American college football season
The 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Lobos played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada as members of the Mountain West Conference due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state of New Mexico . They were led by first-year head coach Danny Gonzales .
On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference suspended all sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 2] On September 24, the conference announced that the football season would begin on October 24.[ 3]
Listed in the order they were released
The Mountain West media days were originally scheduled on July 16–17, 2020, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood , California , but were canceled in favor of virtual media days due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 6] The virtual media days that were scheduled to take place on July 27–29, 2020, were also canceled.[ 7]
The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2020. The Lobos were predicted to finish in sixth place in the MW Mountain Division.[ 8] The divisions were later suspended for the 2020 season.
Mountain Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Boise State 125 (20) 2 Wyoming 90 (1) 3 Air Force 86 4 Utah State 60 5 Colorado State 59 6 New Mexico 21
West Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 San Diego State 122 (19) 2 Nevada 100 (2) 3 Hawaii 74 4 Fresno State 73 5 San Jose State 43 6 UNLV 29
New Mexico announced its 2020 football schedule on February 26, 2020.[ 9] The Lobos' original schedule consisted of six home and seven away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 10] [ 11] In late September, the Mountain West Conference announced that the season would begin on October 24.[ 12]
Date Opponent Site Result August 29 Idaho State * No contest September 5 at Mississippi State * No contest September 12 at USC * No contest September 19 at New Mexico State * No contest October 3 UMass * University Stadium Albuquerque, NM No contest October 10 at Colorado State Rescheduled October 17 Nevada University Stadium Albuquerque, NM (Battle of the Wolves) Rescheduled October 24 at Utah State Rescheduled October 31 San Jose State University Stadium Albuquerque, NM No change November 7 at Hawaii No change November 14 Boise State University Stadium Albuquerque, NM No contest November 21 at Air Force No change November 28 Wyoming University Stadium Albuquerque, NM Rescheduled *Non-conference game Homecoming
Source: [ 15]
† As of December 11, 2020
At Colorado State (No Contest)[ edit ] New Mexico at Colorado State (No Contest) 1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 0 0 0 0 0 Rams 0 0 0 0 0
Pregame line Over/under N/A N/A[ 16]
The New Mexico at Colorado State game was canceled by the Mountain West, due to COVID-19 restrictions and the game was not rescheduled.[ 17]
New Mexico at San Jose State 1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 0 14 7 0 21 • Spartans 7 14 10 7 38
Date: October 31, 2020Location: CEFCU Stadium San Jose, CA Game start: 4:11 p.m. PDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 41 minutesGame attendance: 0Game weather: Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Clear and Sunny • Wind: NW 7 MPH Referee: Mike CuttoneTV announcers (FS1 ): Guy Haberman (play–by–play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) Scoring summary 1 00:31 SJSU Tre Walker 37–yard pass from Nick Starkel (Matt Mercurio kick)(14 plays, 84 yards, 5:01) SJSU 7–0 2 10:36 SJSU Isaiah Hamilton 43–yard pass from Nick Starkel (Matt Mercurio kick)(8 plays, 84 yards, 3:16) SJSU 14–0 09:33 NM Cedric Patterson III 39–yard pass from Tevaka Tuioti (George Steinkamp kick)(4 plays, 84 yards, 0:59) SJSU 14–7 06:10 SJSU Tre Walker 26–yard pass from Nick Starkel (Matt Mercurio kick)(9 plays, 75 yards, 3:23) SJSU 21–7 02:06 NM Andre Erickson 4–yard pass from Tevaka Tuioti (George Steinkamp kick)(9 plays, 75 yards, 4:03) SJSU 21–14 3 10:55 NM Tevaka Tuioti 1–yard run (George Steinkamp kick)(8 plays, 71 yards, 3:02) TIE 21–21 08:00 SJSU Matt Mercurio 35–yard field goal(9 plays, 46 yards, 2:46) SJSU 24–21 00:00 SJSU Bailey Gaither 69–yard pass from Nick Starkel (Matt Mercurio kick)(1 play, 69 yards, 0:04) SJSU 31–21 4 09:39 SJSU Sam Olson 1–yard pass from Nick Starkel (Matt Mercurio kick)(8 plays, 76 yards, 3:50) SJSU 38–21
