# 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team

The 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and competed as a first-year member of Conference USA. They were led by second-year head coach Jerry Kill.
The season was one of the most successful in decades for the Aggies, as a win over Western Kentucky on November 11 gave New Mexico State their first eight-win season since 1965 and a six-game winning streak, their longest since 1960. The victory also clinched a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game in the Aggies' first season in the conference. One week later, as 23.5-point underdogs, New Mexico State upset Auburn 31–10, the program's first-ever win over an SEC team.
The Aggies also clinched bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons for the first time since playing in the Sun Bowl following the 1959 and 1960 seasons.
The New Mexico State Aggies football team drew an average home attendance of 14,847 in 2023.

## Preseason
### Conference USA media poll

Conference USA media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Western Kentucky | (18) |
| 2 | Liberty | (4) |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee | |
| 4 | Louisiana Tech | |
| 5 | New Mexico State | |
| 6 | UTEP | |
| 7 | Jacksonville State | |
| T8 | FIU | |
| T8 | Sam Houston | |
    Source:

## Schedule

New Mexico State and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 26 | 5:00 p.m. | UMass* | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | ESPN | L 30–41 | 15,356 |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Western Illinois* | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | ESPN+ | W 58–21 | 17,943 |
| September 9 | 4:00 p.m. | at Liberty | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN+ | L 17–33 | 20,123 |
| September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | at New Mexico* | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (Rio Grande Rivalry) | MW Network | W 27–17 | 27,414 |
| September 23 | 10:00 p.m. | at Hawaii* | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI | SPEC PPV | L 17–20 | 10,254 |
| October 4 | 7:00 p.m. | FIU | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | CBSSN | W 34–17 | 11,540 |
| October 11 | 7:00 p.m. | Sam Houston | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | CBSSN | W 27–13 | 12,812 |
| October 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at UTEP | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX (Battle of I-10) | ESPN2 | W 28–7 | 19,727 |
| October 24 | 5:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | CBSSN | W 27–24 | 13,798 |
| November 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | ESPN+ | W 13–7 | 15,727 |
| November 11 | 1:30 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | W 38–29 | 16,319 |
| November 18 | 2:00 p.m. | at Auburn* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | SECN | W 31–10 | 88,043 |
| November 25 | 2:00 p.m. | Jacksonville State | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | ESPN+ | W 20–17 | 15,702 |
| December 1 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Liberty* | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA (C-USA Championship Game) | CBSSN | L 35–49 | 20,077 |
| December 16 | 3:45 p.m. | vs. Fresno State* | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (New Mexico Bowl) | ESPN | L 10–37 | 30,822 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### UMass

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minutemen | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 41 |
| Aggies | 0 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: August 26
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 95 °F (35 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,356
* Referee: Rory Bernard
* TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen, Rocky Boiman, and Dawn Davenport
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MASS | NMSU |
| First downs | 16 | 22 |
| Total yards | 389 | 468 |
| Rushing yards | 197 | 220 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:20 | 31:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UMass | Passing | Taisun Phommachanh | 10/17, 192 yards |
| UMass | Rushing | Taisun Phommachanh | 16 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| UMass | Receiving | Christian Wells | 1 reception, 68 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 16/27, 248 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Monte Watkins | 2 rushes, 95 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jonathan Brady | 2 receptions, 48 yards |

### Western Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Leathernecks | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Aggies | 6 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 58 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: September 2
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 93 °F (34 °C)
* Game attendance: 17,943
* Referee: Rodney Burnette
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young, Danny Knee, and Tatiana Favela
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WIU | NMSU |
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 278 | 650 |
| Rushing yards | 36 | 270 |
| Passing yards | 242 | 380 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:05 | 32:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Illinois | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 17/31, 242 yards, 2 TD |
| Western Illinois | Rushing | Ludovick Choquette | 11 rushes, 37 yards, TD |
| Western Illinois | Receiving | Seth Glatz | 3 receptions, 73 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 16/20, 317 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Star Thomas | 12 rushes, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jonathan Brady | 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD |

