How to Watch the Arizona vs. New Mexico Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for August 31
Arizona football opens as a heavy favorite vs. New Mexico
Arizona vs. New Mexico Game Info
- Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- City: Tucson, Arizona
- Venue: Arizona Stadium
- (stream with this free trial from FUBO)
The No. 21 Arizona Wildcats (0-0) host the New Mexico Lobos (0-1) at Arizona Stadium on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Brent Brennan is set to debut as the Arizona Wildcats head coach. He will be seeking his first win when the Wildcats host the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday.
Brent Brennan spent the previous seven years at San Jose State in the Mountain West before being hired in January.
Brennan brought a track record of strong offensive performance from his last five seasons at SJSU, where the Spartans averaged 31.8 points per game, ranking fourth in the Mountain West.
And his first game with the Wildcats happens to be against one of his former MWC rivals, the Lobos from Albuquerque.
Notably, they outscored New Mexico, led by then-head coach Danny Gonzales Lobo’s team, 38-7 in the second half of a 52-14 victory last October.
Danny Gonzales after being fired by UNM AD Eddie Nunez (now at the University of Houston), Brennan hired Gonzales as Special Teams Coordinator and linebacker’s coach.
I have known Gonzales personally as a friend for over twenty years, and he played at UNM with my son, so I can say this was the ideal hire.
He’s a fantastic players’ coach, and football players thrive under his constant encouragement and mentorship.
Brennan also brought in former Syracuse head coach Dino Babers as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, while UNM’s offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, held the same role under Babers at Syracuse last season.
Arizona has bolstered its roster by adding former UNM running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who racked up 1,190 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
It will be interesting to see Merritt play with the Wildcats, sharing playing time with some great backs.
At UNM, he was the primary running back, hence his numbers, as so much of the run game was schemed around him as it should be. He was that good!
Sometimes, offensive coordinators will design much of the offense around the talent they have.
Still, if a team is deep in a position, the players have to adapt to the role of the scheme the offensive coordinator installs.
They also return key offensive playmakers like wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who had 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and quarterback Noah Fifita, who threw for 2,869 yards, 27 touchdowns, and six interceptions on his way to being named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
When asked about Fifita, Mendenhall laughed, “Yeah, holy smokes. He’s really good. It was fun to watch a really good college football player.”
The game marks a rekindling of a rivalry that dates back nearly half a century to their days in the Western Athletic Conference.
New Mexico is also adjusting to a new head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, formerly of BYU and Virginia. They’ve already played their first game.
The Lobos led FCS Montana State 31-14 in the second half and were ahead by 10 points with just six minutes remaining but ultimately lost at home last Saturday.
The Lobos enter the game hungry for redemption after a heartbreaking 35-31 loss to FCS No. 4 Montana State last Saturday. They squandered a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter.
That outcome and high expectations for Arizona this season have led to the most extensive spread favoring UA since 2016.
New Mexico returned six starters from last season, making this their most experienced group. Yet, they allowed 567 yards of offense, including nearly 200 yards rushing for two ball carriers each. Ouch!
This was surprising as New Mexico (Rocky Long’s influence, IMHO) is known as a physically solid defensive team.
In his press conference last Monday at UNM, Coach Mendenhall mentioned that he had read something largely proven accurate years ago.
Most games are won and lost by 3-5 single plays in the course of the game. I would have to say this is very true.
Despite returning two fumbles for touchdowns, the Lobos’ defense struggled against the run and looked inexperienced, raising concerns for the season.
This outcome, combined with Arizona’s high expectations this season, has led to the Wildcats being their heaviest favorites since 2016.
It will be imperative that the Lobo defense stops against the run, especially with Arizona’s 3-4 monster running backs expected to play.
On offense, Devon Dampier stands out for his dual-threat capabilities; he’s yet to turn the ball over in 10 games, making him a versatile player reminiscent of a smaller Khalil Tate.
Watch for cornerback Noah Avinger, who will likely cover the Wildcats’ top receivers, and Christian Ellis, who will be active around the ball.
However, New Mexico’s young offense might need help with Arizona’s experienced defense, potentially leading to a lopsided game.
