Bowl Berth on the Line for UNM Football? Game Vs. Wolfpack Huge Indicator
New Mexico running back Scottre Humphrey (22) receives the ball on a handoff from quarterback Jack Layne (2) against Boise State in the first half last week. (AP Photo/Steve Connor)
These are the times that try men’s bowls.
Or more accurately, their bowl hopes.
The University of New Mexico football team has a tremendous opportunity to inch close to bowl eligibility this week when it returns to University Stadium to host Nevada on Saturday night.
The Lobos (3-3, 0-2 Mountain West) are 11.5-point favorites over the Wolfpack (1-5, 0-2), who have lost four straight.
For UNM, coming off back-to-back road losses, this is a must-win for its postseason aspirations.
“You’ve got to take advantage of your home games,” Lobo coach Jason Eck said during his Tuesday news conference. “We’re sitting here .500, 3-3, and we have four of our last six at home. We have to take advantage of that. Take it one game at a time, but if we do a great job of defending our home field and playing well, it should put us in a good position to be in a bowl game.”
Last year, UNM was in a similar situation. New Mexico was 3-5, coming off a road loss at Colorado State but returning home to face a 1-7 Wyoming team that it had to beat for a realistic shot at the postseason.
The Lobos led that game 45-35 early in fourth quarter and just forced a Cowboys punt when then-UNM QB Devon Dampier threw a pick-six at his own 29 on the first play of the drive. Wyoming scored another TD on its next drive and came away with the 49-45 victory.
The Lobos later upset nationally ranked Washington State to give them a shot at a bowl berth but lost at Hawaii in the season finale to finish 5-7.
Current UNM quarterback Jack Layne has been struggling of late with turnovers as well, throwing three interceptions at San Jose State on Oct. 4 and two more picks last week at Boise State. He also fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, resulting in a Broncos field goal.
“We have to make better decisions at quarterback, so we don’t turn over the ball as much,” Eck said. “He’s got to trust his training, and he’ll be the first to tell you that, ‘I’ve got to protect the ball better and do a better job with that.’”
The Lobos offense in general must start faster in games, getting behind by double figures in the first halves of its last three games.
UNM is minus-10 in turnover margin this season. The Wolfpack are minus-11. Something has to give.
“The good news is when we’re minus two (TO ratio) or (have) two turnovers or less, we’re undefeated,” Eck said. “When we (commit) three turnovers or more, we’re 0-3. So if we can somehow not have three turnovers, I feel pretty good about our chances.”
The Lobos’ remaining home games are against Utah State, Colorado State and San Diego State. The game against the Aztecs, currently 5-1 and 2-0 in MW play, is the most daunting.
UNM’s road games are at unbeaten UNLV (6-0, 2-0) and at struggling Air Force (1-5, 0-4), but a road win against the Falcons is never a sure thing.
A win Saturday over Nevada should make Eck like his chances at the postseason more. A bowl game would be a phenomenal feat for a program with a new staff and 72 new players.
A loss, however, would really try the Lobos’ souls down the stretch of the 2025 season.
