Jerry Kill is a modest coach, and while the New Mexico State coach is known as a program rebuilder, he went into Auburn and dominated the Tigers on Saturday. New Mexico State beat Auburn 31-10.

After the game, Kill told Taylor Davis on the SEC Network that the key was the line of scrimmage. It was his program’s first win over an SEC team.

“Just relentless effort,” Kill said. “… These kids are amazing, it’s all about the kids, it ain’t about the coaching and the kids came through and I’m so proud of them.”

Kill added that his QB Diego Pavia is tough because he’s dealt with ongoing injures and continues to stay in the game.

“You got to give our quarterback a lot of credit,” Kill said. “He’s played banged up here the last 3 weeks and you always want to hold him out, it ain’t going to happen. You’re going to take him out, it ain’t gonna happen. It starts with him and I think we dominated the game up front.”

Kill said the Aggies will play for a Conference USA championship because the players bought into what the program is doing and his credibility of coming in and turning programs around, the 5th or 6th, he said helped the coaching staff.