New Mexico State

The Aggies enter 2026 with a receiver room in transition after losing their top target, Donovan Faupel, who transferred to Arkansas along with tight end Gavin Harris to Georgia Tech. Logan Fife returns as the starting quarterback, but he'll be throwing to a largely rebuilt corps headlined by transfers Lyndon Ravare from Kennesaw State and Myles Libman from Stanford. The offensive struggles show in JP+'s projections, which rank the unit 137th nationally at -12.1 points, while the defense grades out much better at 90th with a -2.1 rating that suggests some stability on that side of the ball.

JP+ projects 4.2 wins for New Mexico State, reflecting the offensive uncertainty created by significant receiver turnover despite quarterback continuity. The Aggies lost 52.1 points of player production through 24 portal departures while adding just 23.4 points through 25 arrivals, creating a net talent deficit that could limit their ceiling in Conference USA play. If Fife develops chemistry quickly with his new receivers and the defense maintains its relative competence, the Aggies could push toward bowl eligibility. If the offensive transition proves rocky, another sub-.500 campaign appears likely.