We finally return to University Stadium for the Mountain West Opener for the Lobos (3-1, 0-0) as they are set to host a former and new conference rival in the UTEP (1-3, 0-0) as they will play a conference game against each other since the Lobos joined the Mountain West well over 20 years ago. The Lobos are coming off of two road games at Oklahoma (loss 14-6) and at New Mexico State (win 42-18), and are sizable favorites against the Miners here at University Stadium. Toa Fa’avae has taken over the QB1 spot (has started every game this season) and played every snap aside from the James Laubstein packages in the NMSU game and basically the entire second half against OU. The Lobos did have a couple of big injuries announced this week after the NMSU, including WR Troy Omeire. This could open the door for a couple of younger players to make the most of this opportunity with this injury, I would like to see Evan Wysong to get some looks, with Bailen George getting more targets as the probable WR1. This game will be streamed on MW+ with Robert Portnoy and DonTrell Moore on the call, JJ Buck and Ned James will have the radio call. As always I will be updating this as the game unfolds, and will have our updates on Twitter and Bluesky.
Category: Lobo Football
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. Mercyhurst 9/12/2026
We are back at University Stadium for the second game of the season for the New Mexico Lobos (1-0) as they host an FCS team in the Mercyhurst Lakers (0-2). This will be the first of the back-2-back weeks of buy games for the Lobos, this game where they will be paying Mercyhurst a good chunk of money, and next week when they head to Norman Oklahoma to take on the Sooners. The Lobos are coming off a very strong opener, where they dominated both sides of the ball against Central Michigan. The Lobos will look to build off of that performance, and avoid serious injuries headings into the heart of the schedule. We will once again see the multiple QB game plan for the Lobos, while the Lakers will be missing their starting QB. The Lakers will be finishing their road trip to the two New Mexico as they play NMSU close for the first portion of the game before injuries and NMSU turning it one in the second half. As always I’ll be providing updates here, on Twitter, and Bluesky. This game will be on MW+ and you are still eligible for the discount through the end of the month. Read more
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. Central Michigan Football 9/5/26
We have finally hit the Season Opener for the New Mexico Lobos, coming off a great first season of the Jason Eck Era. The Lobos start the season off with plenty of expectations and have their first realistic shot at making the College Football Playoff (a long shot, but there is a shot). We will see who will get the start for the Lobos at QB1 and how the snaps unfold between the three QBs that were in the QB competition during Fall Camp after last year’s QB1 Jack Layne was ruled out for the season with an arm injury. I haven’t been able to get a good look at the team so far this year, due to work starting the same week Fall Camp started. Central Michigan will be a good first test for the Lobos this season, and the schedule to open the year is interesting as they start the year with this matchup, following up with a home buy game, and a road buy game with two completely different expectations for those games. We will have more things coming after this game, but as always we will have this running Blog that will be updated during the game, and of course we will be providing updates on Twitter and Bluesky. Here’s to a fun season with a lot of memories.
Zach Reacts: The New MW TV Deal
While it has been in the works for a while, we are finally getting most of the details for the new Mountain West TV Deal that will be going into effect this next season, after the five universities leave for the Conference formally known as the Conference of Champions (RIP Bill Walton). We have known for about eight months that CBS would be continuing their coverage of the Conference, but there had been questions about what the other parts of the deal would be, FOX has been part of the media rights deal pretty much since the Conference left their ESPN deal, the Conference had also seen coverage in recent years on Turner Sports, ROOT Sports, and the Mountain West Network (TV edition) which was well before its time. We now know who’s going to be part of the deal, and what the coverage will look like.
Glass Full of Emotions and Investment
What a wild ride it has been for New Mexico Vice President of Athletics Fern Lovo in his first year as the AD at UNM, losing Bronco Mendenhall his first week on the job, having to make a Football Hire right off the bat, and needing to find someone who would embrace UNM, the city of Albuquerque, and the state of New Mexico. That led to a certain Head Coach at the University of Idaho, by the name of Jason Eck. How would someone with only FCS Head Coaching experience adjust to the FBS level at a very unique job, having to build a completely new roster and balancing a staff of FCS assistants and FBS assistants, all hires and portal adds would be imperative for the Lobos to be good in year one. Before everything even settled Eck would lose his DC as he would be named the new Head Coach at South Dakota State, so Eck has to go with plan B, leading to Spence Nowinsky, I would say that has worked out well. Everything that could go right went right in year one, that leads to what the month of November has meant for the Football Program, UNM Athletic Department, and the Lobo fan base.
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. SDSU 11/28/2025
We are back for the Regular Season Finale, Senior Day, and possible birth for the Mountain West Championship Game for the Lobos (8-3, 5-2) in the first season of the Coach Jason Eck Era, as they host conference leading SDSU (9-2, 6-1). The quickest and least messy way for the Lobos to make the Mountain West Championship game is to win this game, and have former Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s Utah State team to beat the Broncos. If that happens the Lobos would be hosting the Mountain West Championship game against either SDSU or UNLV (who would have to beat Nevada). There should be around 30,000 people in the stadium today, which is probably 10 fold of what some of the last home games have had over the last decade. I will be updating this as the game goes along, and also be updating on Twitter and Bluesky. Also, keeping an eye on the Utah State vs. Boise State Game. Could be a fun day in Albuquerque. Lobos just need to take care of what they can control, winning the game in head of them. Both of these teams have made a statement with their defenses this year, and the difference in the game will likely be who takes care of the ball.
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. CSU 11/15
We are back at University Stadium for a massive game for the Coach Jason Eck led Lobos (6-3, 3-2) as they host Colorado State (2-7, 1-4) who are limping into the offseason which will also include a new Head Football Coach. Reminder that it has been a very long time since the Lobos have beaten the Rams in Football, still remains one of the weird streaks in sports. If the Lobos want to keep their Mountain West Conference Championship hopes alive they need to win this game. The Lobos play insanely well in Las Vegas before the bye game against UNLV to put themselves in this position. I will be updating this as the game goes along, as well as updates on Twitter and Bluesky. Here’s to a fun day of Lobo Sports.
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. USU (Bronco’s Return)
The Lobos (4-3, 1-2) coming off a win over Nevada last week, are set to host Utah State (4-3, 2-1) and former Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall. If the Lobos are able to clean things up today they will have a decent shot at move with in one win of a bowl game in year 1 of the Jason Eck Era. The Turquoise looks beautiful after a very long time in the vault (1979). Excited to see how this game plays out. I will be updating this as the game is happening.
Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. Nevada 10/18/2025
The Lobos (3-3, 0-2 MW) return home for the first time since their win against NMSU in front of a sold out crowd at University Stadium with a few stars in attendance. Tonight the Lobos will take on the Nevada Wolf Pack (1-5, 0-2 MW) who’s lone win was a win against FCS Sac State. This is a key game for Coach Eck and Co. as they look to position themselves in a spot for a Bowl Game in Year One. If the Lobos are able to win this game tonight (they are favored), it would make the return of Bronco next week even more appealing. The Lobos will look to take better care of the ball as that has been a concern the last few weeks, if the Lobos are able to do that, there’s a good percentage chance that the Lobos will move to 4-3 and win their first MW game of the year. I will be updating this as the game goes along, and as always you can follow along on twitter and Blue Sky.
Running Blog: Lobos vs. Aggies Football 2025
We are about set for the New Mexico Lobos (2-1) vs. New Mexico State (2-1) in a near sell out at University Stadium in Albuquerque. Lobos Lobos to move to 3-1 before starting conference play next weekend. I will be updating this throughout the game. Follow here, twitter, and Bluesky. Should be a fun one on deck.