New Mexico
New Mexico is 8-1 and No. 48 of 138 in the machine's ratings, 5.3 points better than an average FBS team. Last game: won 31-3 at Nevada in Week 10. The machine gives New Mexico a 18% chance to make the playoff.
Week 11: vs UNLV, Saturday, Nov 14: the matchup, unit by unit
Why New Mexico is No. 48
- New Mexico's rating is 5.3: the machine's estimate that New Mexico is 5.3 points better than an average FBS team on a neutral field. That is No. 48 of 138. For scale, 0 is an average FBS team: right now the closest to it is No. 68 Arizona State (0.2).
- It started the season at −3.5, ESPN's preseason Football Power Index from July. Its results since have moved it up 8.8.
- The biggest weekly moves: +3.5 after Week 5 (W 61-7 vs UTEP) and +3.2 after Week 1 (W 38-7 vs Central Michigan).
- Its record is 8-1. The loss was to No. 16 Oklahoma, by 8 points. The 8 wins came by 27.6 points on average; the best was over No. 69 North Dakota State. The rating weighs how much a team won or lost by and against whom, not just the win-loss count.
- Its FBS opponents so far average No. 97 in the machine's ratings.
- Just above is No. 47 Washington (5.3); just below is No. 49 Virginia Tech (4.5).
The rating, week by week
Strengths and weak spots
Head coach
Jason Eck is in his 2nd season at New Mexico (since 2025). This season: 8-1. At New Mexico overall: 17-5, counting this season.
Data provided by CollegeFootballData.com.
Team stats
Season totals and averages over 9 games, each with its national rank among 138 FBS teams (No. 1 = best). The game-by-game story is in the season, week by week.
Passing
| Completions-attempts | 99-164 |
|---|---|
| Passing yards | 1342 |
| Touchdowns-interceptions | 9-7 |
| Yards per attempt* | 8.2No. 30 of 138 |
| Explosive pass rate | 12.4%No. 31 of 138 |
| Sacks allowed (rate) | 10.8%No. 136 of 138 |
Rushing
| Carries-yards | 403-1918 |
|---|---|
| Yards per carry | 4.8No. 44 of 138 |
| 10-plus-yard runs (rate) | 16.6%No. 22 of 138 |
| Stuffed at or behind the line (rate) | 15.3%No. 36 of 138 |
Scoring
| Points per game | 34.6No. 25 of 138 |
|---|---|
| Yards per play | 5.77No. 82 of 138 |
| Third-down rate | 40.5%No. 65 of 138 |
| Red-zone TD rate | 72.2%No. 22 of 138 |
| Giveaways | 8No. 30 of 138 |
Defense
| Points allowed per game | 10.9No. 1 of 138 |
|---|---|
| Yards per play allowed | 4.25No. 3 of 138 |
| Yards per pass attempt allowed | 6.0No. 15 of 138 |
| Yards per carry allowed | 2.4No. 3 of 138 |
| Sack rate | 7.3%No. 30 of 138 |
| Takeaways | 26No. 2 of 138 |
| Third-down rate allowed | 29.8%No. 9 of 138 |
Totals are the official box score. * Yards per attempt and the rates come from the play-by-play, where passing yards count on completions only, so they can differ from the box score by a play or two.
Data provided by CollegeFootballData.com.
Player leaders
The top 3 in each category over the same games. Passing yards count every completion (official box score).
Passing
- Toa Faavae72-121, 1038 yds, 6 TD, 7 INT
- Luke Moga25-40, 259 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
- Scottre Humphrey128 carries, 647 yds, 13 TD
- Kiefer Sibley92 carries, 539 yds, 4 TD
- Toa Faavae84 carries, 319 yds, 2 TD
Receiving
- Cade Keith26 catches, 358 yds, 4 TD
- Bailen George17 catches, 306 yds, 3 TD
- DJ Darling7 catches, 143 yds, 1 TD
Tackles
- Mercury Swaim55
- Darren Agu36
- Jayden Flaker34
Sacks
- Brett Karhu7
- Darren Agu6.5
- Jalen McIver2.5
Interceptions
- Austin Brawley4
- Tavian Combs4
- Jahmir Torres2
Data provided by CollegeFootballData.com.
Who's playing
Based on who has actually played this season, from the box scores, not the team's published depth chart. Each bar is that player's share of the team's attempts, carries (quarterbacks left out), catches or tackles. The box score lists no positions, so there is no offensive line here.
Throwing
- Toa FaavaeMost passes in the last game9 games121 attempts74%
- Luke Moga5 games40 attempts24%
Carrying
- Scottre Humphrey9 games128 carries42%
- Kiefer Sibley9 games92 carries30%
- Cameron Mathews4 games24 carries8%
- James Laubstein6 games20 carries7%
Catching
- Cade Keith8 games26 catches26%
- Bailen George7 games17 catches17%
- Kiefer Sibley7 games9 catches9%
- Massiah Mingo5 games9 catches9%
Tackling
- Mercury Swaim9 games55 tackles11%
- Darren Agu8 games36 tackles7%
- Jayden Flaker8 games34 tackles7%
- Austin Brawley9 games33 tackles6%
Data provided by CollegeFootballData.com.
The season, week by week
- Week 1 W 38–7 vs Central Michigan. The pass defense was the strength: Central Michigan got 1.9 yards an attempt, 4.8 under what it usually gains. Won the turnover battle by 2.
- Week 2 W 70–7 vs Mercyhurst. Mercyhurst is an FCS team, so there is no FBS baseline to grade this one against. Won the turnover battle by 6.
- Week 3 L 6–14 at Oklahoma. The run game struggled: 1.8 yards a carry, 2.1 less than Oklahoma usually allows. Won the turnover battle by 3.
- Week 4 W 42–18 at New Mexico State. The passing game was the strength: 10.4 yards an attempt, 3.1 more than New Mexico State usually allows. Won the turnover battle by 3.
- Week 5 W 61–7 vs UTEP. The passing game was the strength: 11.4 yards an attempt, 3.2 more than UTEP usually allows. Won the turnover battle by 4.
- Week 7 W 21–10 at Hawai'i. The run defense was the strength: Hawai'i got 1.8 yards a carry, 1.6 under what it usually gains.
- Week 8 W 21–16 vs North Dakota State. The run defense was the strength: North Dakota State got 1.9 yards a carry, 2.5 under what it usually gains.
- Week 9 W 21–16 at San José State. The run defense was the strength: San José State got 1.4 yards a carry, 2.0 under what it usually gains.
- Week 10 W 31–3 at Nevada. The run defense was the strength: Nevada got -0.5 yards a carry, 4.9 under what it usually gains. The fewest yards a carry it has allowed all season.