With just 30 days standing between the Lobos and kickoff at University Stadium, fall camp is officially underway in Albuquerque, and the stakes couldn't be higher for the 2026 season. From a quarterback clash between steady veteran Jack Layne and explosive Oregon transfer Luke Moga, to an elite defense looking to build on its Mountain West dominance, the field is wide open.

Can an overhauled running back room replace lost NFL-caliber talent? Will a newly minted passing game coordinator unlock the deep threat this offense has been missing? Dive into our breakdown of the 5 biggest storylines that will define New Mexico's fall camp and shape the season ahead.

History has a cruel way of repeating itself at the University of New Mexico, where every rare, glittering nine-win season has historically been met with a devastating football hangover. In 134 years of Lobos history, massive success has always been followed by a sudden, painful collapse—until now?

Fresh off a stunning 2025 co-championship season, head coach Jason Eck is armed with a repaired quarterback, a ferocious defense, and a wide-open, reshaped Mountain West. But as UNM prepares for its September 5 opener against Central Michigan, Eck faces the ultimate program curse: Can he finally break the cycle, or will the ghosts of Lobos past claim another victim?

With championship DNA in his blood, a 3.7 GPA in the classroom, and a serious passion for the culinary arts, sophomore transfer Hudson Mayes is ready to cook for the UNM Lobos. The 6-foot-5 guard brings an elite athletic pedigree and a mature, explosive game to The Pit this season. From his NBA aspirations to his love for green chile, get an inside look at the multitalented playmaker poised to become Albuquerque's next fan favorite.

Jack Layne didn’t just lead New Mexico to nine wins and a rising program trajectory last season—he did it with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. Despite the hidden injury, the redshirt junior still set a school record for completion percentage and cemented himself as the undisputed, grit-tested leader of the Lobos. Now fully healthy and armed with a reloaded offense, Layne is primed to unlock an explosive new level of play as New Mexico sets its sights on a Mountain West championship.

UNM wrapped up summer workouts emphasizing a new identity built around size, versatility and basketball IQ. Head coach Eric Olen believes the Lobos’ added length will allow for more defensive flexibility after relying heavily on Tomislav Buljan’s rebounding last season. Returning Mountain West Freshman of the Year Jake Hall has transformed his physique while focusing on becoming a better finisher at the rim, though his primary goal remains winning. Olen also praised the passing ability and instincts of several newcomers, including Benjamin Schuch, Rytis Petraitis and Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. UNM also added 6-foot-6 freshman Nathaniel Muriithi from Oklahoma City.

The University of New Mexico Lobos are no longer college football doormats. But as a bold, rebranded Mountain West Conference sets its sights on the College Football Playoff, UNM faces a dangerous double-edged sword: higher expectations. Will a hyper-focused mentality lead the Lobos to a historic conference title, or will the media hype become the ultimate "rat poison"?

Author and life long Lobo fan, Terry McCabe’s new book "Everyone’s a Lobo" takes readers on a journey through more than a century of the University of New Mexico men’s basketball, from its humble beginnings in 1900 to the present day. Organized by coaching eras, it highlights how each head coach contributed to the Lobo story, shaping the program’s identity and direction. The book also features key players, season summaries, and memorable games from each era. 

UNM men’s basketball is still in the early stages of setting the foundation for the 2026-27 season, but Eric Olen believes steady progress is the biggest goal of summer workouts. With nine newcomers, three returners and only eight hours of basketball instruction each week, UNM has spent the offseason developing chemistry and learning Olen’s system. German center Fynn Lastring and Italian forward Federico Grani have added size, shooting and versatility to a rebuilt frontcourt, while Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette begin embracing leadership roles. As the season approaches, Olen’s focus remains on building the foundation that will define the Lobos’ 2026-27 season.

After a stunning 9-4 season that shattered decades-old records, packed University Stadium, and brought the "aura" back to Albuquerque, head coach Jason Eck accomplished the unthinkable: he gave UNM football a target on its back. Now, the Lobos face a whole new psychological battle. They aren’t the hunters anymore, they’re the hunted. From a potential quarterback battle to retooling an explosive offense, here is how New Mexico is gearing up to defend the desert in Year 2.

The buzz surrounding Eric Olen's rebuilt roster was evident Wednesday as hundreds of fans packed The Pit for an open summer practice. In interviews with The Pit Press, newcomers Hudson Mayes, Dax Hall, Tunde Vahlberg-Fasasi and Imran Suljanovic discussed their early impressions of Albuquerque, learning Olen's offense and building chemistry with a roster loaded with transfers and international talent. Mayes talks about his passion for rebounding as as guard, Hall said Olen's ball-screen-heavy attack fits his skill set, Vahlberg-Fasasi highlighted the team's unselfish approach, and Suljanovic said his recovery is on schedule and he hopes to be fully cleared soon. Videos interviews included.

