Tag: new mexico

Jalen Smith catches game-winner for Minnesota vs. New Mexico in Rate Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jalen Smith made two touchdown catches, including a diving grab in overtime to win the game, to lead Minnesota to a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday in Phoenix.

Smith finished with six catches for 64 yards and the two scores for Minnesota (8-5). Drake Lindsey completed 18 of 28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and Darius Taylor had 24 carries for 116 yards and a score.

Minnesota won its ninth consecutive bowl game and improved to 7-0 in bowl games under coach P.J. Fleck.

Jack Layne completed 14 of 25 passes for 88 yards and an interception for New Mexico (9-4). Damon Bankston had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

New Mexico notched a field goal on the first drive of overtime to pull ahead 17-14.

That set the stage for a potential winning touchdown for the Golden Gophers, and they took advantage of the opportunity. Lindsey tossed a 12-yard pass into tight coverage in the end zone, and Smith made the grab before tumbling to the turf.

Officials ruled the play a touchdown and confirmed it after video review.

New Mexico opened the scoring with back-to-back field goals by Luke Drzewiecki. He made a 31-yarder with 1:41 left in the first quarter, and he made a 29-yarder with 6:14 remaining in the second quarter.

Minnesota seized a 7-6 lead with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter. Lindsey had time in the pocket and lobbed a 10-yard pass to Smith, who caught the ball in stride in the back right corner of the end zone.

Minnesota made it 14-6 with 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Taylor took a handoff, bounced to his left and shed a would-be tackler on his way to the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.

New Mexico tied the score at 14-all moments later. Bankston fielded the Golden Gophers’ kickoff at the front of the end zone, sprinted forward and veered toward the right sideline for a 100-yard touchdown.

Teammates celebrated in the end zone with Bankston, who was not touched by any Minnesota defenders on the long run thanks to some key blocks by his teammates.

–Field Level Media

New Mexico coach Jason Eck rewarded after nine-win season

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New Mexico coach Jason Eck agreed to a new five-year contract on Sunday after a nine-win season that represents the most in school history by a first-year coach.

Eck’s annual salary will increase to $1.75 million from $1.25 million, according to ESPN, in what is essentially a one-year extension through 2030.

New Mexico said the new deal replaces Eck’s original five-year contract signed in December 2024.

The Lobos went 9-3 overall and 6-2 in Mountain West play this season. It marks just the school’s third nine-win campaign this century. The 48-year-old Eck and New Mexico can the match the school-best number of victories — 10-1 in 1982 — with a bowl game win.

New Mexico recorded a 23-17 double-overtime victory over San Diego State on Saturday to tie for the Mountain West regular-season title with the Aztecs, Boise State and UNLV. Mountain West tiebreakers gave the conference championship game nods to Boise State and UNLV.

“Keeping Coach Eck at UNM was incredibly important to us,” New Mexico athletic director Fernando Lovo said in a news release. “What he has accomplished in such a short time is truly extraordinary.

“He brought belief back into our program, united our community, and raised the standard for what New Mexico Football can be. From attendance numbers we have not seen in more than twenty years, to competing for a Mountain West Championship after being picked eleventh in the preseason poll, to delivering our first win over a Big Ten opponent, to our student-athletes setting a record GPA in his first full semester, this season showed what is possible with the right leader in place.”

Eck’s deal also contains incentives for regular-season victories, conference championship appearances, postseason achievements, wins over ranked and Power 4 opponents and coaching awards. One of New Mexico’s victories this season was a 35-10 road rout of UCLA.

“My family and I immediately felt welcomed and supported by the Albuquerque community,” Eck said in a news release. “Our fans have been incredible. We love it here, and we believe New Mexico Football can be a perennial Mountain West contender.

“We are off to a great start, and we are excited to keep the momentum going by signing this contract extension. Lobo Up!”

Eck went 26-13 with three straight playoff berths in three seasons at FCS program Idaho before being hired by New Mexico.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins tight end Hudson Habermehl (81) is tackled by New Mexico Lobos defensive lineman Jaxton Eck (6) during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

New Mexico tramples UCLA for first win over Big Ten foe

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Damon Bankston’s 43-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass put an exclamation point on New Mexico’s first-ever win over a Big Ten opponent, a 35-10 romp over UCLA in Pasadena, Calif., on Friday.