Pregame line Over/under SJSU –13.5 56[ 18]
Statistics New Mexico San Jose State First downs 23 23 Total yards 443 579 Rushing yards 149 98 Passing yards 294 481 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:26 31:34
Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Tevaka Tuioti 20/35, 294 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Tevaka Tuioti 14 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Andre Erickson 3 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD San Jose State Passing Nick Starkel 34/47, 467 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Isaiah Holiness 9 carries, 31 yards Receiving Bailey Gaither 10 receptions, 208 yards, 1 TD
New Mexico at Hawaii 1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 17 3 7 6 33 • Rainbow Warriors 7 7 14 11 39
Date: November 7, 2020Location: Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI Game start: 6:07 p.m. Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutesGame attendance: 0Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: 65% Humidity • Wind: ENE 13 MPH Referee: Timothy DavisTV announcers (SPEC HI ): Robert Kekaula (play–by–play) and Rich Miano (analyst) Scoring summary 1 14:19 NM Jordan Kress 52–yard pass from Tevaka Tuioti (George Steinkamp kick)(3 plays, 65 yards, 0:41) NM 7–0 10:21 UH Chevan Cordeiro 5–yard run (Matthew Shipley kick)(12 plays, 67 yards, 3:55) TIE 7–7 05:34 NM George Steinkamp 27–yard field goal(10 plays, 61 yards, 4:39) NM 10–7 04:10 NM Jordan Kress 29–yard pass from Tevaka Tuioti (George Steinkamp kick)(1 play, 29 yards, 0:07) NM 17–7 2 14:50 NM George Steinkamp 49–yard field goal(6 plays, 46 yards, 2:25) NM 20–7 03:55 UH Nick Mardner 42–yard pass from Chevan Cordeiro (Matthew Shipley kick)(11 plays, 89 yards, 4:23) NM 20–14 3 13:05 UH Zion Bowens 42–yard pass from Chevan Cordeiro (Matthew Shipley kick)(5 plays, 75 yards, 1:55) UH 21–20 11:55 UH Zion Bowens 40–yard pass from Chevan Cordeiro (Matthew Shipley kick)(2 plays, 40 yards, 0:13) UH 28–20 09:33 NM Nathanie Jones 26–yard run (George Steinkamp kick)(7 plays, 76 yards, 2:17) UH 28–27 4 13:31 NM George Steinkamp 24–yard field goal(10 plays, 44 yards, 4:17) NM 30–28 12:19 UH Calvin Turner 64–yard pass from Chevan Cordeiro (Jared Smart pass)(3 plays, 75 yards, 1:12) UH 36–30 06:33 UH Matthew Shipley 41–yard field goal(9 plays, 55 yards, 3:20) UH 39–30 01:21 NM George Steinkamp 42–yard field goal(7 plays, 31 yards, 1:41) UH 39–33
Pregame line Over/under UH –14 66.5[ 19]
Statistics New Mexico Hawaii First downs 24 23 Total yards 499 503 Rushing yards 279 93 Passing yards 220 410 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 32:22 27:38
Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Tevaka Tuioti 17/31, 181 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Nathanie Jones 13 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jordan Kress 3 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs Hawaii Passing Chevan Cordeiro 33/43, 410 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Chevan Cordeiro 10 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nick Mardner 6 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
Nevada at New Mexico (Battle of the Wolves) 1 2 3 4 Total • Wolf Pack 0 10 10 7 27 Lobos 7 6 0 7 20
