The New Mexico State Aggies have officially announced their 2020 football schedule, and it includes games at UCLA and Florida.
“We’re excited about the 2020 season and the challenge that our schedule presents,” head football coach Doug Martin said. “We are once again playing one of the toughest schedule of any Group of 5 program in the nation with a pair of Power 5 opponents, Mountain West opponents and Sun Belt Conference opponents along with our two rivals New Mexico and UTEP.”
New Mexico State, an FBS Independent, opens the 2020 season in Week Zero on Saturday, Aug. 29 against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Aggies then travel to take on the UAB Blazers on Sept. 3 before hosting the Akron Zips in their home-opener at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces on Sept. 12.
Following a visit from the in-state rival New Mexico Lobos on Sept. 19, New Mexico State hits the road to take on the UTEP Miners on Sept. 26. The Aggies then host the Texas State Bobcats in Las Cruces on Oct. 3.
Next up are consecutive road contests at the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Oct. 10 and at the Fresno State Bulldogs on Oct. 17. NMSU returns to Las Cruces to host the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Oct. 24 before an off week on Oct. 31.
A cross-country trip to take on the UMass Minutemen awaits on Nov. 7, which is followed by their final home contest of the season against the Texas Southern Tigers on Nov. 14.
The Aggies close out the 2020 regular-season on the road at the Florida Gators on Nov. 21.
New Mexico State concluded the 2018 season with a 3-9 overall record. The Aggies are scheduled to open the 2019 season at the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, Aug. 31. The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network at 10:00pm ET.
Great schedule and all, but instead of bringing in Texas Southern, how about this, how about you bring Idaho in for multiple seasons? The 2 schools have played each other since I believe the Big West Conference sponsored football back in the late 90’s. In a weird way the 2 schools have sort of a rivalry. Let the teams play!
Because Idaho stinks and would not bring 100 fans to Las Cruces.
I am very much aware of Idaho’s lack of winning. No need to beat the deer when it is already dead. It’s not for the fans either. The teams have been playing each other for over 20 years in conference play whether it be Big West, Sun Belt or the WAC. Both sides remained competitive even in the worst of seasons. That has got to be worth something in the world of college football.
Thanks for not playing Liberty twice like you did in 2019.
Having a long-term national TV deal would do Aggie football a lot of good.
NBCSN would be great since they have a dearth of FBS football rights (the occasional ND home game sublicensed from NBC and even that doesn’t occur every year),
I like this idea and it makes sense because the basketball team is pretty solid and the baseball is always entertaining at home…..
Thanks to the Hawaii Exemption, the Aggies may not be done scheduling. They can play a 13th game.
That is quite true. UConn may be forced to emergency schedule 2020 games with their move to the Big East and likelihood they will be booted out of the AAC after this year.
November 28th you could see the Huskies in Las Cruces.
Excellent point. This is a competitive schedule and adding UConn would make a lot of sense, assuming it would be a home game.
To the earlier point on Idaho, I don’t see Texas Southern as an appreciably bigger draw. That looks to be the annual hosting of an FCS team. Idaho would be a candidate for that, but not a home-and-home since they are FCS now.
Jeff, thank you and yes I do understand that it would be NMSU hosting Idaho. None the less it might be a competitive series between the 2 teams. Maybe Idaho wins 1 or 2 for every 5 years or so? Keep thing interesting from a recruiting standpoint for Idaho at least.