Bankston’s clinching score came after UCLA coach DeShaun Foster accepted a penalty on New Mexico for illegal motion. Instead of fourth-and-2, the Lobos (2-1) faced a third-and-11 on which quarterback Jack Layne dumped a short pass to Bankston.

The running back proceeded to race through and past would-be tacklers to the end zone, his second scoring trip of the fourth quarter, putting the Lobos up 28-10 with 7:06 remaining.

His 2-yard touchdown run earlier in the period capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive and extended New Mexico’s lead to 21-10.

On the way to their first win over any power-conference opponent since 2008, the Lobos leaned on a wildly productive rushing attack. New Mexico averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a team and finished the night with 298 yards on the ground.

Bankston’s 154 rushing yards led the way, while D.J. McKinney added 89 and ran for the game’s final touchdown. New Mexico used a variety of formations employing more than five offensive linemen, often setting one up in the backfield as a lead blocker.

UCLA (0-3) slowly battled back from a 14-0, second-quarter hole. The Bruins gave up a 1-yard touchdown carry to Scottre Humphrey at the end of a nine-play, 64-yard drive in the first quarter and an 8-yard Simon Mapa scoring reception from Layne in the second quarter.

Titus Mokiao-Atimalala’s 12-yard touchdown catch from Nico Iamaleava put UCLA on the board and within a score by halftime, and Mateen Bhaghani drilled a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 14-10.

The UCLA defense also helped the cause with two fourth-down stops inside the Bruins 5-yard line. However, UCLA could not capitalize on either change of possession.

After the first of those stops in the second quarter, the Bruins broke into New Mexico territory on a 33-yard Anthony Woods rush, but time expired to deny UCLA a scoring opportunity.

Woods’ 64 rushing yards led UCLA, which gained 109 yards on the ground as a team. Iamaleava ran for 33 yards and connected on 22 of 34 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted during UCLA’s disastrous fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Coach wants UCLA to ‘show up in the first half’ vs. New Mexico

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Seeking a boost in its final game before conference play, winless UCLA will return home to Pasadena, Calif., on Friday night to face New Mexico for just the second time in program history.

The Bruins beat the Lobos in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl 27-13, but the 2025 version of UCLA football draws New Mexico after a more disappointing trip to Las Vegas.

The Bruins (0-2) dropped their second nonconference game of the season last Saturday at UNLV, 30-23, after spotting the Rebels a 23-3 first-half lead. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 29 of 41 passes for 255 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

UCLA’s stumble in that game followed a 43-10 blowout loss at home against former Pac-12 Conference counterpart Utah.

“Just finding a way to get these guys to show up in the first half,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said at his Monday media availability. “If we could put together two halves like we did in that second half (at UNLV) and play like that early on, then a lot of these numbers might be a little different.”

The numbers Foster was referring to include the Bruins’ average of 16.5 points per game, tied for No. 115 nationally; 36.5 points allowed per contest, tied for 120th; and the 70.4 percent rate opponents have converted on third downs against UCLA this season. Only UAB has been more porous on third down at 70.8 percent.

New Mexico (1-1) will face its second Big Ten opponent of the season, having lost 34-17 at then-No. 14 Michigan on Aug. 30. Last week, the Lobos rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to score two late touchdowns in their 32-22 win over FCS Idaho State for the program’s first victory under coach Jason Eck.

Eck came to New Mexico from Idaho, where he coached the Vandals to the FCS playoffs in each of his three seasons at the helm.

The Lobos rushed for 216 yards in Saturday’s win, 141 of which came from running back Scottre Humphrey. New Mexico will look to get Humphrey rolling again when facing a UCLA defense that’s given up 843 yards through the first two games, but doing so will require countering a front line that Eck praised.

“They’re really big on the defensive line,” Eck said Monday on KNML radio. “It will pose a challenge to move their (defensive) tackles.”

