After a Deflating Loss, New Mexico Lobo Football Team Looks To Rise Up at Boise State
UNM running back Damon Bankston runs the ball against New Mexico State. Photo: Chris Rodarte/Game Pass Media
Jason Eck’s first-ever visit to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta last Saturday was like his University of New Mexico football team’s trip to Mountain West rival San Jose State the night before.
The Lobo coach said he and his family watched a balloon glow, but the balloons never got up off the ground.
Similarly, UNM and its fans were glowing after a 3-1 start to the 2025 season after wins against Power Four team UCLA and in-state rival New Mexico State. But after two weeks of back-patting, the Lobos couldn’t get off the ground and ended up on the canvas against the Spartans during a 35-28 loss.
Eck said this week his team may have lacked the fire in practice that it had in previous weeks, having heard nothing but praise since its 35-10 over the Bruins on Sept. 12.
“Even the players mentioned to one of the coaches that we maybe didn’t have quite the same intensity in practice last week and then that showed up on (Friday),” Eck said. “You can’t make that up; You can’t flip the switch on (game day) and get that back.”
The first reaction to that statement could be one of befuddlement over a school that has had such little success for the better part of the last decade and then loses its edge so quickly after a promising start to the season.
But it’s actually a good problem to have for an up-and-coming program trying to learn how to be successful over the long term.
The reality check comes at a good time for the Lobos (3-2, 0-1 Mountain West) as they travel to Boise State (3-2, 1-0), where UNM hasn’t won since Nov. 14, 2015 – aka “The Greatest Night in Albuquerque Sports History” with the Lobos stunning the Broncos 31-24 right after Holly Holm knocked out Rhonda Rousey for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship.
“When you’re a good team, and that’s a credit to Boise State, they’ve been good for so long and they’ve been that team that everyone gets up for and is ready to play against,” Eck said. “We were proud to be 3-1. Our fans were all proud to be 3-1, and they tell you how great you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean things get easier. It really gets harder. Teams are ready to go. I thought San Jose State, they played exceptional. They played maybe their best game of the year.”
What also should signal to fans that the 2025 Lobos are a different animal is what Eck also pointed out statistically during the San Jose State game. The Spartans won the turnover battle 3-0, had four sacks to UNM’s zero, outrushed the Lobos 153-76 and scored touchdowns on all their red zone possessions while the visitors had to settle for a pair of field goals.
“If you said all right, I’ll predict the score of that game, you probably wouldn’t say that’s a seven-point game,” Eck said.
Eck hopes the Lobos stay a little grounded rather than filled with a bit of hot air after a three-game winning streak. Less chance of a deflated effort and more chance of recapturing that glow.
