Jacksonville State Tests New Mexico State's Defensive Record

Jacksonville State plays New Mexico State at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 28, in a Conference USA contest that could define the league standings. The matchup pits a team on a historic offensive run against a defense that has stopped the league’s best rushing attacks. ESPN2 will broadcast the game from Las Cruces.

The Gamecocks enter the contest with a 65-game streak of consecutive rushing touchdowns, the longest active run in Division I. Justus Savage extended the record with a four-yard carry in Jacksonville State’s 27-24 win over Florida International on October 13. The next longest streak belongs to Montana State at 40 games. This offensive momentum contrasts sharply with New Mexico State’s defensive output. The Aggies allow 109.1 rushing yards per game, a figure that ranks first in Conference USA and 30th nationally. In conference play specifically, New Mexico State gives up just 51.3 rushing yards per game, the best mark in the FBS.

Quarterback Caden Creel has driven Jacksonville State’s recent success. He threw two touchdown passes against FIU and has recorded at least two total touchdowns in six straight games. Creel is the only FBS quarterback averaging at least 225 passing yards and 70 rushing yards per game. His performance has helped the team win four straight games, though three of those victories came by four points or fewer. Kicker Garrison Rippa secured the FIU win with a 26-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining. That kick marked his sixth game-winner in the final minute of regulation or overtime, a Conference USA record.

New Mexico State relies on tailback James Jones to counter Jacksonville State’s rushing threat. Jones rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in the Aggies’ 30-24 victory over Sam Houston last week. That performance marked the highest total by a New Mexico State back since November 2019. Jones leads the conference with 111.0 rushing yards per game and has surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards across his career in the FBS and FCS. The Aggies average 151.4 rushing yards per game this season, a major improvement from their last-place finish in 2025 when they averaged 77.3.

The stakes are high for both teams as they sit near the top of the conference. Jacksonville State and Liberty are tied for first at 3-0 in conference play, while New Mexico State trails at 2-1. Jacksonville State is favored by 3.5 points, and the SportsLine model projects a 27-24 win for the visitors. The loser of this matchup will face a difficult path to the championship game. Liberty, the league’s top team, visits New Mexico State on November 7 but does not play Jacksonville State in the regular season. The teams last met in 2024, and the series stands tied at 1-1.