Jacksonville State and New Mexico State Clash in CUSA Showdown

Jacksonville State is a 3.5-point favorite against New Mexico State on Tuesday night. The matchup carries heavy implications for the Conference USA standings as both teams battle for position.

Liberty is tied with Jacksonville State for the league lead at 3-0 in conference play. New Mexico State trails at 2-1. The loser of this contest will face a difficult path to the championship, as Liberty visits the Aggies on Nov. 7. Jacksonville State does not play Liberty in the regular season.

The Gamecocks arrive on a four-game winning streak, though three of those victories came by four points or fewer. Their last win was a 27-24 home victory over Florida International on Oct. 13. Quarterback Caden Creel directed the game-winning drive, connecting on a 34-yard third-down pass to Ronnel Johnson. Garrison Rippa then kicked a 26-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining. FIU missed a 49-yard attempt to end the game.

Rippa has made 47 career field goals, two short of the school record. He holds the CUSA record for game-winning kicks in the final minute of regulation or overtime with six. Since moving to the FBS in 2023, Jacksonville State has won eight games with scores decided in the final minute or overtime. Justus Savage extended the team's streak of consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 65 with a four-yard run. That total is the longest active streak in all of Division I. Montana State holds the next longest at 40.

New Mexico State is 5-1 all-time at home in weekday CUSA games. They won 30-24 at Sam Houston last week for their first road victory of the season. Tailback James Jones rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in that game. His total is the highest by an Aggies back since November 2019. Jones has surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards across FBS and FCS play. He leads CUSA and ranks 10th nationally with 111.0 rushing yards per game.

The Aggies average 151.4 rushing yards per game, second in the league. They finished last in the country in 2025 with 77.3. They have topped 200 rushing yards three times this season and won all three games. New Mexico State allows 109.1 rushing yards per game, the best mark in CUSA and 30th nationally. In conference games, they give up just 51.3 rushing yards per game, the best figure among FBS teams in league play.

Jacksonville State allows 156.4 rushing yards per game. Each of the Gamecocks' last seven road CUSA games has been decided by seven points or fewer. The SportsLine model projects a 27-24 win for Jacksonville State. The series is tied 1-1, with the teams last meeting in 2024.