–Field Level Media

Michigan running back Justice Haynes (22) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against New Mexico during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Justice Haynes (3 TDs) propels No. 14 Michigan past New Mexico

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Justice Haynes had 16 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 14 Michigan held firm for a 34-17 win over New Mexico on Saturday night in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Highly touted true freshman Bryce Underwood completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown in his collegiate debut for the Wolverines (1-0). Marlin Klein finished with six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Dorian Thomas had 10 catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns for the Lobos (0-1). Jack Layne completed 31 of 47 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Michigan outgained New Mexico 452-267 in total offense.

Haynes opened the scoring with an electrifying 56-yard touchdown run in the opening minutes. The Alabama transfer carried the ball up the middle, broke toward the right sideline and outraced the secondary for the score.

Haynes struck again, this time from 5 yards, to increase Michigan’s lead to 14-0 with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter. Underwood set a block to spring Haynes free for the touchdown.

Michigan made it 17-0 on Dominic Zvada’s 21-yard field goal with 8:21 left in the second quarter.

The Lobos battled back to pull within 17-10 late in the first half.

Dorian Thomas put New Mexico on the scoreboard with a 9-yard touchdown reception with 2:23 remaining in the half. He scored on a trick play as the Lobos snapped the ball between the quarterback’s legs to running back D.J. McKinney, who lobbed a pass to Thomas in the end zone.

Luke Drzewiecki followed with a 44-yard field goal to pull New Mexico within seven points with 1:56 to go in the half.

Michigan responded with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to go ahead 24-10 with 25 seconds before halftime. Underwood capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Klein.

Zvada added a 39-yard field goal early in the third quarter to make it 27-10.

New Mexico refused to go away as Thomas hauled in his second touchdown reception of the evening with 1:40 left in the third quarter. His 3-yard score cut the deficit to 27-17.

Haynes tallied his third touchdown on a 1-yard run to increase Michigan’s advantage to 34-17 with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Bryce Underwood, 17, a freshman quarterback at the University of Michigan and the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, smiles as he participates in a football drill during a private workout in Detroit on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

No. 14 Michigan kicks off Bryce Underwood era under the lights vs. Lobos

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The Bryce Underwood era of Michigan football begins Saturday night in Ann Arbor when the Wolverines begin their season against New Mexico.

Considered by many recruiting services as the top player in the current freshman class, Underwood originally committed to LSU. When Michigan offered a better NIL deal, reportedly $3 million annually, Underwood chose to stay close to home.

A four-year starter at nearby Belleville High School where he threw 152 touchdown passes, Underwood was officially named the starting quarterback by head coach Sherrone Moore this week after celebrating his 18th birthday on Aug. 19.

“Bryce took the necessary steps and really took the position,” Moore said. “Took ownership of his abilities and took ownership of the team and became a leader on the team and a guy that guys look to. Just did things the right way. Used his skill and never tried to do too much. For a young guy, very mature beyond his years, and he’s still only 18 years old.”

Moore was convinced Underwood should start the opener midway through camp.

“You put him in adverse situations and he responds. Never makes the same mistake twice,” Moore said. “Even if he makes a mistake, it doesn’t come back and it’s the same thing. … When you feel like somebody gravitates and has got the team, then you feel like you’ve got your quarterback.”

Subpar quarterback play, and instability at the position, was one reason the Wolverines lost five games last season. They salvaged their season with an upset of archrival and eventual national champion Ohio State, followed by a victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to end up 8-5.

Jordan Marshall, who played sparingly as a freshman, and Crimson Tide transfer Justice Haynes are expected to lead the rushing attack. Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley, wearing the coveted No. 1 uniform, is projected to be Underwood’s top receiving target.

Edge rushers TJ Guy and Derrick Moore headline the defense that Moore believes has plenty of depth.

“There’s just so many guys that could play. You don’t blink if this guy’s out there versus this guy’s out there,” he said. “We’re going to roll guys. There’s going to be a lot of different numbers, different people out there.”

The Lobos have a new head coach and quarterback after a 5-7 season. Jason Eck, who led Idaho to three consecutive winning seasons, will try to revive a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016.

Jack Layne, the Vandals’ starting quarterback, followed Eck to New Mexico and earned the Lobos starting job. Layne started six games last season, throwing 14 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions. He was sidelined for nearly two months due to a collarbone injury.

“He’s probably the smartest quarterback I’ve ever been around in 27 years of coaching,” Eck said.

