ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Two University of New Mexico home football games for the 2014 season have been moved to Friday night to accommodate television broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks, the Mountain West announced Thursday.
The Lobos’ MW opener vs. defending conference champion Fresno State on Branch Field at University Stadium will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 and appear on either ESPN or ESPN2.
The last time ESPN covered UNM in a game at University Stadium was the 2007 New Mexico Bowl, in which the Lobos defeated Nevada 23-0. ESPN2 last broadcast a game at University Stadium on Oct. 28, 2005, when DonTrell Moore became just the sixth player in NCAA history to record four 1,000-yard rushing seasons against Colorado State.
UNM will welcome San Diego State and former Lobo coach Rocky Long to Branch Field on Oct. 10 in a 7:30 p.m. broadcast on ESPNU. Last season, the Lobos beat Air Force 45-37 on a Friday night ESPNU telecast as Brian Urlacher’s No. 44 jersey was retired during a special halftime ceremony.
The Friday night games are the first UNM games in 2014 that the Mountain West has confirmed for a set kickoff time.
2014 UNM schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time/TV | Location |
| Aug. 30 | UTEP | TBA | Branch Field/University Stadium |
| Sept. 6 | Arizona State | TBA | Branch Field/University Stadium |
| Sept. 20 | at New Mexico State | TBA | Las Cruces, N.M. |
| Sept. 26# | Fresno State* | 6 p.m./ESPN or ESPN2 | Branch Field/University Stadium |
| Oct. 4 | at UTSA* | TBA | San Antonio, Texas |
| Oct. 10# | San Diego State* | 7:30 p.m./ESPNU | Branch Field/University Stadium |
| Oct. 18 | at Air Force* | TBA | Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| Nov. 1 | at UNLV* | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Nov. 8 | Boise State* | TBA | Branch Field/University Stadium |
| Nov. 15 | at Utah State* | TBA | Logan, Utah |
| Nov. 22 | at Colorado State* | TBA | Fort Collins, Colo. |
| Nov. 29 | Wyoming* | TBA | Branch Field/University Stadium |
* — denotes conference game
# — denotes Friday night game