New Mexico Football Preview 2025: Lobos Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

New Mexico Lobos Key Player

Jack Layne, QB Jr.
Layne has to be the quarterback who changes up the Lobo attack. He won’t be Devin Dampier, but it’s his job to hit the deep throws for more of a passing team. The problem is his health - he missed half of last year, and then missed time this spring with an elbow injury.

New Mexico Lobos Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE Sr.
Flip a coin on who’s the bigger get, the elite pass rusher or the star running back. Scottre Humphrey (Montana State) will carry the workload, but finding a game-wrecking backfield threat in the Mountain West is everything. James-Newby made 103 tackles with 15.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in his two years at Idaho.

Top Transfer Out: Devon Dampier, QB Jr.
New Mexico lost a slew of talented players, but Dampier was the star of the show after throwing for 2,768 yards and 12 touchdowns and running for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Now he’ll be doing his thing for Utah.

New Mexico Lobos Key Game

Nevada, Oct. 18
At this point, New Mexico should be 2-4, or 3-3 with an upset. This is the make-or-break moment with Utah State up next at home.

This is the true 50/50 against someone of UNM’s own size. The Lobos have lost three in a row to the Wolf Pack, and are 1-6 since the win in the 2007 New Mexico Bowl.
- 2025 New Mexico Schedule Breakdown

New Mexico Lobos Top 10 Players

1. Keshawn James-Newby EDGE Sr.
2. Dimitri Johnson, LB Sr.
3. Scottre Humphrey, RB Jr.
4. Randolph Kpai, LB Sr.
5. Jack Layne, QB Jr.
6. Jaxton Eck, LB Jr.
7. Abraham Williams, CB/KR Sr.
8. Keagan Johnson, WR Sr.
9. Xavier Slayton, EDGE Jr.
10. Richard Pearce, OG Sr.

New Mexico Lobos 2024 Fun Stats

- Sacks: New Mexico 11 for 49 yards, Opponents 5 for 21 yards

- Penalties: New Mexico 112 for 978 yards, Opponents 84 for 785 yards

- Rushing Yards Per Game: New Mexico 253.6, Opponents 212.9

New Mexico Lobos 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

The New Mexico season should be relatively cut and dry, but then again, no one would’ve predicted wins over Washington State or Air Force last season.

Without something historic happening, no way in road games against Michigan or UCLA, and forget about Mountain West road dates against Boise State and UNLV. None of the other eight games are totally off the table.

The Lobos should pull off a win over Idaho State, and it has the potential to win two of the three home games against Nevada, Utah State, and San Diego State. Beat New Mexico State, and it’s possible to flirt with another five-win season.

Set The New Mexico Win Total At … 3.5

Likely Wins: Idaho State

50/50 Games: at Air Force, Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Diego State, at San Jose State, Utah State

Likely Losses: at Boise State, at Michigan, at UCLA, at UNLV

- 2025 New Mexico Preview, Offense, Defense