UNM continued its international roster build Wednesday with the addition of Italian forward Federico Grani, a 6-foot-9 rim protector who brings professional experience and frontcourt depth to Eric Olen’s second roster in Albuquerque. Grani averaged 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds for Moncada Energy Agrigento in Italy’s Serie B Girone A league in 2025-26, showing a physical interior game built around finishing at the rim and low-post scoring. Defensively, he averaged 1.2 blocks per game, including a five-block outing, highlighting his shot-altering presence. While his perimeter shooting remains limited, Grani adds size, rebounding and experience to a developing Lobos frontcourt. He joins a growing group of European players under Olen’s staff as roster construction continues.

UNM men’s basketball added size and rim protection with the commitment of 6-foot-9 forward AJ Pierre-Jerome from Butler Community College. Pierre-Jerome averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and led Butler with 32 blocks during the 2025-26 season, earning All-KJCCC Honorable Mention honors. The redshirt sophomore is expected to enter New Mexico as a junior and fills a major need for a Lobos team that ranked 259th nationally in blocks per game last season.

Pierre-Jerome’s game projects as an energy big who can run the floor, finish above the rim and defend the paint. While his back-to-the-basket style and inconsistent 3-point shooting may create questions about his fit in Eric Olen’s offense, his length and shot-blocking ability address a major weakness from last season. Olen recently acknowledged how difficult it is to acquire rim protection in today’s transfer portal market, making Pierre-Jerome a potentially valuable addition.

Defense set the tone during New Mexico’s spring scrimmage, as the Lobos showed flashes of a unit preparing for increased expectations in 2026. While a long run from transfer Cameron Matthews provided one of the day’s offensive highlights, consistent stops and pressure disrupted rhythm throughout the scrimmage. With the quarterback battle between Luke Moga and Toa Fa’avae still unsettled and Jack Layne sidelined, the defense took advantage of offensive inconsistency. Jason Eck stressed that after surprising teams last season, New Mexico must now rely on discipline and execution—areas where the defense appears poised to lead early progress.

The New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball program has dramatically reshaped its roster, highlighted by the addition of German big man Fynn Lastring. Lastring, an 18-year-old stretch forward, brings size, shooting ability, and international experience from Germany’s ProA and ProB leagues, where he showed efficiency as a rebounder and perimeter shooter. He is expected to fill a major void in the post after UNM lost all three frontcourt players. Lastring’s addition puts the Lobos roster currently at at 10 players for the 2025-26 season.

UNM men's basketball added a true all-around contributor in transfer forward Rytis Petraitis for the 2025–26 season. Known for his versatility, Petraitis impacts nearly every facet of the game, combining scoring, rebounding, passing and defense into one package. The 6-foot-7 forward has produced as a primary option at Air Force and adapted to a complementary role at Cal, showcasing his flexibility. He can create offense, attack the rim, facilitate for teammates and disrupt defensively with steals. If healthy, Petraitis’ ability to fill multiple roles should make him a valuable piece and a seamless fit in UNM’s system.

UNM men’s basketball has quickly reshaped its roster, adding key returners and four new players, capped off by the signing of 6-foot-8 Swedish forward Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. The experienced transfer brings three years of Division I play at La Salle and William & Mary, where he averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 35% from three last season. Known for his versatility and defensive ability, Fasasi is expected to provide immediate impact. The Lobos also received a major boost with the return of Mountain West Freshman of the Year Jake Hall, giving the Lobos a strong start to rebuilding the roster for 2026-27.

UNM men’s basketball added a key piece for its future, landing 3-star combo guard Dax Hall while uncertainty continues around his older brother Jake. Dax brings a contrasting style, thriving as a slashing playmaker who attacks the rim and creates for teammates rather than relying on perimeter shooting. The CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year starred at Santa Fe Christian, averaging 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. He finished with 1,957 career points and showed all-around impact, including strong defense and multiple double-doubles and triple-doubles. Confident in his leadership, Hall prides himself on winning, passing, and defensive intensity.

Eric Olen’s quiet approach is yielding loud results for UNM men’s basketball. The Lobos secured a major commitment from Hudson Mayes, an explosive 6-foot-5 guard from UC San Diego. Mayes, a Big West Honorable Mention who averaged 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds, chose New Mexico over Power 4 interest from programs like Baylor and Syracuse.The backcourt also received a veteran boost as senior Chris Howell was granted a medical redshirt following a successful NCAA appeal. Meanwhile, UNM women’s basketball continues its rebuild, as coach Amy Eagan signed junior guard Gracy Wernli, marking her second transfer addition from Lindenwood this off-season.

UNM men’s basketball may have found a key addition in the transfer portal with former St. John’s forward Imran Suljanovic. The 6-foot-8 Austrian originally committed to Rick Pitino but missed last season due to a dislocated patella. Prior to that setback, he emerged as a rising prospect in Europe, highlighted by a strong performance at the 2024 FIBA U18 tournament, where he averaged over 22 points per game. Suljanovic has also played professionally in Italy and debuted for Austria’s senior national team. Though he’s been away from competition, his size, shooting ability, and versatility give him intriguing upside for UNM.