Anyway You Color It, New Mexico Football Dominant in Blowout of UTEP
“Coach Eck told us he believes in us ... we took that to the heart. Every time we go out on that field, we believe that we’re better than the (opposing) offense. We’re going to get a three and out and we’re going to get the ball back for our offense.”
Orange crushed with a Cherry on top.
The University of New Mexico football team didn’t play a flawless game, but it played one of its most dominant conference games in recent memory,
The Lobos thrashed UTEP 61-7 in the Mountain West opener for both teams Saturday at University Stadium. The margin of victory was UNM’s largest over a conference foe since a 70-7 victory over San Diego State on Oct. 18, 2008.
New Mexico now also has a 60-point game and a 70-point game in the same season for the first time since 1923 when the program had a 70-point game and an 80-point game.
UNM (4-1) not only survived its first turnover of the season and a failed onsides kick, but it seemed to thrive off the adversity. It also had a punt return for a touchdown called back and missed a golden opportunity to fall on a blocked punt in the end zone.
And none of that mattered.
“Our team is resilient and tough and respond,” said coach Jason Eck, who has led the team to its best start since the 1997 UNM team started 6-0. “I’m never worried. I think it was a good sign that we had a turnover, and we had (only) one turnover. It’s not a game where all of a sudden, we had four turnovers. If you have one turnover in five games, you’re doing pretty good.”
The Lobo defense collected three more interceptions to raise its nation-leading total to 12 on the season. Its five turnovers forced Saturday gives UNM 19 takeaways in 2026 and a plus-18 turnover margin.
Safety Austin Brawley helped UNM put the game away in the third quarter against the Miners (1-4). After Mr. Aggressive Gambler Eck called an onsides kick that failed to start the second half, Brawley intercepted a pass by UTEP’s EJ Colson Jr., and returned it 65 yards for a TD and a 28-0 UNM lead.
Two Miners possessions later, Brawley blocked a UTEP punt that went out of the end zone for a safety. Three Lobos chased the ball over the goal line, but the ball was booted out of the back of the end zone.
“Coach Eck told us he believes in us,” Brawley said. “We took that to the heart. Every time we go out on that field, we believe that we’re better than the (opposing) offense. We’re going to get a three and out and we’re going to get the ball back for our offense.”
So, the defense again was stellar.
Ho hum ... so what else is new?
What was new was the electricity of the offense under Toa Fa’avae in his second game as the team’s definitive starter.
The left-hander completed 15 of 19 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Earlier this week, Eck joked that Fa’avae wasn’t going to go from splitting time with QB Luke Moga the first three games of the season to a Heisman Trophy winner in one week.
If it wasn’t for his late first-half interception when UNM was looking to add to its 21-0 lead, the Lobos could have started his Heisman candidacy Saturday.
“I made a bad play and threw an interception, first one of the season,” Fa’avae said. “But it feels good knowing that my defense’s got my back, the whole team has my back.
Lobo run-option quarterback James Laubstein (12) celebrates with the offensive line after scoring a touchdown in a 61-7 blowout over UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 3rd in Albuquerque. Photo: Robbie Sabado / robbiescam
“We have our mental strength (coach), I hopped on the phone with her this week going over stuff that I should do if something like that happens. Bad play, so we do a learn, burn and return … and we keep going.”
Fa’avae was 14 of 17 passing in the first half for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His 15th completion, unfortunately, was to UTEP that represented Lobos’ first turnover of 2026.
And the second-year QB had to split time again with Moga. This time, it was mop-up time for Moga who entered with 13:11 left in the game and the Lobos leading 44-7.
UNM did allow its third touchdown of 50 yards or more this season when Miners backup QB Raymond Moore III broke up the shutout with an 86-yard touchdown run just before Moga’s entrance.
Another backup, Lobo running back Cameron Mathews, was the game’s lone 100-yard rusher. He had 108 yards and a TD on six carries.
The Lobos now head into the bye week with a legitimate chance at a 10-win season and a shot at reaching the college football playoff.
An announced attendance of 28,256 watched another UNM gem, but this team definitely needs sellouts from here on out if it keeps taking care of business.
“I don’t want to be the reverend preaching to the crowd that was here,” Eck said. “I’d say we probably played better than the level of the crowd.”
New Mexico Football Thrashes UTEP 61-7 in Historic Mountain West Opener
The University of New Mexico Lobos moved to 4-1 with a dominant 61-7 blowout over UTEP in their Mountain West opener at University Stadium. Powered by QB Toa Fa’avae’s 249 passing yards, Austin Brawley’s 65-yard pick-six, and a nation-leading defense forcing five takeaways, head coach Jason Eck has UNM off to its best start since 1997 as the Lobos head into their bye week.