The Lobos have plenty of running back depth. Transfers Damon Bankston (Weber State), Scottre Humphrey (Montana State), D.J. McKinney (Sam Houston) and Deshaun Buchanan (Idaho) led their former teams in rushing last season.

“It’s a talented room,” Eck said. “We’re blessed at that position and we’ve got to be creative. We’ve got to find a way to use those guys a lot.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; New Mexico Lobos head coach Bronco Mendenhall during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

Reports: Utah State set to hire Bronco Mendenhall as head coach

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Bronco Mendenhall is set to leave one Mountain West school for another, as the New Mexico head coach will take over the same role at Utah State, multiple media outlets reported late Thursday night.

Mendenhall, in his first season as head coach of the Lobos, guided New Mexico to a five-way tie for fifth place in the Mountain West conference, a group that included Utah State.

Mendenhall, 58, posted a 5-7 record this year with the Lobos, 3-4 in Mountain West play. The five wins represented the highest total for New Mexico since a 9-4 campaign in 2016.

When he took the New Mexico job last December, Mendenhall reportedly accepted a five-year deal.

He previously served as the head coach at BYU from 2005-15, producing a 99-43 record, and at Virginia from 2016-21, going 36-38.

Utah State finished 4-8 this season, 3-4 in the Mountain West, while playing for interim coach Nate Dreiling. The previous head coach, Blake Anderson, was fired during the summer amid a school investigation into his alleged failure to report alleged misconduct by members of his team. He also reportedly contacted an accuser and a witness following a domestic violence arrest of a player.

The Aggies reached a bowl game in all three of their seasons under Anderson before finishing below .500 this year. Utah State will not be in a bowl game this year for just the third time in the past 14 seasons.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars running back Wayshawn Parker (21) is tackled by Utah State Aggies safety Jordan Vincent (24) and cornerback D.J. Graham II (4) in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

No. 18 Wazzu looks to pad resume with win at New Mexico

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Going into last week’s game with Utah State, the mandate was clear for Washington State: Win and hope for help.

Mission accomplished on both counts. Not only did the Cougars cruise to a 49-28 decision, but enough teams ahead of them in the College Football Playoff poll lost so that they were able to climb from 21st to 18th in Tuesday night’s rankings.

Now Washington State needs to lather, rinse and repeat, starting with a victory Saturday night when it travels to Albuquerque for a matchup with improving New Mexico.

The Cougars (8-1) did what they hoped to do last week, besides winning easily. They cranked up the running game for a season-high 303 yards and took some pressure off star quarterback John Mateer, who threw sparingly but efficiently, going 18 of 24 for 179 yards and four touchdowns.

“I feel like they played their (butts) off today,” said Washington State receiver Kyle Williams of the offensive line. “I feel like we can’t do anything without the O-line. That’s our forefront and that’s who gets everything started.”

Coach Jake Dickert said the ability to run the ball made things easier for Mateer and the entire team.

“Now we’re second-and-3, now we’re second-and-2, now we’re second-and-4,” Dickert said. “Just having those abilities to attack in different ways, I think that opens up everything that we wanna do.”

Mateer is completing 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,332 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also leading the team in rushing with 630 yards and 11 scores. He got help last week from freshman Wayshawn Parker, who rushed for 149 yards on just 11 attempts, including a 75-yard touchdown run to start the second half.

On paper, the Cougars should enjoy another big game against the Lobos (4-6), who are allowing 38 points per game and have notched just 10 sacks. But New Mexico is 4-2 in its last six games, including a 21-16 win last week at San Diego State that kept its bowl hopes alive.

For first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall, the chance to extend the season past the Nov. 30 regular-season finale at Hawaii is appealing.

“It’s a big opportunity but it’s also the next opportunity,” he said. “This is the University of New Mexico fighting for postseason eligibility against a ranked opponent — at home — and it’s game 11. How could you downplay that?

“Now that we’ve acknowledged it, we just play football.”

While it’s gone mostly unnoticed, Lobos quarterback Devon Dampier has comparable numbers to Mateer. Dampier has thrown for 2,418 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 872 yards and 13 scores. The biggest difference is that Dampier has been more mistake-prone, tossing 12 interceptions.