### at Liberty

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Flames | 7 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 33 |
at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia
* Date: September 9
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 71 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 20,123
* Referee: Ron Hudson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Warner, Joe Jauch, and Emily Austen
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | LIB |
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 339 | 526 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 250 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 276 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 22:06 | 37:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 12/21, 150 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 9 rushes, 63 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Chris Bellamy | 3 receptions, 74 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Kaidon Salter | 15/25, 276 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Quinton Cooley | 20 rushes, 106 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | C. J. Daniels | 4 receptions, 129 yards, TD |

### At New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Lobos | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Date: September 16
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Clear, 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 27,414
* Referee: Jonathan Noli
* TV announcers (MW Network): Jeff Siembieda and George Carter
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | UNM |
| First downs | 15 | 26 |
| Total yards | 397 | 401 |
| Rushing yards | 177 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:53 | 32:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 9/14, 203 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 11 rushes, 96 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jonathan Brady | 3 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 20/39, 247 yards, TD |
| New Mexico | Rushing | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | 16 rushes, 83 yards, TD |
| New Mexico | Receiving | Jeremiah Hixon | 5 receptions, 45 yards |

### At Hawaii

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, Hawaii
* Date: September 23
* Game time: 10:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. HDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 10,254
* Referee: Michael Cuttone
* TV announcers (SPEC PPV): Kanoa Leahey, Rich Miano, and Jordan Helle
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | HAW |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 335 | 343 |
| Rushing yards | 180 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 155 | 245 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:47 | 33:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 9/15, 155 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 12 rushes, 97 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jordin Parker | 1 reception, 42 yards |
| Hawaii | Passing | Brayden Schager | 26/37, 245 yards, TD |
| Hawaii | Rushing | Jordan Johnson | 9 rushes, 44 yards |
| Hawaii | Receiving | Pofele Ashlock | 7 receptions, 77 yards |

### FIU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Aggies | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 34 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: October 4
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 11,540
* Referee: Garrett Dickerson
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Jordan Kent and Donte Whitner
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | FIU | NMSU |
| First downs | 20 | 21 |
| Total yards | 405 | 439 |
| Rushing yards | 87 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 318 | 256 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:04 | 31:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| FIU | Passing | Keyone Jenkins | 25/32, 258 yards, 2 INT |
| FIU | Rushing | Kejon Owens | 6 rushes, 51 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Kris Mitchell | 8 receptions, 91 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 20/31, 256 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Monte Watkins | 5 rushes, 89 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jordin Parker | 1 reception, 49 yards, TD |

### Sam Houston

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| Aggies | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: October 11
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Clear, 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 12,812
* Referee: Joe Lehring
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn and Robert Turbin
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | SHSU | NMSU |
| First downs | 19 | 20 |
| Total yards | 367 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 172 |
| Passing yards | 285 | 286 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:50 | 32:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Sam Houston | Passing | Keegan Shoemaker | 32/48, 285 yards, 2 TD |
| Sam Houston | Rushing | Keegan Shoemaker | 7 rushes, 42 yards |
| Sam Houston | Receiving | Malik Phillips | 10 receptions, 118 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 20/36, 286 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 15 rushes, 115 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Trent Hudson | 3 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD |

### At UTEP

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
* Date: October 18
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 19,727
* Referee: Rory Bernard
* TV announcers (ESPN2): John Schriffen, Cole Cubelic, and Taylor Davis
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | UTEP |
| First downs | 23 | 16 |
| Total yards | 439 | 304 |
| Rushing yards | 253 | 125 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 179 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:17 | 29:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 15/25, 186 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Monte Watkins | 10 rushes, 109 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Eli Stowers | 5 receptions, 80 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Cade McConnell | 15/32, 179 yards |
| UTEP | Rushing | Deion Hankins | 16 rushes, 120 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jeremiah Ballard | 5 receptions, 75 yards |

### At Louisiana Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 24 |
at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana
* Date: October 24
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 13,798
* Referee: Joe Lehring
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn and Donte Whitner
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | LT |
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 327 | 371 |
| Rushing yards | 232 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 95 | 238 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:50 | 30:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 10/19, 95 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Star Thomas | 10 rushes, 88 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jonathan Brady | 2 receptions, 33 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Hank Bachmeier | 20/27, 238 yards, TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Keldric Moody | 9 rushes, 55 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Kyle Maxwell | 3 receptions, 68 yards |