Date: November 14, 2020Location: Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV Game start: 3:35 p.m. PST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutesGame attendance: 250Game weather: Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NoneReferee: Michael VanderVeldeTV announcers (FS2 ): Anthony LaPanta (play–by–play) and Ron Johnson (analyst) Scoring summary 1 00:08 NM Trae Hall 16–yard pass from Bryson Carroll (George Steinkamp kick)(6 plays, 55 yards, 2:37) NM 7–0 2 12:09 NM George Steinkamp 26–yard field goal(7 plays, 44 yards, 2:57) NM 10–0 03:41 NEV Brandon Talton 28–yard field goal(8 plays, 38 yards, 4:13) NM 10–3 03:21 NEV Romeo Doubs 33–yard pass from Carson Strong (Brandon Talton kick)(1 play, 33 yards, 0:08) TIE 10–10 01:04 NM George Steinkamp 48–yard field goal(5 plays, 14 yards, 0:59) NM 13–10 3 10:09 NEV Brandon Talton 34–yard field goal(11 plays, 53 yards, 4:44) TIE 13–13 04:36 NEV Romeo Doubs 61–yard pass from Carson Strong (Brandon Talton kick)(4 plays, 82 yards, 1:24) NEV 20–13 4 06:47 NEV Romeo Doubs 59–yard pass from Carson Strong (Brandon Talton kick)(5 plays, 81 yards, 2:23) NEV 27–13 04:02 NM Bobby Cole 1–yard run (George Steinkamp kick)(7 plays, 61 yards, 2:37) NEV 27–20
Pregame line Over/under NEV –17.5 63[ 20]
Statistics Nevada New Mexico First downs 19 21 Total yards 392 352 Rushing yards 52 141 Passing yards 340 211 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:45 32:15
Team Category Player Statistics Nevada Passing Carson Strong 24/38, 336 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Toa Taua 15 carries, 62 yards Receiving Romeo Doubs 5 receptions, 172 yards, 3 TDs New Mexico Passing Trae Hall 17/32, 195 yards, 1 INT Rushing Bobby Cole 17 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD Receiving Emmanuel Logan–Greene 5 receptions, 56 yards
New Mexico at Air Force 1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 0 0 0 0 0 • Falcons 7 14 0 7 28
Scoring summary 1 05:07 AF Haaziq Daniels 4–yard run (Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl kick)(11 plays, 86 yards, 5:55) AF 7–0 2 14:28 AF Brad Roberts 5–yard run (Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl kick)(10 plays, 72 yards, 4:48) AF 14–0 06:13 AF Brad Roberts 12–yard run (Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl kick)(9 plays, 66 yards, 5:07) AF 21–0 4 05:38 AF Brad Roberts 44–yard run (Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl kick)(1 play, 44 yards, 0:09) AF 28–0
Pregame line Over/under AF –8 55.5[ 21]
Statistics New Mexico Air Force First downs 19 23 Total yards 304 422 Rushing yards 83 356 Passing yards 221 66 Turnovers 3 7 Time of possession 23:31 36:29
Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Trae Hall 23/42, 221 yards, 1 INT Rushing Nathanie Jones 6 carries, 29 yards Receiving Emmanuel Logan–Greene 3 receptions, 64 yards Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 4/5, 66 yards Rushing Brad Roberts 28 carries, 177 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Kyle Patterson 2 receptions, 34 yards
New Mexico at Utah State 1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 3 10 7 7 27 • Aggies 3 3 28 7 41
Scoring summary 1 06:54 USU Connor Coles 27–yard field goal(12 plays, 61 yards, 6:41) USU 3–0 00:39 NM Donovan Murphree 39–yard field goal(15 plays, 55 yards, 6:10) TIE 3–3 2 13:54 USU Connor Coles 44–yard field goal(7 plays, 50 yards, 1:42) USU 6–3 08:10 NM Bobby Cole 1–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(13 plays, 89 yards, 5:38) NM 10–6 00:03 NM Donovan Murphree 31–yard field goal(9 plays, 66 yards, 2:21) NM 13–6 3 12:20 USU Justin McGriff 36–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (Connor Coles kick)(5 plays, 61 yards, 2:34) TIE 13–13 08:52 USU Savon Scarver 26–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (Connor Coles kick)(4 plays, 69 yards, 1:35) USU 20–13 06:54 USU Carson Terrell 25–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (Connor Coles kick)(3 plays, 41 yards, 1:14) USU 27–13 05:17 USU Kina Malie 16–yard fumble recovery (Connor Coles) USU 34–13 02:50 NM Andre Erickson 28–yard pass from Bryson Carroll (Donovan Murphree kick)(6 plays, 65 yards, 2:27) USU 34–20 4 07:08 NM Bobby Cole 1–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(9 plays, 87 yards, 3:31) USU 34–27 04:03 USU Andrew Peasley 62–yard run (Connor Coles kick)(5 plays, 77 yards, 2:58) USU 41–27
