It’s been a bad news-good news situation lately for New Mexico.
Last year, the Lobos went 5-7 for their eighth consecutive losing season. The good news was that the five wins were the most during that eight-year span. The bad news is that after just one season as head coach, Bronco Mendenhall departed for the same position at Utah State.
More good news is that Mendenhall’s replacement, Jason Eck, arrives with a winning pedigree. A long-time college assistant coach, Eck was successful during his first head coaching stint the past three seasons at Idaho. Eck guided the Vandals to three consecutive FCS playoff appearances. Included was last year’s 10-4 record when the Vandals advanced to the FCS quarterfinals.
Not surprisingly, Eck has loaded up on FCS players through the transfer portal. There are 49 total transfers and 74 new players in the program.
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New Mexico Football’s Mountain West Title Betting Odds
New Mexico’s odds to win the Mountain West are +20000, via BetMGM.
New Mexico Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- New Mexico’s win total Over/Under is 3.5.
- The Under is at -145.
- The Over is at +120.
New Mexico Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 at Michigan
- 9/6 vs Idaho State
- 9/13 at UCLA
- 9/27 vs New Mexico State
- 10/4 at San Jose State
- 10/11 at Boise State
- 10/18 vs Nevada
- 10/25 vs Utah State
- 11/1 at UNLV
- 11/15 vs Colorado State
- 11/22 at Air Force
- 11/29 vs San Diego State
Bold indicates Mountain West contests
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Key New Mexico Football Returners
LB Randolph Kpai
New Mexico Season Preview
New Mexico’s Quarterback Following His Coach
Redshirt junior quarterback Jack Layne followed his coach from Idaho, and he is expected to enter fall camp as the No. 1 at the position. Last year, an early-season injury limited Layne to seven games, where he completed 64.5% of his passes for 1,472 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He missed most of spring practice with an injury but was healthy during summer workouts.
There are several candidates to be the backup. Among them are James Laubstein and Gabriel Motschenbacher, who took the majority of snaps during spring practice.
New Mexico Adds Playmakers At Running Back & Wide Receiver
A huge FCS transfer is running back Scottre Humphrey, who rushed for 1,386 yards and 16 touchdowns for Montana State. He is one of several key running back transfers. The running game should be the strength of the team.
Other key transfer running backs are Damon Bankston, who rushed for 1,104 yards and six touchdowns for Weber State, Deshaun Buchanan, who rushed for 567 yards and five touchdowns for Idaho, and DJ McKinney, who was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year after rushing for 481 yards and three touchdowns for Sam Houston.
Redshirt senior Keagan Johnson is among the key newcomers at receiver after compiling 20 receptions for 359 yards and a touchdown last year at Kansas State.
Michael Buckley could have a much bigger role after recording eight catches for 103 yards in 11 games last year for the Lobos.
UNM’s Offensive Line Outlook
Leading the offensive line is redshirt senior guard Richard Pearce, who started all 12 games last year in his first season with New Mexico after transferring from East Carolina. Pearce didn’t allow a sack on 475 passing plays. He is the lone returning offensive starter.
Isaiah Sillemon, who began his career on the offensive line but played all 12 games last season at tight end, is back on the offensive line, playing center for the Lobos.
Former Idaho Impact Player Looks To Lead UNM’s Defense
Also following Eck to Albuquerque is senior defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby. Last year at Idaho, Newby recorded 65 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. He missed the spring while recovering from injury but has returned to summer workouts.
The Lobos are most experienced at linebacker with Randolph Kpai and Dimitri Johnson. Last season was Kpai’s first at New Mexico after transferring from Nebraska, and he had 80 tackles. Johnson started all 12 games and was fourth on the Lobos with 77 tackles. Adding to the depth is Jaxton Eck, who followed his father to New Mexico after earning FCS All-American honors while recording 134 tackles for Idaho.
With no returning starters in the secondary, the unit will include several transfers, including senior cornerback Abraham Williams, who played four games last season with Idaho before suffering a season-ending injury. He opened last season with six tackles against Oregon. Williams should also be a factor as a kick returner. Before attending Idaho, he spent three seasons at Weber State and had five 100-yard kickoff returns.
Fellow defensive back Albert Nunes started 12 games last year for Northern Iowa, recording 68 tackles.
Safety Clint Stephens, who spent the previous three seasons at UCLA where he was used sparingly, is another key addition.
Luke Drzewiecki, who has 33 career field goals, gives the Lobos a dependable placekicker. Charles Steinkamp, who was the backup punter, could earn the top job this season.
New Mexico Football Season Prediction
I predict New Mexico won’t challenge for the Mountain West Conference title and will win four games.
This might be a more talented team than a year ago, but the schedule is difficult, especially early in the season. Having to visit Michigan, UCLA, San Jose State, and Boise State in the first six games is a daunting task.
This is a team that should be better in the second half of the season, not only because the schedule isn’t as difficult (although it’s not easy), but also because so many newcomers will have adjusted to playing together. This should be a competitive team, but it may not show in the win-loss record.
