Lobo Nation packs University Stadium as UNM goes 1-0 to start 2026 season
Defeat Central Michigan 38-7. Largest season-opening crowd in 12 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Lobo Nation showed up in bunches for the 2026-27 University of New Mexico (UNM) home opening game against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday September 5. Fans filled in seats inside University Stadium and made it the largest season-opening crowd since 2014 with 24,126 people in attendance.
Before kickoff the Lobos had won seven straight games at home after going 6-0 in 2025 at home. Before kickoff, there was a lot of talk about the university’s football team coming into the season after last year. For the first time in its history, this year’s team got preseason votes in both polls, four in the AP Poll and four in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The last time that happened was in 2004.
A hungry fanbase helped the Lobos defeat the Chippewas 38-7. The Lobos jumped on Central Michigan early with a seven-yard rushing touchdown at the 7:18 mark in the first quarter from senior running back Scottre Humphrey. He would lead the team on the ground, rushing for 64 yards and one touchdown for the game. The team as a whole combined for a total of 205 yards on the ground, running the ball 44 times and controlling the ball for 37:29.
UNM’s defense kept Central Michigan out of the end zone, shutting them out for the first three quarters of the game. UNM would be up 38-0 until the Chippewas would score with 4:23 left in the fourth quarter. The Lobos would capitalize in the red zone, going a perfect 4-4, scoring 29 points.
After losing starting quarterback 5th year senior, Jack Layne, to a season ending elbow surgery, Lobos head coach Jason Eck that he would rotate quarterbacks to run the offense. Sophomore Toa Fa’avae and junior Luke Moga split time combining to complete 17 of 25 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. 6th-year senior James Laubstein also saw some snaps, rushing for 18 yards and two touchdowns.
Fan Experience:
University Stadium was filled with people repping their cherry and silver, but some fans spoke with KOAT who came from just across the pond while tailgating. Amy and Ben Miller from London, England, thought they bought ticket for a soccer match. Come to find out it would become their first-ever football game and they said they were very impressed. “I thought it would much smaller,” said Ben Miller. “Is this college?” said Amy Miller. “This is bigger then some of our Premier League soccer matches.”
Next for UNM is another home game against the Mercyhurst Lakers (0-2) Saturday September 12th. Kick off is set for 2 P.M. Mountain Time.
