NM State looks to build on its Sam Houston victory behind James Jones' rushing attack and a defense leading Conference USA against the run. Kickoff is 6 p.m. in Las Cruces.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State returns to Aggie Memorial Stadium Wednesday night looking to extend its winning streak and strengthen its position in the Conference USA standings against Jacksonville State, one of the league's unbeaten teams.

The Aggies (3-4, 2-1 CUSA) host the Gamecocks (5-2, 3-0 CUSA) at 6 p.m. Mountain time Wednesday, Oct. 28, in a nationally televised matchup on ESPN2. It will be NM State's fourth and final midweek conference game of the season and its sixth national television appearance in 2026.

NM State enters the contest following a 30-24 victory at Sam Houston on Oct. 21, while Jacksonville State arrives with an unblemished conference record. The matchup presents an opportunity for the Aggies to continue their turnaround after winning two of their first three CUSA games, matching their best conference start since joining the league in 2023.

James Jones leads revitalized ground game

Running back James Jones has become the centerpiece of an NM State rushing attack that has undergone a dramatic improvement from last season. After the Aggies finished last nationally in rushing offense in 2025, they now average 151.4 yards per game on the ground, the second-highest total in Conference USA.

Jones leads the conference with 777 rushing yards through seven games and ranks 10th nationally with an average of 111 yards per contest. His 6.5 yards per carry rank second among CUSA rushers, and he has surpassed 100 yards four times this season, the first Aggie to accomplish that feat since Jason Huntley in 2019.

Against Sam Houston, Jones rushed for a career-high 178 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. He also converted a critical fourth down late in the game, helping NM State preserve its six-point victory after the Bearkats mounted a fourth-quarter comeback.

The Aggies' offensive improvement extends beyond Jones. NM State is averaging 4.58 yards per rushing attempt this season, up from 2.60 last year, an increase that ranks among the largest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Quarterback Adam Damante also contributed to last week's victory, throwing two touchdown passes to wide receiver AJ Williams III. Williams, who grew up in nearby Spring, Texas, finished with three receptions for 52 yards and two scores in his return to the Houston area.

Aggie defense among nation's best against the run

NM State's defense has been equally important to its recent success, particularly against opposing rushing attacks. The Aggies lead Conference USA by allowing just 109.1 rushing yards per game overall, ranking 30th nationally in that category.

Their performance has been even more pronounced in conference play, where Western Kentucky, Florida International and Sam Houston have combined to average only 51.3 rushing yards per game against NM State. According to NMSU Athletics, that is the lowest average allowed by any FBS defense against conference opponents this season.

The Aggies held Sam Houston to just 11 rushing yards last week, their lowest total allowed against an opponent since 2008. The defense also limited the Bearkats to nine first downs, the first time NM State has held an opponent below 10 first downs since 2003.

A consistent defensive front has helped establish those numbers. Defensive end Gabe Peterson leads Conference USA with 5.5 sacks, including four against league opponents, while linebackers Sone Aupiu and Tory Gethers have provided stability in the middle.

Peterson's performance will be particularly important against Jacksonville State, which enters Wednesday allowing just one sack per game, the fewest in Conference USA and 13th-fewest nationally.

The Aggies have recorded multiple sacks in four consecutive games, their longest such streak in several seasons. Extending that streak to five games would mark the first time NM State has accomplished the feat since 2018.

Turnovers and field position could be decisive

NM State has also continued its recent success at forcing turnovers. The Aggies have recorded at least one takeaway in 22 of their past 23 games, dating to the 2024 season, and have intercepted passes in 17 of those contests.

Against Sam Houston, safety Josiah Charles intercepted a pass and returned it to the Bearkats' 1-yard line, setting up a touchdown run by Jones on the next play. Later, Kaian Roberts-Day recovered a fumble that gave the Aggies another short field and led to a touchdown by TJ Washington Jr.

Those takeaways helped NM State overcome an early special-teams mistake after Sam Houston returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Three of the Aggies' five scoring drives lasted no more than two plays and 45 seconds, demonstrating how quickly the offense could capitalize on favorable field position.

The Aggies have scored three defensive touchdowns this season, placing them among the national leaders in that category. Their ability to generate takeaways and convert them into points could be particularly valuable in a matchup between teams competing near the top of the conference standings.

Wednesday night under the lights

Wednesday's game concludes NM State's 2026 midweek Conference USA schedule, part of a league-wide television package that includes 18 nationally televised weekday contests this season.

The Aggies have compiled an 8-5 record in Weekday CUSA games since joining the league. They also have performed well at home this season, entering Wednesday with a 2-1 record at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Jacksonville State presents a significant conference test, having won its first three CUSA games. The Gamecocks' record puts them ahead of NM State in the league standings, giving the Aggies an opportunity to narrow that gap with a home victory.

Following Wednesday's game, NM State will have an extended break before returning to Aggie Memorial Stadium to face Liberty on Nov. 7.

ESPN2 will carry Wednesday's game nationally, with Clay Matvick handling play-by-play and Rocky Boiman providing analysis. Las Cruces-area listeners can follow the action on 99.5 FM KXPZ, with MJ Newsom and Cory Lucas calling the game, while Spanish-language coverage will be available on 96.7 FM La Equis.

Fans attending the game will also see a first for NM State Athletics. Following the final whistle, a fleet of illuminated drones will perform a postgame show featuring animations, logos and messages in the sky beyond Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.