MERCYHURST (0-1) vs NEW MEXICO STATE (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 5 – 9:00 p.m. (ET)
Las Cruces, N.M. – Aggie Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN+
The Mercyhurst Football team hits the road for a historic matchup Saturday night, traveling to Las Cruces to take on New Mexico State at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET, and the game will stream live on ESPN+. The contest marks the first time in the Division I era that Mercyhurst will face an FBS opponent, and it kicks off a stretch of back-to-back trips to New Mexico, with the Lakers set to play at New Mexico the following Saturday, September 12th.
Mercyhurst Lakers
Mercyhurst opens the 2026 season under first-year head coach Thomas Sydeski at 0-1 after falling to Youngstown State, 43-10, in the season opener. Junior quarterback Alex Gevaudan completed 18-of-31 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running back Jameir Gamble led the ground game with 9 carries for 36 yards, while tight end Sha'lik Hampton hauled in his first career touchdown reception, the Lakers' lone score through the air.
On defense, junior defensive back Braylon Beckwith paced the team with 11 tackles, and defensive end Teddy McDuffie Jr. was named NEC Prime Performer after recording seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in the opener. Senior linebacker Jeff Leavell, who led the Lakers in tackles a season ago, and sophomore linebacker Jaiden Allos, who picked off his first career interception against YSU, also return as key contributors on that side of the ball.
Mercyhurst enters the 2026 campaign picked fifth in the Preseason NEC Poll and will look to bounce back against a Conference USA opponent that also dropped its season opener.
Scouting New Mexico State
New Mexico State also sits at 0-1 after opening the season on the road, falling to Florida State, 34-17. The Aggies are led by third-year head coach Tony Sanchez and are in their fourth season as a member of Conference USA. Saturday's game will mark the first time New Mexico State has ever hosted an NEC opponent, and it will also be the first time the Aggies take the field at Aggie Memorial Stadium in 2026.
Series History
Saturday's meeting will be the first-ever matchup between Mercyhurst and New Mexico State.
Broadcast Information
Fans unable to attend in person can watch the game live on ESPN+, with live statistics available through nmstatesports.com.
Up Next
Following Saturday's matchup, Mercyhurst will remain out west for a second straight week, traveling to face New Mexico on Saturday, September 12th, at 4:00 p.m (EST).