Pregame line Over/under NM –6 49[ 22]
Statistics New Mexico Utah State First downs 25 22 Total yards 348 452 Rushing yards 196 209 Passing yards 152 243 Turnovers 4 5 Time of possession 31:05 28:55
Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Trae Hall 11/21, 63 yards Rushing Trae Hall 13 carries, 70 yards Receiving Andre Erickson 5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD Utah State Passing Andrew Peasley 14/21, 239 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Andrew Peasley 11 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD Receiving Justin McGriff 4 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD
Wyoming at New Mexico 1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 3 10 0 3 16 • Lobos 0 10 0 7 17
Date: December 5, 2020Location: Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV Game start: 7:30 p.m. PST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 19 minutesGame attendance: 0Game weather: Temperature: 45 °F (7 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: SW 5 MPH Referee: Christian WatsonTV announcers (CBSSN ): John Sadak (play–by–play) and Randy Cross (analyst) Scoring summary 1 11:42 WYO John Hoyland 29–yard field goal(4 plays, 3 yards, 0:55) WYO 3–0 2 14:53 NM Nathanie Jones 21–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(9 plays, 59 yards, 4:39) NM 7–3 08:56 WYO Trey Smith 58–yard run (John Hoyland kick)(2 plays, 74 yards, 0:58) WYO 10–7 06:11 NM Donovan Murphree 40–yard field goal(5 plays, 2 yards, 2:35) TIE 10–10 02:31 WYO John Hoyland 26–yard field goal(8 plays, 68 yards, 3:32) WYO 13–10 4 13:08 WYO John Hoyland 25–yard field goal(9 plays, 86 yards, 3:28) WYO 16–10 06:22 NM Bobby Cole 44–yard pass from Isaiah Chavez (Donovan Murphree kick)(2 plays, 47 yards, 0:54) NM 17–16
Pregame line Over/under WYO –15.5 51[ 23]
Statistics Wyoming New Mexico First downs 12 16 Total yards 374 315 Rushing yards 283 223 Passing yards 91 92 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 25:28 34:32
Team Category Player Statistics Wyoming Passing Levi Williams 4/12, 73 yards, 1 INT Rushing Trey Smith 24 carries, 154 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isaiah Neyor 1 reception, 54 yards New Mexico Passing Isaiah Chavez 5/10, 55 yards, 1 TD Rushing Bobby Cole 22 carries, 131 yards Receiving Bobby Cole 2 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
Fresno State at New Mexico 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 7 17 7 8 39 • Lobos 7 14 7 21 49
Date: December 12, 2020Location: Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV Game start: 7:35 p.m. PST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutesGame attendance: 250Game weather: Temperature: 48 °F (9 °C) • Weather: Windy • Wind: 12 MPH Referee: Michael VanderVeldeTV announcers (FS1 ): Guy Haberman (play–by–play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) Scoring summary 1 11:28 FS Jalen Cropper 10–yard pass from Jake Haener (Asa Fuller kick)(6 plays, 44 yards, 1:46) FS 7–0 06:34 NM Isaiah Chavez 3–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(9 plays, 75 yards, 4:54) TIE 7–7 2 14:54 FS Zane Pope 16–yard pass from Jake Haener (Asa Fuller kick)(6 plays, 50 yards, 2:06) FS 14–7 11:54 NM Nathanie Jones 3–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(6 plays, 75 yards, 3:00) TIE 14–14 10:27 FS Asa Fuller 30–yard field goal(5 plays, 56 yards, 1:22) FS 17–14 08:47 FS Jordan Mims 84–yard run (Asa Fuller kick)(1 play, 84 yards, 0:15) FS 24–14 05:23 NM Bobby Cole 4–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(7 plays, 71 yards, 3:20) FS 24–21 3 06:53 FS Jake Haener 3–yard run (Asa Fuller kick)(16 plays, 70 yards, 7:59) FS 31–21 04:49 NM Connor Kinslow 49–yard pass from Isaiah Chavez (Donovan Murphree kick)(5 plays, 77 yards, 1:58) FS 31–28 4 10:20 NM Nathanie Jones 10–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(14 plays, 85 yards, 7:33) NM 35–31 07:26 NM Bobby Cole 35–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(1 play, 35 yards, 0:07) NM 42–31 02:33 NM Bobby Cole 9–yard run (Donovan Murphree kick)(5 plays, 70 yards, 2:45) NM 49–31 01:08 FS Mac Dalena 24–yard pass from Jake Haener (Zane Pope pass)(8 plays, 74 yards, 1:18) NM 49–39
