UNM Lobos Secure First 4-0 Home Record Since 1962 with Decisive Win Over Utah State

The University of New Mexico Lobos football team achieved a significant 33-14 victory over Utah State, coached by former Lobo head coach Bronco Mendenhall, marking their most complete performance of the season and improving their record to 5-3. This win gave the Lobos a four-game home winning streak for the first time since the early 1960s and put them just one win away from bowl eligibility, a milestone they have not reached since 2016. Key moments included a 49-yard punt return touchdown by D.J. McKinney, a safety scored by linebacker Jaxton Eck—the program’s first in seven years—and strong defensive plays such as an interception by CJ McBean in the end zone. The Lobos demonstrated dominance in offense, defense, and special teams, scoring in all three phases for the first time since 2016, and their running game was particularly strong with 224 yards on 42 carries. Fans and the coach expressed satisfaction in the victory, especially given Mendenhall’s departure from the Lobos to Utah State, framing the win as a form of redemption. The Lobos will next face the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels, with hopes of securing bowl eligibility.