Monumental Upset vs. Oklahoma in the Air for New Mexico Football? Dumb and Dumber Things Have Happened
“We’re going there to win the game ... We’re not going there to keep it close”
“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance … yeah!”
- Lloyd Christmas, a.k.a. Jim Carrey, from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”
Bigger upsets have occurred in University of New Mexico football history.
The Lobos defeated No. 9 Utah in 1994 at University Stadium, the highest-ranked opponent UNM has beaten in school history.
New Mexico was a 31-point underdog to unranked Boise State in 2015 but pulled off a 31-24 upset in Boise, Idaho.
Two years ago, the Lobos stunned No. 19 Washington State 38-35 in 2024 to start the school’s current nine-game home winning streak and end an 84-year skid against non-conference ranked foes.
But this one could be different.
UNM travels to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners (1-1) on Saturday. OU is ranked only No. 24 in the nation, having lost 17-10 at Michigan last week.
Forget the ranking. This is perennial powerhouse Oklahoma. The Sooners have won seven national championships. They were in the college football playoffs last season.
We’re talking about tradition.
Second-year Lobo coach Jason Eck said Monday during his weekly news conference that he’s not treating this weekend's road trip as business as usual. Nor is he downplaying his team’s chances, despite being a 22.5-point underdog.
“We’re going there to win the game,” Eck said. “We’re not going there to keep it close.
“It’s a big game and a big opportunity for our players, so I wouldn’t say you treat it like any other game. We have more to gain than we have to lose. …”
Eck built his reputation quickly at New Mexico by his team’s efforts against big-name schools to start the 2025 season.
The Lobos earned kudos for losing at nationally ranked Michigan by 17 in last year’s opener. Two games later, they whipped recognized but nationally awful UCLA 35-10 in the Rose Bowl.
While several previous UNM teams entering games against big-name foes have talked about going there to win, this team has the best credentials of any team in recent memory for an upset.
New Mexico has won 11 of its last 15 games – the best 15-game stretch since 1997-98.
The Lobos are 2-0 for just the second time in 20 years – they went 2-0 in 2021, but nothing else about that 3-9 season was memorable.
They’ve outscored their opponents 108-14 in 2026 – averaging 54.0 points per game to rank seventh in the nation, tied for ninth in scoring defense at 7.0 points per game and third in total defense, allowing 152.0 yards per game.
All good vs. Central Michigan and Mercyhurst, but …
“I think we’re a confident team,” Eck said. “We were confident coming into the season as well.
“The big thing we’ve got to be ready for is we’ve got to be ready for adversity. Oklahoma’s going to create some adversity for us. We’ve got to respond the right way when that happens, not flinch when the momentum swings against you. There’s going to be times in this game when the momentum swings against us, which we really haven’t had to deal with a ton. If you flinch, those games can become ugly real quick.”
While Oklahoma’s talent level across the board will be the best the Lobos face this season, they have seen a couple of key Sooners before.
Sooners signal caller John Mateer was the QB for Washington State during the Lobos’ 2024 upset. He was stellar that game, throwing for 375 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for 65 yards and another TD.
Tight end Rocky Beers, OU’s leading receiver, played for Colorado State last season and had a team-high seven receptions for 67 yards and a score during UNM’s 20-17 victory.
That should reduce the awe factor slightly as well.
Eck knows, however, that his team must improve its play and catch some breaks to pull off the upset.
Starting QB Toa Fa’avae is 3-of-10 passing for 32 yards combined in the first quarters this season. The team has a great weapon in punt returner Marco Beltran Jr., but the Lobos committed three holding penalties on returns last week.
They had a touchdown pass negated because of a penalty vs. Central Michigan.
Eck calls those, “Lobos beating the Lobos” plays.
If – and this is a Power Four conference-sized IF – New Mexico can clean up those mistakes, get a few big plays on defense and special teams to give the offense “a chance. …”
Lloyd Christmas did not end up with Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) in “Dumb and Dumber,” but Carrey did date Holly at one time.
There’s always a chance.
This New Mexico team may have its best chance ever for a signature win on the road.
They are 22.5-point underdogs stepping into a historic powerhouse's backyard, but Jason Eck and the New Mexico Lobos aren't heading to Norman just to take photos. Riding an 11-4 stretch, boasting the nation's third-ranked total defense, and armed with the quiet confidence of past giant-killings, UNM travels to face No. 24 Oklahoma believing in the impossible. They’ll need near-flawless execution and a few big breaks to pull off the biggest signature road win in program history - so you’re telling us there’s a chance?