM State has recorded more passing yards than its opponent in all three games it has played. Last year, the Aggies did this just once when they out-passed UTEP in the final game of the season.
 
After a 2024 season that saw the Aggies finish 127th in the nation in passing offense, the passing attack has turned into the strong suit of this version of the NM State offense. Entering week four, the Aggies rank 48th in the nation and third among Conference USA teams in passing offense, averaging 254.0 passing yards per contest.
 
FAST START                                        
With a win over Tulsa in week two, the Aggies moved to 2-0 for the first time since 2014. Despite the loss at LA Tech, the 2-1 start still marks NM State's best start through three games since 2014. 2014 also serves as the last time that the Aggies entered the Rio Grande Rivalry with a winning record (2-1).
 
NO FLY ZONE                                      
Against LA Tech, the Aggies' Tyler Martinez hauled in his first career interception to bring the team's season total to four. Through four weeks of play, this ranks tied for 20th among teams at the FBS level and second in comparison to CUSA teams.
 
With four interceptions across the opening two weeks, the Aggie defense has now amassed 10 interceptions over its last seven games, dating back to the end of last season when it recorded two interceptions in three of its final four games.
 
PROTECTING PAY DIRT                              
Through three weeks, the Aggie defense is allowing 22.0 points per game, and despite allowing 49 points on the road at LA Tech, NM State still ranks second in CUSA in scoring defense.
 
During this stretch, the Aggies have been exceptional at maintaining a "bend, don't break" mantra as they currently rank 13th in the country in red zone defense, allowing six scores on nine opportunities. The Aggies will look to continue this trend this week when they take on a New Mexico offense which ranks 126th in the nation in red zone offense.
 
This defensive support has proved to be what the Aggie offense has needed as it has averaged 20.0 points in the team's two wins. Last season, NM State finished the year 0-5 when scoring fewer than 23 points and is now 2-1 when doing so this season.
 
Meanwhile, the Aggie offense has been equally elite at converting in the red zone itself, as they are one of 19 teams in the country to come away with points in each of their attempts. Thus far, the Aggies have posted three touchdowns and a pair of field goals among their five trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
 
JAM(ALL) DAY                                                     
Following an Aggie debut in which he led the team in tackles and sacks, Samford transfer Jamall Thompson Jr. once again put together an impressive performance in the Aggies' victory over Tulsa on Sept. 6 as he tallied four total tackles, one tackle for loss and what would essentially be the game-sealing interception as he dropped into coverage to bring the Aggie offense back on the field with 34 seconds remaining in the game.
 
Thus far, the versatile defender ranks tied for first on the team in total tackles (24.0), interceptions (1) and sacks (2.0).
 
TREMENDOUS TRANSFERS                      
Jamall Thompson Jr. is one of a number of transfers contributing to the Aggies' success on the defensive side of the ball. Through three games, four of the Aggies' top seven tacklers joined the team in the offseason as Thompson Jr. ranks tied for first on the team with 24 total tackles, Tory Gethers ranks fifth with 17 tackles, Bernock Iya ranks sixth with 16 tackles and Ezra Christensen ranks seventh with 15 tackles.
 
Additionally, both Thompson Jr. and Christensen enter Saturday tied for the team lead in sacks with two each.
 
GAME-WINNER GAVIN                                 
Aggie tight end Gavin Harris has proven to be an important piece of the Aggie passing game through three weeks and that was on full display during the Aggies' game-winning drive against Tulsa three weeks ago as Logan Fife connected with Harris for the go-ahead touchdown on 3rd-and-goal from the 15-yard line.
 
Through four weeks, the Central Michigan transfer ranks second in receiving yards per game (43.4) among all CUSA tight ends.
 
HOMEGROWN AGGIES                                  
This weekend's game will be one of seven for the Aggies in the state of New Mexico, a place from which 15 Aggies hail. This group of homegrown Aggies includes key defensive contributors Tyler Martinez and Zaiden Davis.
 
FANTASTIC FIFE                                                
In the Aggies' victory over Tulsa, 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.
 
Through three games, Fife has tallied 760 passing yards. Last season, Aggie quarterbacks combined to throw for 1,718 yards across 12 games. At this pace, Fife would surpass this mark in the Aggies' seventh game.
 
FEAR THE FRONT LINE                                
Through two weeks, the Aggie defense has tallied six sacks, 19 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hurries. This charge has been led by Jamall Thompson Jr., who has a pair of sacks and six tackles for loss to his name thus far. Ezra Christensen was also a force against Tulsa as he notched two sacks and three tackles for loss in the win.
 
With this, the Aggies are already more than a third of the way to their sack total in 2024 (14) and over a half of the way to their number of quarterback pressures last season (25).
 
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 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 will seek their third appearance in a bowl game in a four-year span - a feat that has never been done at NM State.
 
SANCHEZ VERSUS THE LOBOS               
Tony Sanchez submitted one of his best career games in his final game as a player in the Rio Grande Rivalry. On Sept. 23, 1995, Sanchez hauled in five catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the Aggies' 36-24 defeat.
 
As a coach, Sanchez is 1-2 versus the Lobos with his lone win coming in 2017 when he coached UNLV to a 38-35 win in University Stadium.
 
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 15 coaches at the FBS level to be 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.
 
Head Coaches at Alma Mater
Trent Bray - Oregon State
Jeff Brohm - Louisville
Troy Calhoun - Air Force
Timmy Chang - Hawaii 
Mario Cristobal - Miami (FL)
Michael Desormeaux - Louisiana
Kenny Dillingham - Arizona State
DeShaun Foster - UCLA
Mike Gundy - Oklahoma State
Brent Key - Georgia Tech
Clark Lea - Vanderbilt
Rich Rodriguez - West Virginia
Tony Sanchez - NM State
Kalani Sitake - BYU
Kirby Smart - Georgia
 
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.
 
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.
 
In week one, Fife recorded 14 completions for 227 yards and one touchdown. With his 227 passing yards, he eclipsed all but one performance by Aggie quarterbacks during the 2024 season.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.
 
DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL                             
This season, the Aggies are 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.
 
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 DJ Cloyd and defensive end Brad Vislisel.
 
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., 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.
 
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.
   
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 of America, 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.
 
Combined with the 2024 season, NM State has now won nine games across its first two 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 upcoming season. With an eight-game conference schedule, the Aggies will not see newcomer Delaware, Jax State or FIU this season, but will meet up with both Kennesaw State and Missouri State 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 will once again have their opportunities in the spotlight in 2025. Entering the year, NM State is slated to play its three midweek contests on CBS Sports Network.
 
The Aggies' week five matchup against the Lobos will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network with kickoff slated for 2 p.m.
 
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 the Rio Grande Rivalry will be provided by Adam Young, 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).