New Mexico State visits Sam Houston in Conference USA midweek game
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
New Mexico State (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) plays Sam Houston (1-5, 0-2) on Wednesday night in Huntsville, Texas.
The Aggies are favored by 2.5 and chase a first road win.
Background
New Mexico State is the Aggies football team coached by Tony Sanchez, playing in Conference USA (CUSA). The Aggies are coming off 13 full days without a game after playing three games in 12 days, and they lost their last outing 22-3 at FIU, their lowest-scoring game of the season. Sam Houston, coached by Longo, has lost its past two games and managed 177 total yards with no touchdown in a 3-16 home loss to Western Kentucky. The matchup pits NMSU running back James Jones, who leads CUSA with 99.8 rushing yards per game, against a Sam Houston defense that ranks fourth nationally against the pass but 129th against the run.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026New Mexico State beat MHU 51-14.
- Sep 13, 2026New Mexico State lost at Hawaii 19-29.
- Sep 26, 2026New Mexico State lost to UNM 18-42 in Las Cruces.
- Oct 1, 2026NM State beat Western Kentucky 34-13 in Las Cruces in its Conference USA opener, its first CUSA-opening win since joining the league; James Jones rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown.
- Oct 7, 2026NM State lost at FIU 22-3, its lowest-scoring game of the season, with three turnovers and only a 26-yard Kyah Francone field goal.
- Oct 14, 2026Sam Houston lost to Western Kentucky 3-16 at home, managing 177 total yards and no touchdown.
- Oct 21, 2026NM State (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) plays Sam Houston (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, 6 p.m. Mountain/8 p.m. ET on ESPN2; NMSU favored by 2.5.
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- NM State head coach Tony Sanchez says rebuilding the offense's confidence starts with the QB room, that the Aggies can run the ball but must sustain drives, and that getting the ball to James Jones and TJ Washington is key.
- Coach
- Sam Houston coach Longo says his team wants to be "one week better for Wednesday night" and expects "the best version of New Mexico State," calling NMSU "a very talented football team."
- Caution
- Longo said of James Jones, "this guy is what makes them go on offense... you've got to stop him."
- Analysts
- NMSU is listed as a 2.5-point favorite in the matchup.
Still unverified
NM State's quarterback situation is described as "still highly unsettled," with Damante starting at QB.