Iowa State transfer Eli Sanders has added 834 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, while Luke Wysong and Ryan Davis have combined for 101 caches and 1,334 yards. New Mexico is averaging 33.4 ppg.

Washington State has won both previous games with the Lobos, including a 21-17 victory in 2004 in Albuquerque.

–Field Level Media

New Mexico Lobos running back Javen Jacobs (21) is taken down on a punt return as Auburn Tigers take on New Mexico Lobos at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Auburn Tigers lead New Mexico Lobos 17-13 at halftime.

Hank Brown steals spotlight as Auburn rolls over New Mexico

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Hank Brown threw four touchdown passes and Jarquez Hunter rushed for 152 yards and scored two touchdowns as host Auburn held off New Mexico for a 45-19 nonconference victory on Saturday night.

Brown replaced Payton Thorne, who threw four interceptions in a loss to Cal last week, as the Tigers’ starting quarterback and completed 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards. Hunter caught one of Brown’s TD passes and rushed for another score for the Tigers (2-1).

Devon Dampier completed 22 of 44 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lobos (0-3). Dampier was picked off twice.

Auburn received the second-half kickoff and drove to Brown’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Micah Riley that gave the Tigers a 24-13 lead.

Brown’s 14-yard scoring pass to Hunter increased the lead to 31-13 by the end of the third quarter.

Dampier threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Medford to pull the Lobos within 31-19 early in the fourth. Four plays later, Brown threw a 26-yard TD to Rivaldo Fairweather to increase the Auburn lead to 38-19.

New Mexico missed a scoring opportunity later in the fourth after Auburn muffed a punt and the Lobos gained possession at the Tigers 32, as the visitors ended up turning the ball over on downs.

Auburn’s Damari Alston soon ran 22 yards for a touchdown that completed the scoring with 5:51 remaining.

On the first possession of the game, New Mexico drove to Luke Drzewiecki’s 33-yard field goal, and Auburn answered on the ensuing drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Camden Brown for a 7-3 lead.

NaQuari Rogers’ 3-yard scoring run gave the Lobos the lead before Hunter’s 2-yard touchdown run gave Auburn a 14-10 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Towns McGough kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Tigers, but Drzewiecki’s 21-yard field goal trimmed Auburn’s lead to 17-13.

Drzewiecki missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt and Auburn blew a scoring opportunity when it lost a fumble at the Lobos 15, keeping the score at 17-13 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown during first quarter at Arizona Stadium. at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-USA TODAY Sports

WR Tetairoa McMillan (304 yards), No. 21 Arizona outlast New Mexico

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Tetairoa McMillan caught 10 passes for a school-record 304 yards and four touchdowns to help No. 21 Arizona pull away to beat New Mexico 61-39 on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.

McMillan, a preseason first-team AP All-American, scored on a 69-yard reception on Arizona’s third snap of the game and never stopped. He added scoring receptions of 17, 78 and 40 yards, in addition to a 31-yard gain in which he was pulled down at the 1.

New Mexico (0-2) stayed close through the first half, thanks to athletic quarterback Devon Dampier, who accounted for five touchdowns. The Lobos were up 24-17 before Arizona (1-0) scored the final 10 points of the first half and added three more touchdowns in the third quarter.

Dampier completed 24 of 42 passes for 260 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 130 yards and two scores for the Lobos, who lost their opener 35-31 at home to Montana State last week.

Arizona’s Noah Fifita completed 19 of 31 passes for 422 yards to help coach Brent Brennan win his debut with the Wildcats, who were playing their first game as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, in his first season at Arizona after transferring from New Mexico, rushed for 106 yards on 13 carries, scoring on a 36-yard run with 2:24 to go. Arizona’s Quali Conley, who followed Brennan from San Jose State, rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries.

McMillian broke the school record of 283 receiving yards, held by Jeremy McDaniel against California in a four-overtime game on Nov. 2, 1996. McMillan was 10 yards short of the Big 12 single-game record of 314, set by Baylor’s Terrance Williams against West Virginia on Sept. 29, 2012.

McMillan had 208 yards and three touchdowns at halftime, but the Wildcats had to scramble for the final 10 points of the half to take a 27-24. Tyler Loop connected on a 46-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the half to give Arizona the lead. Loop also hit from 54 in the first half.

–Field Level Media