The 2024 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies were led by Tony Sanchez in his first year as the program's head coach. The Aggies played home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
This was New Mexico State's first season since 2021 without Diego Pavia as their starting quarterback. Pavia, having led New Mexico State to a 10âÂÂ5 2023 season that included an upset win against the Auburn Tigers, transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, second-year head coach Jerry Kill announced that he would be stepping down. Kill saw one of the largest turnarounds in college football history, leading the Aggies to bowl appearances in both of his seasons including a 10-win season in 2023, the program's first double-digit winning season since 1960. Wide receivers coach Tony Sanchez was named the Aggies' new head coach. Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Tyler Wright was promoted to offensive coordinator while Sam Houston defensive coordinator Joe Morris, originally hired as the Aggies' defensive line coach, was later named defensive coordinator after incumbent defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling left for Utah State.
On October 11, Wright was fired two weeks after a report on the presence of over 150 racist, sexist and homophobic posts on his X account made before joining New Mexico State's coaching staff. Wright was indefinitely suspended while New Mexico State investigated the posts and missed games against New Mexico and Jacksonville State before being dismissed. Offensive line coach Andrew Mitchell assumed play-calling duties on an interim basis during the investigation and remained in the role after Wright's firing.
The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Aggies were predicted to finish tied for fifth.