ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- New Mexico’s defense was stifling, and New Mexico’s offense was extremely proficient as the Lobos raced past Central Michigan 38-7 in the season opener for both teams. The Lobos moved to 1-0 as UNM won its season opener against an FBS team for the first time since 2005.

New Mexico went three-and-out on its opening series, and that was the last time UNM’s offense was stopped in the game. The Lobos played three quarterbacks, starting Toa Fa’avae, who, in previous years, would have been listed as a redshirt freshman, making him the first freshman to start since the 2023 season, when Devon Dampier started against Boise State. He is basically the first redshirt freshman to start at quarterback for UNM since Tarean Austin started the 2011 season opener against Colorado State.

That three-and-out didn’t matter as UNM’s defense shut down the Central Michigan offense to the tune of 33 total yards in the first half and just two first downs. Central Michigan punted on each of its first seven drives, except for a late drive in the half in which Xavier Slayton picked off Angel Flores.

When UNM got the ball back in the first quarter, the offense went to work under Fa’avae. He converted a third down with his legs, and that got him going. He completed a pair of passes to Massiah Mingo, and Scottre Humphrey bullied his way into the end zone from five yards out for a 7-0 lead.

After another defensive stop that saw Drew Speech end it with a terrific open-field tackle, the offense answered with another touchdown, this time led by Luke Moga. After a Marco Beltran, Jr. 18-yard return, Moga went 3-for-4 on the drive. James Laubstein came in twice, once to convert a 4^th-and-1, and the second time to score on a 1-yard run to make it 14-0.

UNM got a pair of long Grant Glasgow field goals, of 47 and 48 yards, to round out the scoring in the opening half. After a late interception by Xavier Slayton, UNM drove into field goal range under Fa’avae, but Glasgow’s 51-yard attempt to end the half was just wide left.

In the second half, it was more of the same. UNM got a second Laubstein touchdown run, this time from three yards out, and then Moga hit Bailen George from 11 yards out for his first career touchdown pass and George’s first touchdown catch.

Glasgow tacked on a 49-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to make it 38-0. The Chippewas finally went over the 100-yard mark with just over seven minutes left in the game against UNM’s backups, and Central Michigan ruined the shutout with a 23-yard end-around on fourth-and-1 with 4:23 to go.

Overall, UNM outgained the Chips 364 to 149, with 75 of those yards coming on its lone touchdown drive as UNM emptied the bench. The Lobos allowed just 30 yards passing on the night.

Postgame Notes

This was the first meeting between the two teams.

New Mexico now leads the series 1-0

New Mexico now leads the series 1-0 in Albuquerque

New Mexico has won one straight in the series, which resumes in 2029 in Mt. Pleasant.

Starting lineup changes for UNM from the published two-deep

Offense: Toa Fa’avae was the starting quarterback. Tripp Walsh started as a second tight end for WR Troy Omeire.

Defense: No changes                                                                                                                             

*New Mexico’s captains were Jaxton Eck, Malik Aliane, Austin Brawley, and Brian Booker

*New Mexico’s Charles Steinkamp carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field, and Jaxton Eck carried the United States flag.

*Central Michigan won the toss and elected to defer, and UNM received and defended the south goal.

TEAM NOTES:

*New Mexico held Central Michigan to no points in the first half, and going back to last season, it marked the third time that UNM did not allow a point in the first half over the last five games (zero points allowed against Colorado State and Air Force last season).

*The Lobos entered the game tied for the most successful two-point

*The attendance of 24,126 was the best opening night crowd for New Mexico since 2014 (25,802 vs. UTEP)

*The win was New Mexico’s eighth consecutive win at home dating back to November 16, 2024. It marks the longest home winning streak since the Lobos won eight straight from November 24, 1938, to October 4, 1940, nearly 86 years ago.

*The 38 points were the most in a season opener against an FBS team since beating New Mexico State 61-21 in 1984.

*UNM allowed 30 yards passing on the night, marking the fewest passing yards allowed to a non-option team since allowing 27 to Sacramento State on September 22, 2007. The last time UNM allowed fewer than 30 passing yards to a non-option FBS team was 25 to TCU on November 11, 2006.

*The nine first downs allowed tied for the 22^nd fewest by a Lobo defense, and it was the fewest since the 2006 New Mexico Bowl, when UNM lost 20-12, but gave up just eight first downs.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Charles Steinkamp’s first-quarter punt was his first career punt, coming after joining the team in 2022. Overall, he punted twice for a 40.5-yard average.

*Grant Glasgow’s extra point in the first quarter was his first points since December 16, 2023, against North Dakota State.

*Brett Karhu played as a fullback on offense.

*James Laubstein’s second-quarter touchdown was his second career touchdown.

*Marco Beltran, Jr. returned two punts for 47 yards. In the entirety of the 2025 season, UNM had a total of 55 punt return yards.

*Luke Moga’s touchdown pass of 11 yards to Bailen George was the first of his career.

*Glasgow’s 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the longest by a Lobo since George Steinkamp hit a 51-yard field goal against UTEP.

*Jalen McIver’s fumble recovery was the first of his career.