New Mexico State begins preparations for Conference USA championship vs. Liberty

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KTSM) – Friday is setting up to be perhaps the biggest day in the history of New Mexico State football, as the Aggies play for in their first-ever conference championship game vs. No. 25 Liberty in the Conference USA title contest.

The Aggies began preparations for the game on Monday night in Las Cruces, holding a short walk-through practice. The game is the first conference title game NMSU has ever played in and will mark the first opportunity for the Aggies to win a conference championship since 1978 when they won the Missouri Valley.

Second-year head coach Jerry Kill has led NMSU to one of the best seasons in program history. At 10-3, the Aggies not only beat an SEC team for the first time, they also have already secured just the second double-digit win season ever, one win shy of the program record of 11 wins set in 1960.

Standing in their way is undefeated 12-0 Liberty, ranked No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Aggies are 10-point underdogs, but that hasn’t bothered them one bit all year. They seem to play better when they get doubted and that’s a testament to Kill and his coaching staff getting the team to believe.

“I think there’s a deep trust between our coaches and our kids and a great bond. There’s nothing that can make things happier than having a group of kids come together. It took awhile, but when you do that then you have a chance to do some special things,” Kill said.

The Aggies play Liberty for the Conference USA title on Friday at 5 p.m. MT on the CBS Sports Network. NMSU also wants some revenge for an early-season 33-17 loss to the Flames in Lynchburg when the Aggies were a much different team.

KTSM will be making the trip to the CUSA championship game to cover NMSU and will begin reports on Thursday night ahead of Friday’s game.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.