It's game week.
New Mexico State kicks off its 2025 season on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. against Bryant at home, making it five straight years that the Aggies will begin a campaign in Las Cruces.
NM State will look to start 1-0 in consecutive seasons since 2006-07 when it beat Southeastern Louisiana in both years. As of Monday afternoon, the Aggies are 19.5-point favorites over the Bulldogs for this Saturday.
As the Aggies attempt to improve on their 3-9 2024 season, here are reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic heading into the new season.
Optimism
An actual starting quarterback
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Quarterback was the Aggies' biggest weakness. At the very least, there should be stability there this season.
Logan Fife arrives from Montana after tossing for 1,890 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions with the Grizzlies last season. He was named NM State's starter early in the offseason, giving it a stark contrast to last season's quarterback battle that sank deep into fall camp.
Fife has had his hands full in August, having to grapple with fall camp and the birth of his daughter simultaneously. But he has a strong grip of the offense, and his efficient, low-turnover-worthy style should bode well for the Aggies.
"Having Logan be that guy coming out of spring, going into the summer runs and the summer workouts and the leadership stuff that we get in the summertime, and then coming into camp and having him run with the (starters) and get all that timing down, communicate with the offensive line... I think that really helps having that QB1 settled," Sanchez said during a Monday press conference.
More pass-catching/secondary depth
The Aggies lacked depth at pass-catching and pass coverage positions last season and believe they've found more of it this season.
New players to watch include transfers AJ Williams (Mary Hardin-Baylor) and Gavin Harris (Central Michigan), who were named starters at wide receiver and tight end, respectively, in NM State's first depth chart. Sanchez views his wide receiver corps, which also includes additions like Jackson Owens, Shawn Brown and TK King, as one that goes 7-8 players deep with contributors.
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New secondary additions, headlined by starting nickelback Armahn Hale, Bernock Iya and Lorenzo Smith, bolster a unit built around returners like cornerback Dakerric Hobbs.
"It feels like we've been playing (together) forever," Hobbs said on Monday. "Since they came in the spring, we came together right away. We view each other on and off the field... like family. I feel like going into the season, we'll have a lot of chemistry.
Martinez, Aupiu are defensive rocks
Two key returners form the Aggies' defensive foundation.
Linebacker Tyler Martinez is one of NM State's best players and was its leading tackler and 96 total last season. An Albuquerque native, he was a 2024 second-team All-CUSA selection. Fellow linebacker Sone Aupiu finished fourth among Aggies with 55 total tackles last year and leads current NM State players with 16 consecutive starts.
The duo should guide NM State's defense for another season.
Pessimism
Offensive line
The Aggies' offensive line has one returning starter (right guard BJ Tolo), and San Jose State transfer Malik Williams (starting at right tackle) brings 19 games of starting experience. However, three other starters lack experience.
Starting left tackle My'Kai Lee played just four games for North Texas last year, while starting center Kai Wheeler has played just 38 offensive snaps for NM State, with only eight at center. Starting left guard Mateo Rodriguez has yet to appear in a game for the Aggies.
With four new starters, there were also challenges in getting the unit to gel during fall camp. It's something the Aggies are working on.
"I think one of the things that I thought about coming into this year is just hanging out with guys outside of football, getting to know people outside and building relationships like that," Williams said. "I felt like, for me, it was really off the field and just trying to get to know everybody, trying to get to really become friends with everybody, and know how everybody is. I think that was one of the biggest things when I came in in June, and I feel like we've done a great job."
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Offensive scrimmage performances
The Aggies' defense got the best of their offense in the second and third scrimmages. While a good chunk of plays in both featured backups, NM State also struggled with its offensive starters.
The Aggies' offense scored just one touchdown in the third scrimmage and tallied four three-and-outs and three interceptions on the first 10 drives of the second scrimmage.
It's always tough to tell whether the defense was just that great or whether the offense was just that bad in scrimmages like that, but the Aggies would probably have liked to see a little bit more.