Eric Boggs 
New Mexico State Aggies go up against Jacksonville State Wednesday night in a big Conference USA clash.
Conference USA will be in the spotlight this Wednesday night as the New Mexico State Aggies face the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in a standalone college football showdown. Jacksonville State, the home team, enters the game with a 2-3 overall record and a 1-0 conference mark, while New Mexico State sits at 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Despite their struggles, both offenses have shown recent firepower, with Jacksonville State scoring a staggering 107 points over their last two games, and New Mexico State putting up 40 points in a recent loss to New Mexico.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with Jacksonville State listed as 21.5-point favorites. The over/under is 59.5 points, reflecting confidence in the offensive potential of both teams. Rich Rodriguez’s Gamecocks are coming off an impressive 63-24 win over Kennesaw State, driven by senior quarterback Tyler Huff, who has been the engine of their attack. Huff has thrown for 1,073 yards and five touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 445 yards and five scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability will be crucial against an Aggies defense that has struggled to contain the run, allowing over 230 rushing yards per game.
On the other side, New Mexico State’s offense has been solid, led by junior running back Seth McGowan, who has rushed for 334 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries. The Aggies will need to find a way to slow down Jacksonville State’s potent ground game, especially with Huff’s rushing prowess and the Gamecocks’ running back Tre Stewart, who leads Conference USA with eight rushing touchdowns.
New Mexico State’s defense, which is giving up 35 points per game, will face a tall task trying to stop a surging Jacksonville State team. However, the Aggies could stay competitive if they can force Jacksonville State to be one-dimensional and slow down the running attack. The Aggies also have history on their side, as they defeated the Gamecocks 20-17 in their first-ever matchup last season.
One challenge for New Mexico State will be the absence of offensive coordinator Tyler Wright, who remains under investigation for inappropriate social media posts. Offensive line coach Andrew Mitchell will continue to call the plays in Wright’s absence. This disruption could impact the Aggies’ offensive execution in a game where they’ll need every advantage.
Defensively, both teams rank near the bottom of Conference USA in yards allowed per game, with Jacksonville State giving up 425 and New Mexico State allowing 462.2. Turnovers could also play a pivotal role, as Jacksonville State freshman safety Zechariah Poyser leads the conference with three interceptions, tied with Sam Houston’s Caleb Weaver.
With both teams aiming to improve their conference standing, this Wednesday night matchup is set to be a high-scoring affair, with Jacksonville State’s ground game looking to overpower New Mexico State’s struggling defense.
About The Author