Pregame line Over/under FS –14.5 55.5[ 24]
Statistics Fresno State New Mexico First downs 23 24 Total yards 408 495 Rushing yards 58 299 Passing yards 350 196 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:27 31:33
Team Category Player Statistics Fresno State Passing Jake Haener 26/43, 350 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Jordan Mims 3 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jalen Cropper 12 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD New Mexico Passing Isaiah Chavez 14/18, 196 yards, 1 TD Rushing Bobby Cole 18 carries, 138 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Emmanuel Logan–Greene 7 receptions, 55 yards
^ "WE'RE BACK" . twitter.com/MountainWest . Retrieved September 24, 2020 . ^ "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Fall Sports" . TheMW.com . August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020 . ^ "2020 Mountain West Football Season to Begin on October 24" . themw.com (Press release). September 25, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020 . ^ "Saltes on Outland Preseason Watch List" . University of New Mexico Athletics . Retrieved August 22, 2021 . ^ "Saltes on Wuerffel Preseason Watch List" . University of New Mexico Athletics . Retrieved August 22, 2021 . ^ Khan Jr., Sam (April 29, 2020). "Mountain West, MAC planning virtual preseason media days" . ESPN . Retrieved January 14, 2021 . ^ "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Football Virtual Media Days" . Mountain West Conference . July 20, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020 . ^ "Boise State, San Diego State Picked to Win 2020 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles" . Mountain West Conference . July 21, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020 . ^ "Lobo 2020 Football Schedule Released" . University of New Mexico. February 26, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020 . ^ "MWC cancels fall sports, including Lobo football" . Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved August 11, 2020 . ^ "Mountain West postpones football, fall sports" . ESPN.com . August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020 . ^ "2020 Mountain West Football Season to Begin on October 24" . themw.com (Press release). September 25, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020 . ^ Crowley, Kerry (October 26, 2020). "Coronavirus: San Jose State game moved from New Mexico to Bay Area due to health order" . The Mercury News . Retrieved November 14, 2020 . ^ Murray, Chris (November 12, 2020). "Nevada weighs in on playing neutral-site game at Sam Boyd Stadium" . nevadasportsnet.com . Retrieved November 12, 2020 . ^ "2020 New Mexico Football Schedule" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved February 29, 2020 . ^ "New Mexico Lobos vs Colorado State Rams" . Odds Shark . Retrieved January 14, 2021 . ^ Bonagura, Kyle (October 20, 2020). "Colorado State Rams-New Mexico Lobos football game canceled due to coronavirus" . ESPN . Retrieved November 12, 2020 . ^ "New Mexico Lobos vs San Jose State Spartans" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 . ^ "New Mexico Lobos vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 . ^ "Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 . ^ "New Mexico Lobos vs Air Force Falcons" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 . ^ "New Mexico Lobos vs Utah State Aggies" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 . ^ "Wyoming Cowboys vs New Mexico Lobos" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 3, 2020 . ^ "Fresno State Bulldogs vs New Mexico Lobos" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 8, 2020 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons