NM State Football Announces 2011 Schedule

Las Cruces, N.M. – New Mexico State head football coach DeWayne Walker announced the Aggies’ 2011 schedule Monday, March 21. In 2011, the Aggies face six bowl teams from the 2010 season, as well as the two rivalry games, an SEC powerhouse and a Big Ten opponent. NM State will also take on three teams in 2011 for the first time in school history.

“When you look at the first part of our schedule we have games that we feel we have a great chance to be competitive in,” head coach DeWayne Walker said. “The early part of the season games are going to be critical for us. It?s good to have a bye week at the mid-point of the season. Going 12 straight games with an inexperienced team last year hurt us a little but coming back with a more experienced team this season, plus a bye week I think will be a positive for us. Our biggest challenge this season will be the last part of our schedule. We are going to have to utilize our bye week and get everybody health. Facing teams like Georgia and BYU late in the season, it will be really important for us to get out fast this year and build some confidence and use our bye week to prepare us for the end of the season as well.”

NM State plays seven home games and six away games in 2011. The Aggies’ six non-conference games feature independent BYU, SEC powerhouse Georgia, the MAC?s Ohio University, Big Ten standout Minnesota and two of NM State’s biggest rivals in the UTEP Miners and the New Mexico Lobos.

The Aggies open the season at home on Sept. 3 against Ohio. This will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Aggies then travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to take on Minnesota on Sept. 10. This is also the first meeting between both schools.

The Aggies come back to Aggie Memorial Stadium on Sept. 17 to face I-10 rival UTEP. The Aggies and Miners have split the last four games in the series. NM State will then open conference play at San Jose State on Sept. 24.

The Aggies will take a quick break from conference play on Oct. 1 as they travel north to face the New Mexico. Last season, NM State beat the Lobos, 16-14, for its second straight win in the series since 1998-99 seasons. NM State will have a bye the week of Oct. 8 before welcoming Idaho to Las Cruces on Oct. 15. The Aggies then hit the road to face Hawai?i on Oct. 22. NM State wraps up the month of Oct. on the 29 when Nevada comes to town.

Over the last five games of the season, the Aggies will have three away games, including two non-conference opponents. The Aggies travel to Georgia on Nov. 5 and then back to Las Cruces to face Fresno State in Aggie Memorial Stadium on Nov. 12. The last meeting with Georgia was back in 2002.

The Aggies finish out November with two straight road games, traveling to Provo, Utah, to take on BYU on Nov. 19. This will be the first meeting between the two schools. NM State then makes its way to Ruston, La., to take on Louisiana Tech on Nov. 26.

NM State wraps up the 2011 regular season on Dec. 3 at home against Utah State.

2011 NM State Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Sept. 3 Ohio Las Cruces, N.M. Sept. 10 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. Sept. 17 UTEP Las Cruces, N.M. Sept. 24 at San Jose State# San Jose, Calif. Oct. 1 at New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. Oct. 15 Idaho # Las Cruces, N.M. Oct. 22 at Hawai?i # Honolulu, Hawai?i Oct. 29 Nevada# Las Cruces, N.M. Nov. 5 at Georgia Athens, Ga. Nov. 12 Fresno State# Las Cruces, N.M. Nov. 19 at BYU Provo, Utah Nov. 26 at Louisiana Tech# Ruston, La. Dec. 3 Utah State# Las Cruces, N.M.

All times Mountain and subject to change #Western Athletic Conference Game