No. 22 New Mexico defeats Nevada 31-3 at Mackay Stadium

The New Mexico Lobos secured their first victory in Reno on Friday night, using a dominant second half and a stifling defense to defeat the Nevada Wolf Pack 31-3 at Mackay Stadium.

According to reporting from the Reno Gazette Journal, the Lobos—currently ranked No. 22/25 in the national polls—controlled the tempo of the game from start to finish. While Nevada managed to keep the score relatively close during the first half, trailing only 14-3, the momentum shifted decisively after the break. New Mexico’s defense, which currently holds the No. 1 scoring defense ranking in the nation, effectively neutralized the Wolf Pack’s offensive capabilities, limiting them to a single field goal and a staggering minus-9 rushing yards.

A struggle for offensive rhythm at Mackay Stadium

The statistical disparity between the two programs was evident in almost every facet of the game. New Mexico amassed 374 total yards, while Nevada struggled to find any semblance of movement, finishing with just 97 total yards. This offensive drought for the Wolf Pack was compounded by a relentless New Mexico ground game that mirrored their season average of 213.1 rushing yards per game, matching that exact figure on Friday night.

Nevada quarterback AJ Bianco played the full duration of the contest, completing 14 of 31 passes for 106 yards. The Wolf Pack’s inability to establish the run placed immense pressure on the passing game, a struggle reflected in the time of possession. New Mexico controlled the ball for 38 minutes and 36 seconds—the longest duration any opponent has held the ball against Nevada this season—and ran 67 plays compared to Nevada’s 49.

The lack of rushing production marked a historic low for the Nevada program. The minus-9 rushing yards recorded on Friday is the second-lowest total in the team’s Division I era, which dates back to 1978. The only lower mark in the program’s history occurred on Nov. 10, 1990, during a game against Boise State, where the rushing total hit minus-14 yards.

Special teams workload for Ewan Baulch

While the offense struggled to move the chains, Nevada’s punter Ewan Baulch was kept busy by the constant field position battles. Baulch punted 10 times during the game, a figure that ties for the third-most single-game total in program history. His 463 punt yards on Friday night rank as the second-highest single-game total in Nevada history, trailing only the 521 yards recorded by Tom Kolesar against Santa Clara in 1974.

No. 22 New Mexico defeats Nevada 31-3 at Mackay Stadium

The loss leaves the Wolf Pack with a 3-6 overall record and a 2-3 standing in the Mountain West conference. To maintain eligibility for a bowl berth, Nevada faces a steep climb, needing to win its final three scheduled matchups against Northern Illinois, Hawaii, and UNLV.

Team	Overall Record	Mountain West Record
New Mexico Lobos	8-1	5-0
Nevada Wolf Pack	3-6	2-3

New Mexico continues its ascent, having improved to 8-1 on the season. The Lobos’ victory in Reno also marks a significant milestone in the long-standing rivalry, as it was their first win at that location in the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs. Despite the recent loss, Nevada holds a slight historical advantage in the series at 6-5-1.

Nevada’s path forward begins on Nov. 14, when the team travels to face Northern Illinois. The Wolf Pack will then return to their upcoming schedule with a home game against Hawaii on Nov. 21, followed by a trip to UNLV on Nov. 28.