Gophers vs. Aggies: Five things to know about the Aggies

Aug 31, 2013; Austin, TX, USA; New Mexico State Aggies quarterback Andrew McDonald (12) carries the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

The Gophers are in Las Cruces, NM to face the New Mexico State Aggies Saturday night at Aggies Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will pit the 1-0 Gophers against the 0-1 Aggies.

The Aggies are reeling from a 56-7 beatdown last week by the No. 15 Texas Longhorns in which they allowed 715 yards of total offense, including 359 yards surrendered on the ground.

Minnesota, on the other hand, is coming off a 51-23 win against UNLV last week at home in which the special teams and defense accounted for three touchdowns.

Five things to know about the New Mexico State Aggies:

• The New Mexico State Aggies finished the 2012 regular season with a 1-11 record, defeating only Sacramento State in the first week of the season. Therefore, the Aggies are looking to break out of a 12-game losing streak against the Gophers.
• The Aggies beat Minnesota 28-21 in 2011 at TCF Bank Stadium, in a season in which the Gophers finished 3-9 while New Mexico State finished 4-8.
• Aggies’ head coach, Doug Martin, is in his first season at the helm. He was the offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2012 and last served as a head coach at Kent State from 2004 to 2010 where he had a record of 29-53.
• New Mexico State is an independent football school in 2013 after the Western Athletic Conference dropped football. The Aggies wil join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.
• The Aggies have not played in a bowl game since 1960, where they are 2-0-1 all-time.

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