This recent setback might make New Mexico a more dangerous opponent than Arizona would typically face in a season opener, requiring the Wildcats to stay vigilant despite being heavily favored.
You would think that a team that has played one game early, like the Lobos, would have an advantage to work the kinks out.
On the flip side, opponents see what they are up against what scheme and plays that offense might throw or run at them.
The Wildcats will have their moments as it’s their first game, and playing against a scout team is much different than a live opponent.
Usually, any team sees that what looks good on paper doesn’t necessarily translate against a good coordinator on the other side of the ball.
Arizona, a 30.5-point favorite, has several keys to securing a win. First, the Wildcats must effectively utilize their running backs, a group led by Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Quail Conley, Kedrick Reescano, and Rayshon Luke, all vying to fill the void left by Jonah Coleman, who transferred to Washington.
With New Mexico’s defense allowing 362 rushing yards last week, Arizona has a prime opportunity to establish its ground game early.
If UNM has any hopes of pulling an upset, it will be done on the defensive side of the ball, and the Wildcats have the talent and skill to make this a lopsided game if they score often.
Secondly, ball security will be crucial. While New Mexico’s offense struggled against Montana State, their defense forced two fumbles, both returned for touchdowns.
Finally, Arizona’s defense must focus on stopping the run. New Mexico averaged 5.4 yards per carry last week.
Still, Arizona’s defense, ranked 25th in the nation last season in rushing yards allowed per game, can neutralize this threat and control the game’s pace.
As the Wildcats take the field in their season opener, they aim to start strong under Coach Brennan and continue their winning ways from last season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MST, and the game will be televised on ESPN.
The starting running back for Arizona against New Mexico is expected to be decided closer to game time, as the Wildcats have several options listed at the top of their depth chart.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Quail Conley, Kedrick Reescano, and Rayshon Luke are among the players vying for the starting spot.
Arizona’s depth chart lists these four backs with the dreaded “or,” indicating that the decision is still somewhat up in the air and multiple players could see significant action in the game.
The final decision on who will start could depend on factors such as performance in practice leading up to the game or the specific game plan for New Mexico.
For Arizona’s season opener against New Mexico, most predictions favor a decisive victory for the Wildcats. Here’s a breakdown of the general expectations:
- Point Spread: Arizona is heavily favored by 30.5 points, reflecting a significant disparity in talent and recent performance between the two teams.
- Over/Under: The total points expected for the game are 54.5, suggesting a moderately high-scoring affair. Given Arizona’s offensive potential and New Mexico’s recent defensive struggles, Arizona could cover a substantial portion of this alone.
- Predicted Score: Many predictions suggest a final score in the range of Arizona 45-14 New Mexico, with the Wildcats controlling the game from start to finish. Arizona’s defense, particularly their ability to stop the run, is expected to stifle New Mexico’s offense. In contrast, Arizona’s offense is anticipated to exploit New Mexico’s vulnerabilities, especially on the ground.
- Key Factors:
- Arizona’s Offense: The Wildcats’ ability to establish their running game with a deep backfield should play a significant role. Expect them to use the game as an opportunity to sort out their running back rotation while putting up points.
- New Mexico’s Motivation: After a disappointing collapse against Montana State, the Lobos might come out strong initially. However, Arizona’s overall talent and depth are expected to overwhelm them as the game progresses.
Years ago, I was on the sideline (team Chaplain) when Rocky Long led the Lobos to an upset victory 36-28 in 2008 in Albuquerque and again in Tucson the Lobos won 29-27.
The last matchup between these two teams was the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque; the Wildcats defeated the Lobos 45-27.
Like their head coach, Rocky Long’s teams played with a serious attitude.
They didn’t care who they were playing and played with a chip on their shoulders, a characteristic of Rocky Long.
The current team under Bronco Mendenhall has to have this same attitude to give themselves a shot at beating the Wildcats, or it could be a long flight home to Albuquerque despite the $900K payout.
While the personnel and coaches are different now, the point remains—it’s possible, given the vast spread this game has on it.
The Lobos played a challenging, physical game on defense and made key plays on offense, showing no signs of intimidation.
That’s a solid recipe for success. But we’ll see—college football is unpredictable, and any team can be beaten on any given day.