### Middle Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Aggies | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: November 4
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,727
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young, Danny Knee, and Tatiana Favela
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MTSU | NMSU |
| First downs | 17 | 21 |
| Total yards | 346 | 402 |
| Rushing yards | 168 | 182 |
| Passing yards | 178 | 220 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:13 | 35:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 20/36, 178 yards, TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Nicholas Vattiato | 18 rushes, 96 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Elijah Metcalf | 5 receptions, 69 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 16/31, 220 yards, INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Monte Watkins | 5 rushes, 68 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Eli Stowers | 6 receptions, 83 yards |

### At Western Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 3 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 29 |
at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
* Date: November 11
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. MST/2:30 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 16,319
* Referee: Rodney Burnette
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Joe Fisher and Terry Obee
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | WKU |
| First downs | 21 | 26 |
| Total yards | 377 | 437 |
| Rushing yards | 236 | 167 |
| Passing yards | 141 | 270 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:55 | 27:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 14/24, 141 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Star Thomas | 7 rushes, 85 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jonathan Brady | 3 receptions, 31 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 20/36, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Elijah Young | 14 rushes, 80 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Elijah Young | 3 receptions, 84 yards, TD |

### At Auburn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
* Date: November 18
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST/3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 88,043
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal, Derek Mason, and Taylor Davis
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | AUB |
| First downs | 23 | 12 |
| Total yards | 414 | 213 |
| Rushing yards | 213 | 65 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 148 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 38:50 | 21:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 19/28, 201 yards, 3 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Star Thomas | 7 rushes, 67 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Kordell David | 4 receptions, 55 yards, TD |
| Auburn | Passing | Payton Thorne | 15/19, 148 yards, TD |
| Auburn | Rushing | Payton Thorne | 17 rushes, 38 yards |
| Auburn | Receiving | Ja'Varrius Johnson | 2 receptions, 46 yards |

### Jacksonville State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Aggies | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: November 25
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,702
* Referee: Garrett Dickerson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young, Danny Knee, and Tatiana Favela
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | JVSU | NMSU |
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Total yards | 333 | 455 |
| Rushing yards | 85 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 248 | 269 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 20:18 | 39:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 17/30, 248 yards, 2 INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 8 rushes, 43 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Perry Carter | 7 receptions, 134 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 23/34, 269 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 19 rushes, 68 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Trent Hudson | 5 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### At No. 24 Liberty (C-USA Championship Game)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| No. 24 Flames | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia
* Date: December 1
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Rain, 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 20,077
* Referee: Ron Hudson
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor, and Amanda Guerra
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | LIB |
| First downs | 28 | 35 |
| Total yards | 499 | 712 |
| Rushing yards | 177 | 393 |
| Passing yards | 322 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:13 | 29:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 11/16, 188 yards, 3 TD |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 5 rushes, 45 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Trent Hudson | 7 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Kaidon Salter | 20/25, 319 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Kaidon Salter | 12 rushes, 165 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | C. J. Daniels | 7 receptions, 157 yards, TD |
Starting quarterback Diego Pavia left the game in the third quarter with an apparent elbow injury and did not return. Freshman quarterback Blaze Berlowitz played the remainder of the game.

### Vs. Fresno State (New Mexico Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Bulldogs | 10 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 37 |
at University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Date: December 16
* Game time: 3:45 p.m. MST
* Game weather: Clear, 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 30,822
* Referee: Marshall Lewis
* TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick, Rod Gilmore, and Lauren Sisler
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NMSU | FRES |
| First downs | 12 | 23 |
| Total yards | 200 | 500 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 120 |
| Passing yards | 58 | 380 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:10 | 30:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 11/25, 58 yards, INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 18 rushes, 72 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Eli Stowers | 3 receptions, 20 yards |
| Fresno State | Passing | Mikey Keene | 31/39, 380 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Fresno State | Rushing | Malik Sherrod | 20 rushes, 90 yards |
| Fresno State | Receiving | Malik Sherrod | 8 receptions, 81 yards |