See how much of a profit the Aggies will make from their non-conference schedule this year.
New Mexico State will play four nonconference games this season against one FCS school, two Group of Five conference schools and one team from a power conference.
As part of a larger public records request, the Las Cruces Sun-News has obtained the signed contracts for all four of the Aggies' nonconference games this season, which include fees given out or received by NM State. Overall, the university will receive a $990,000 profit from its non-conference football schedule this season.
Here is what NM State will pay for its two home nonconference games, and what it will earn from one of its road nonconference games this season:
Bryant
The Bulldogs were the final team confirmed on the Aggies' 2025 nonconference slate when it was reported in December 2024. Bryant is an FCS team in the Coastal Athletic Association and finished 2-10 (0-8 CAA) last season under coach Chris Merritt, who enters his seventh season with the Bulldogs this year.
The agreement between NM State and Bryant for the Aug. 30 game was signed on Dec. 3, 2024. NM State will pay Bryant $360,000 to play in Las Cruces, which will be due 90 days after the game. The Bulldogs will also be given 300 complimentary tickets for any traveling fans.
Bryant University is in Smithfield, RI, over 2,300 miles from Las Cruces.
Tulsa
A marquee nonconference matchup for the Aggies comes against Tulsa on Sept. 7, their second game of the season. This will be the first game of a home-and-home agreement that was signed in March 2024, with the return game in Tulsa set for Sept. 9, 2034.
NM State will provide Tulsa with a $250,000 fee to play in Las Cruces, due within 30 days of the game, and 350 complimentary tickets for visiting fans. A fee that Tulsa will pay NM State for the 2034 return game has not been agreed upon.
The Golden Hurricane will play their first season under new coach Tre Lamb in 2025, who was hired after a 7-5 season with East Tennessee and a 20-20 record with two FCS playoff appearances from 2020-23. Tulsa finished 3-9 (1-7 American) last season.
This will be the first time the Aggies have played the Golden Hurricane since the former won a home-and-home series from 2000-01. Tulsa holds a 15-4 all-time advantage over NM State.
New Mexico
This will be the last season under a four-year agreement between UNM and NM State to continue the Rio Grande Rivalry from 2022-25, although the series is scheduled to continue until at least 2029.
Both schools agreed not to pay each other for each game, per a contract signed in November 2021. Each school agreed to provide 450 complimentary tickets for traveling fans to Albuquerque or Las Cruces, depending on which school is hosting.
The Lobos defeated the Aggies 50-40 last season in former UNM coach Bronco Mendenhall's only season, a 5-7 (3-4 Mountain West) campaign. The Lobos are now led by new coach Jason Eck, who went 26-13 at Idaho with FCS playoff appearances in all three of his seasons from 2022-24.
The Sept. 27 game in Albuquerque will be the 115th meeting between the in-state foes. UNM holds a 74-35-5 all-time advantage over NM State.
Tennessee
NM State has faced an SEC team in every season since 2019, except for the shortened 2020 season, which was moved to the spring of 2021 — 2025 will be no different.
Tennessee will fill a "buy game" slot with the Aggies this season, and it is the only nonconference game this season where NM State will receive a fee. This will be the first time the Volunteers and Aggies have played each other in football.
UT will pay NM State $1.6 million to play in Knoxville and will provide 2,000 tickets for traveling fans, 500 of which will be complimentary. The $1.6 million fee will be paid to NM State within 60 days of the game.
The Volunteers went 10-3 (6-2 SEC) last season and were eliminated in the first round of the College Football Playoff by Ohio State. UT coach Josh Heupel enters his fifth season with the team this year.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU football: Fees for the Aggies' 2025 nonconference games
Category: General Sports
