On October 19, 2024, the New Mexico Lobos will travel to face the Utah State Aggies in a crucial Mountain West Conference matchup. Both teams have struggled this season, with New Mexico standing at 2-4 and Utah State at 1-5. New Mexico comes off a thrilling 52-37 victory over Air Force, where quarterback Devon Dampier led the charge with 1488 passing yards on the season. Dampier’s dual-threat ability adds a dimension to New Mexico’s offense, as he also leads the team in rushing with 382 yards. However, the Lobos’ defense has been a weak point, allowing over 42 points per game. Utah State, under the leadership of quarterback Spencer Petras, has struggled to find consistency. Petras has thrown for 1,271 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions, but the Aggies have faced difficulties on both sides of the ball.

They are allowing 42.8 points per game, which mirrors New Mexico’s defensive woes. The Aggies’ defense has been particularly vulnerable against the pass, giving up 271.5 passing yards per game, which could prove problematic against a mobile quarterback like Dampier. Both teams rank near the bottom of the Mountain West in defensive statistics, suggesting that the game could be a shootout. For New Mexico, the key to victory will be leveraging their offensive balance while tightening up their defense, particularly in the secondary. For Utah State, home-field advantage and limiting turnovers will be crucial as they look to snap their five-game losing streak.