New Mexico State football kicks off the 2025 season Saturday night when the Aggies host Bryant at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
Head coach Tony Sanchez enters his second season in charge of his alma mater, aiming to push the program toward its third bowl appearance in four years. A win in the opener would give NM State back-to-back season-opening victories for the first time since 2006 and 2007.
The Aggies turned the page quickly from last year by overhauling the roster with 55 newcomers, including 42 transfers. One of the biggest additions is quarterback Logan Fife, a Montana transfer who threw for nearly 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He’ll take over an offense that struggled in the passing game a year ago and will be led by new offensive coordinator David Yost, known for developing quarterbacks at programs such as Oregon and Utah State.
In the backfield, transfers Kadarius Calloway (Cal) and Dijon Stanley (Utah) are expected to share the load after the Aggies lost most of their rushing production from 2024. Sophomore wideout TJ Pride, the team’s leading receiver as a freshman, returns alongside senior target PJ Johnson.
Defensively, veterans Tyler Martinez, Dakerric Hobbs and Sone Aupiu anchor a unit that welcomes back defensive lineman Cole Schnettgoecke from injury.
Saturday also marks the debut of six team captains: Fife, Johnson, Williams, Martinez, Hobbs and Schnettgoecke.
With fresh faces on both sides of the ball and momentum under Sanchez, NM State looks to start the season strong and show it’s ready to make another postseason push.