UNM head football coach Jason Eck, along with defensive lineman Gabe Lopez and offesneive lineman Richard Pearce, tackled Las Vegas for Mountain West Conference Football Media Days to talk change and the upcoming 2025 season.

Texas State, once clobbered by UNM in 2003, is now eyeing a move to the Pac-12—highlighting how far Lobo football has fallen. With new coach Jason Eck replacing one-and-done Bronco Mendenhall, UNM hopes for stability and a return to relevance. Yet questions remain: can Eck succeed and stay, or will he follow the trend of coaches using UNM as a steppingstone? With football underperforming and basketball thriving, some wonder if UNM should shift its athletic priorities.

Editorial by Joshua Abate: it’s not doom and gloom, the community in Central New Mexico needs to come together to support UNM football and its athletic department.

UNM Football Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall watches practice during fall camp.