New Mexico Football Earns First AP Top 25 Ranking in Program History

For the first time in program history, the New Mexico Lobos have broken into the AP Top 25 College Football Poll, landing at No. 22 in the national rankings released on Sunday.

The milestone comes after 90 years of program history and more than 1,200 polls dating back to 1936. Led by coach Jason Eck, the Lobos secured their spot in the rankings following a 21-16 victory over San Jose State on Saturday night, pushing their overall record to 7-1 and keeping them atop the Mountain West Conference standings with a 4-0 conference mark.

Building a National Resume in Albuquerque

The Lobos earned 179 points in the voting, jumping up from 27th place just outside the threshold of the previous week’s poll. Their lone defeat this season came on the road against Oklahoma in a 14-6, defense-heavy matchup. The Sooners subsequently moved to a 4-4 record, while New Mexico maintained its upward trajectory to secure a spot in the rankings.

For the first time in history, your Lobos are ranked on the AP Top 25 College Football Poll 🐺🏈 pic.twitter.com/64C4ly3vJn

— https://x.com/UNM/status/2116971739372482612

With their current standing, the Lobos sit ahead of SEC teams Florida and South Carolina in the latest rankings. They also stand as one of two Group of Six programs in the poll, alongside Boise State, which sits at No. 20. The Lobos have made their case to be a Group of Six team in the College Football Playoff, provided they win out their remaining schedule.

The Road Ahead and Final Stretch

Next up for New Mexico is a Friday night road matchup against Nevada, a team that enters the contest following a 27-0 shutout loss to No. 5 UCLA. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Beyond the Wolfpack, the Lobos’ remaining opponents carry a combined record of 16-8. How New Mexico handles this final stretch will determine whether the team secures an unprecedented postseason bid and finishes out a historic campaign under Eck.