The 2026 New Mexico Lobos football team represents The University of New Mexico as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Lobos are led by second-year head coach Jason Eck and play their home games at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The season marks the second year under Eck following a breakthrough 2025 campaign in which New Mexico finished 9–4, recorded the program's first nine-win season since 2007, and earned its first bowl appearance since 2016.
Entering the 2026 season, the Lobos were selected as the preseason favorite to win the Mountain West Conference in the league's annual preseason media poll after returning key contributors from their 2025 squad and following a significant turnaround under Eck.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
Central Michigan
Statistics CMUUNM First downs 9 28 Plays–yards 48–149 69–364 Rushes–yards 32–119 44–205 Passing yards 30 159 Passing: comp–att–int 7–16–1 17–25–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 22:31 37:29
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Jadyn Glasser 4/10, 16 yards Rushing Angel Flores 10 carries, 27 yards Receiving Justin Ruffin Jr. 3 receptions, 9 yards New Mexico Passing Luke Moga 13/17, 116 yards, TD Rushing Scottre Humphrey 13 carries, 64 yards, TD Receiving Bailen George 4 receptions, 36 yards, TD
Mercyhurst (FCS)
Statistics MERCUNM First downs 10 23 Plays–yards 55–155 70–460 Rushes–yards 28–18 52–287 Passing yards 137 173 Passing: comp–att–int 13–27–4 7–18–0 Turnovers 6 0 Time of possession 26:27 33:33 Team Category Player Statistics Mercyhurst Passing Anthony Wolter 9/20, 111 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Jameir Gamble 8 carries, 17 yards Receiving Speedy Yancey 1 reception, 75 yards, TD New Mexico Passing Toa Fa'avae 3/9, 91 yards, TD Rushing Scottre Humphrey 15 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving Troy Omeire 2 receptions, 70 yards, TD
at No. 24 Oklahoma
Statistics UNMOU First downs 12 14 Plays–yards 57–185 58–299 Rushes–yards 38–69 32–61 Passing yards 116 238 Passing: comp–att–int 8–19–0 19–26–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 34:08 25:52 Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Toa Fa'avae 4/10, 79 yards Rushing Kiefer Sibley 9 carries, 41 yards Receiving Cade Keith 5 receptions, 78 yards Oklahoma Passing John Mateer 19/25, 238 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Lloyd Avant 8 carries, 27 yards Receiving Isaiah Sategna III 6 receptions, 101 yards, TD
at New Mexico State (Rio Grande Rivalry)
Statistics UNMNMSU First downs 19 22 Plays–yards 64–430 69–405 Rushes–yards 47–253 31–137 Passing yards 177 268 Passing: comp–att–int 10–17–0 23–38–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:58 26:02 Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Toa Fa'avae 10/17, 177 yards, TD Rushing Scottre Humphrey 19 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bailen George 3 receptions, 102 yards New Mexico State Passing Adam Damante 16/19, 162 yards, TD Rushing James Jones 14 carries, 112 yards Receiving Josiah Thomas 5 receptions, 90 yards
vs UTEP
Statistics UTEPUNM First downs 11 24 Plays–yards 53–271 65–493 Rushes–yards 35–170 42–231 Passing yards 101 262 Passing: comp–att–int 8–18–3 17–23–1 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 28:32 31:28 Team Category Player Statistics UTEP Passing EJ Colson Jr. 6/12, 45 yards, INT Rushing Raymond Moore III 11 carries, 135 yards, TD Receiving Kam Thomas 3 receptions, 47 yards New Mexico Passing Toa Fa'avae 15/19, 249 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Cameron Mathews 6 carries, 108 yards, TD Receiving DJ Darling 3 receptions, 75 yards
at Hawaii
Statistics UNMHAW First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving Hawaii Passing Rushing Receiving
North Dakota State
Statistics NDSUUNM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving
at San Jose State
Statistics UNMSJSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving San Jose State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Nevada
Statistics UNMNEV First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving Nevada Passing Rushing Receiving
UNLV
Statistics UNLVUNM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UNLV Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving
at Wyoming
Statistics UNMWYO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving Wyoming Passing Rushing Receiving
Air Force
Statistics AFAUNM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Air Force Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Transfers Outgoing Dorian Thomas TE California D. J. McKinney RB Tulsa Daniel Hughes P Florida State Trey DuBuc LS Texas Landon Williams DE Stephen F. Austin Marcus Vinson TE Florida Atlantic Travis Gray OL UT Martin Cole Welliver QB Southeastern Louisiana Isaiah Blair WR Aiden Valdez TE Jordan Mora OL Midwestern State Max Lantzsch DL Isaiah Chavez QB Mihalis Santorineos LB Randolph Kpai LB
Incoming Ormanie Arnold CB Cincinnati / Idaho Joshua Barnes DB Idaho KJ Battle CB Towson Jalen Charles DL College Park HS Deven Dyer DL Western New Mexico / New Mexico State Lincoln Epstein LS Central Michigan Markus Fetcho OL Laney College Will Hicks DB Hampton Michael Kern P California / Texas Kevin Longstreet CB USC / Louisville / Texas A&M Clay Martineau LB Boise State Cameron Mathews RB Memphis Eric McClain DB Ball State Ken Meir OL Temple / Lindenwood / Foothill CC Cole Millward OL Weber State Luke Moga QB Oregon Joey Olsen TE USC Konner Olson K St. Bonaventure HS Troy Omeire WR UNLV / Arizona State / Texas AJ Robinson DL Northern Illinois / Independence CC Trenton Rocker LB Copiah–Lincoln CC Nicholas Romero K Wagner Keifer Seibley RB North Texas Bear Tenney TE Sacramento State Albert Tuakalau DL College of San Mateo Tripp Walsh TE Iowa State Miles Williams WR Eastern Washington
Coaching staff additions NameNew positionPrevious teamPrevious position Zach Lujan Associate head coach / Tight ends Northwestern Offensive coordinator / Quarterbacks Erik Link Assistant head coach / Special teams coordinator Missouri Special teams coordinator / Tight ends Carson Walch Offensive passing game coordinator / Wide receivers Cleveland Browns Director of player development Darrius G. Smith Running backs Southern Utah Running backs Ryan McNamee Chief of staff UCLA Director of football operations Zach Parrella Associate director of athletic performance Louisiana Strength and conditioning Mitchell Mueller Director of football equipment operations Kansas Assistant football equipment manager
Coaching staff departures NamePositionNew teamNew position Daniel Da Prato Associate head coach / Special teams coordinator Minnesota Special teams coordinator Jared Elliott Tight ends Illinois Tight ends Colin Lockett Wide receivers UCLA Wide receivers John Johnson Running backs Iowa State Running backs Kiel McDonald Volunteer offensive assistant Texas State Running Backs
References