Football Opponent Preview: New Mexico State
11/22/2018 12:00:00 AM
Game Day Central: New Mexico State
Liberty (4-6) begins a two-game season-ending homestand with its second matchup against New Mexico State (3-8) this season on Military Appreciation Day.
"4 Downs" with the Aggies
1. Liberty is seeking its first-ever victory over an FBS independent opponent. Saturday's game will mark the Flames' fourth matchup with a fellow FBS independent squad this season, following visits to Army, New Mexico State and UMass. New Mexico State will be the first team from New Mexico ever to play at Williams Stadium. Next season, Liberty will host both New Mexico and New Mexico State.
2. These two teams matched up for the first time ever just seven weeks ago (Oct. 6) in Las Cruces, with New Mexico State winning a 49-41 shootout. Liberty is facing the same opponent twice in a season for the first time in program history. The Flames (40.4 ppg allowed) and Aggies (42.5 ppg allowed) are two of seven FBS teams yielding 40+ points per game this season. Liberty is ending a season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2008.
3. New Mexico State topped Utah State 26-20 in last season's Arizona Bowl, remaining unbeaten (3-0-1) all-time in bowl games. However, the Aggies need a win Saturday to avoid finishing with three or fewer victories for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. Liberty has only played three post-Thanksgiving games in program history.
4. Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill is seeking his fourth head-to-head coaching victory against New Mexico State Head Coach Doug Martin. Gill's Buffalo Bulls were 3-1 against Martin's Kent State Golden Flashes between 2006-09. It is 1,824 miles by car from Las Cruces to Lynchburg, marking the fourth greatest distance ever traveled by a Liberty opponent to reach Williams Stadium.
