As WKU Football looks to stay undefeated in Conference USA play against New Mexico State, I talked with Nicholas Coppola, sports reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News, to talk about the Aggies. 

NMSU has had a rough 2024 campaign following last year’s 10-win season, including a trip to the C-USA Championship Game. Coppola said there has been a “big level of shock and surprise” in the Aggies coaching staff with how this season has played out.

“It’s one thing to be bad, and it’s another thing to be bad, and you didn’t expect to be bad. I generally think that’s how the coaches feel,” Coppola said. “I think the mood is somewhat despondent, very disappointing, very shocking that this has happened to them.”

One thing plaguing NMSU is defense or lack thereof. The Aggies allow almost 37 points per game and give up 454.9 yards per contest. 

Coppola said one of the main weaknesses of the Aggie defense has been an inability to stop the run. NMSU allows 215.9 rushing yards per game and has allowed 22 rushing touchdowns this season. 

“They just cannot stop the run at all,” Coppola said.

Offensively, NMSU has struggled to find success with anything but the run. The Aggies average 283.6 yards per game, but only average 115 passing yards. The problem, Coppola said, is the lack of a true starting quarterback.

“They haven’t really found their guy. We’re nine games into the season and we still don’t know who’s going to be their starting quarterback,” Coppola said.

NMSU has played four guys playing time at quarterback this season. Sophomore Parker Awad has the most passing attempts so far this season with 93

“They really just struggle to find their guy,” Coppola said. “It seems like nothing they tried has been working, and that’s limited the passing game.”

With the lack of a passing game, the running game has carried the load. The Aggies average 168.6 rushing yards per game with running backs Seth McGowan and Mike Washington. 

“If New Mexico State is going to make a play on offense, chances are it’s going to be one of those two,” Coppola said. “It (the run game) really is the only way they’re going to be able to move the ball.”

For the Aggies to pull off the upset, Coppola said NMSU will have to be two-dimensional on offense and tighten up their coverage on defense. He thinks the Aggies will come out competitive in front of the home crowd, but expects “at least a two-score victory for the Hilltoppers.”

Sports Editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected]