Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
New Mexico Lobos 33, Utah State Aggies 14
Game Recap
New Mexico (5-3, 22 MW) delivered its most well-rounded showing of the season on Saturday, putting points on the board
in every phase of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—in a decisive 33–14 win over Utah State (4-4, 2-2 MW) at University Stadium.
The afternoon also featured a nostalgic touch as the Lobos broke out their vintage turquoise uniforms, a nod to the era between 1973 and 1979 when turquoise was one of UNM’s primary colors.
The look carried some winning history—New Mexico last donned the jerseys in a 1979 victory over Wyoming, and once again, the Lobos made them shine.
The announced attendance at University Stadium was 20,097 and the fans got more than they paid for as the Lobos looked dominant in all phases of the game.
From the opening whistle, it was clear the Lobos were fired up — the special teams, defense, and offense all contributed in meaningful ways.
photo courtesy of UNM Athletics
New Mexico
The Lobos took control early and never let up. They scored on a punt return, on the ground, through the air, and even got a safety — showing a level of balance and dominance not always seen this season.
Key stats:
- They out-gained Utah State 407 to 306 yards.
- Rushing attack exploded for 224 yards on 42 carries.
- Defense held the Aggies to just 164 passing yards and 142 rushing yards, while forcing a safety and getting three sacks.
This win puts UNM within one victory of bowl eligibility (assuming their goal is the usual six-win mark) and gives them real momentum heading deeper into Mountain West play.
Utah State
The Aggies had flashes of offense — Senior RB Miles Davis broke off a 64-yard touchdown run to get on the board late in the first half.
Quarterback Bryson Barnes threw for 164 yards and a score. But the Aggies couldn’t sustain drives, and the Lobos’ special teams and defense repeatedly put them in bad field position.
Utah State’s high-powered offense (entering averaging ~34 points per game) was held in check.
They’ll need to shore up the early situation and protect field position if they want to get back on the winning track.
Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics
Players to Watch
- D.J. McKinney (UNM RB/Returner) — McKinney opened the scoring with a 49-yard punt return touchdown, and then added a 1-yard rushing TD to make it 14-0.
- Cade Keith (UNM T /Receiver) — Caught seven passes for 104 yards and a 40-yard TD late in the first half.
- Damon Bankton (UNM RB) — Sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 41-yard touchdown run; finished with 84 yards on 13 carries.
- Jaxton Eck (UNM L /Defender) — Recorded two tackles for loss, including the safety, and led with seven tackles.
- Braden Pegan (USU WR) — Led Utah State receiving with 108 yards on five catches and a touchdown.
- Miles Davis (USU B) — Key offensive highlight for the Aggies with 110 rushing yards and the long TD run.
- What to Watch For Momentum for UNM: This victory could be the springboard the Lobos need. With five wins, they’re near the New Year’s Bowl eligibility and have shown they can dominate across all three phases of the game.
- Field-position and special-teams impact: The punt return TD and the safety (stemming from a deep punt) turned this game into UNM’s for the taking early. These hidden aspects matter more than ever.
- Utah State’s ability to bounce back: The Aggies now face the challenge of reclaiming their offensive identity and avoiding poor special-teams or turnover spots.
- Series implications: UNM now has momentum in the home series against USU, and this win could bolster recruiting and confidence.
Photo courtesy of UNM Athetics
Prediction / Looking Ahead
Given the dominant showing, UNM heads into its next game with a tangible boost in confidence.
If they maintain the same level of execution on offense, defense, and special teams, they should be favored to win again and inch closer to bowl eligibility.
For Utah State, the loss is a setback but not catastrophic. They still have time to regroup, but must correct the early-game miscues and avoid giving opponents such short fields.
In short, UNM took a significant step forward. If they keep climbing, this would be the season where the Lobos break out and are now one game away from becoming bowl eligible under this first-year head coach, Jason Eck.
With the win, Lobos improve to 5–3 overall and 2–2 in Mountain West play, leaving them just one victory shy of reaching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. Utah State slipped to 4–4 overall and 2–2 in the conference.
It goes without saying that this Lobo football team has overachieved, considering where media experts predicted it would finish near the bottom of the Mountain West Conference with maybe two or three victories. Jason Eck and his staff have proven they were the right pick by AD Fern Lovo to right the Lobo Ship.
