This is a genuinely good year to be a Lobos fan. After the program’s best season since 2007, New Mexico enters 2026 as the actual preseason favorite to win the Mountain West Conference, and that changes the whole energy of a fall spent camping just down the road from University Stadium.
Why This Season Is Genuinely Different
According to current 2026 season records, the Lobos enter this year under second-year head coach Jason Eck, coming off a 2025 campaign that finished 9-4, the program’s first nine-win season since 2007 and its first bowl appearance since 2016. That breakthrough run was strong enough that New Mexico was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Mountain West Conference in the league’s annual media poll heading into 2026, a genuinely significant vote of confidence for a program that spent years well outside conference title contention.
A Real Program With Real History
The Lobos have fielded a football team since 1892, playing home games at University Stadium, a 39,000-seat venue in Albuquerque, and competing in cherry and silver as members of the Mountain West Conference. This is a genuinely long-running program, and the current stretch under Eck represents a real, documented turnaround rather than a single lucky season.
“People who haven’t paid attention to Lobo football in a while are going to be surprised this year. This isn’t the same program that struggled through a lot of the last decade. Being picked as the conference favorite means something real, and you can feel that expectation in how people are talking about the season around here already.”
The Real 2026 Home Schedule
New Mexico’s 2026 season opened September 5 with a home game against Central Michigan at University Stadium, according to the University of New Mexico’s official athletics site. The Lobos host six total home games this season, giving East Mountains RVers plenty of actual opportunities to catch a game without a long trip.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 5 | Central Michigan | University Stadium (home) |
| September 12 | Mercyhurst | University Stadium (home) |
| September 26 | New Mexico State (Rio Grande Rivalry) | Las Cruces (away) |
| October 3 | UTEP | University Stadium (home) |
| October 24 | North Dakota State | University Stadium (home) |
| November 14 | UNLV | University Stadium (home) |
| November 27 | Air Force | University Stadium (home) |
The Rio Grande Rivalry
The annual matchup against New Mexico State, known as the Rio Grande Rivalry, is one of the genuine marquee games on the schedule each season, even in a year when it’s played on the road in Las Cruces rather than at University Stadium. It’s worth knowing about even for fans planning to watch from an East Mountains site rather than attending in person.
Getting to a Home Game From the East Mountains
University Stadium’s Albuquerque location puts it within a genuinely manageable drive from an East Mountains RV site, making a Saturday home game a realistic outing without requiring a separate overnight stay elsewhere. Given the excitement around this year’s team, particularly for the more anticipated matchups like North Dakota State and UTEP, getting tickets well ahead of kickoff is worth doing rather than assuming you can decide the morning of.
Building a Fuller Game Day Around Albuquerque
A Lobos home game pairs naturally with a broader day exploring what Albuquerque has to offer beyond the stadium itself. The explore guide for the Albuquerque area covers other destinations worth combining with a game day trip, giving you a fuller day out rather than just a drive in and back for kickoff.
Watching From Your Site If You Can’t Make It In Person
For games you’d rather catch from your own site, the same practical setup options apply here as for any college football Saturday: streaming through a hotspot or available site Wi-Fi for games carried on streaming platforms, or a simple over-the-air antenna for picking up any local broadcast coverage without a subscription. Checking your specific data plan’s allowance before committing to watching a full game in HD is worth doing, since Mountain West broadcasts on platforms like Fox Sports 1 and Mountain West Plus can add up in data usage over a full afternoon.
A Fall Stay Built Around Football Season
For guests planning a longer fall stay in the East Mountains with Lobos football as part of the appeal, understanding the resort and its access to Albuquerque is worth reviewing ahead of time. The about Albuquerque RV Park page covers more on the property itself for anyone planning their first stay around this season specifically.
Why this season matters: coming off a 9-4 2025 season (best since 2007, first bowl since 2016), the Lobos are the preseason Mountain West favorite for 2026.
Head coach: Jason Eck, 2nd season. Home stadium: University Stadium, Albuquerque (39,000-seat capacity).
2026 home games: Sept 5 (Central Michigan), Sept 12 (Mercyhurst), Oct 3 (UTEP), Oct 24 (North Dakota State), Nov 14 (UNLV), Nov 27 (Air Force).
Rio Grande Rivalry vs. New Mexico State: Sept 26, played in Las Cruces this season.
Getting to games: University Stadium is a manageable drive from the East Mountains — get tickets ahead of anticipated matchups.
Watching from your site: hotspot/Wi-Fi streaming (check data plan for FS1/Mountain West Plus broadcasts) or a simple OTA antenna for local coverage.
For a visual sense of the resort before your fall football season stay, the Albuquerque RV Park photo gallery gives a good preview. And for booking a stay this season, Albuquerque RV Park is the starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the UNM Lobos football team do last season?
The Lobos finished the 2025 season 9-4, the program’s first nine-win season since 2007 and its first bowl appearance since 2016. That breakthrough performance under head coach Jason Eck led to New Mexico being selected as the preseason favorite to win the Mountain West Conference heading into the 2026 season.
What home games can I catch at University Stadium this season?
New Mexico hosts six home games in 2026: Central Michigan on September 5, Mercyhurst on September 12, UTEP on October 3, North Dakota State on October 24, UNLV on November 14, and Air Force on November 27. All home games are played at University Stadium in Albuquerque.
Is University Stadium a manageable drive from the East Mountains?
Yes, University Stadium’s Albuquerque location puts it within a genuinely manageable drive from an East Mountains RV site, making a Saturday home game a realistic day trip without requiring an overnight stay elsewhere. Getting tickets ahead of anticipated matchups is worth doing given the excitement around this year’s team.
What is the Rio Grande Rivalry?
The Rio Grande Rivalry is the annual matchup between New Mexico and New Mexico State, one of the genuine marquee games on the Lobos’ schedule each season. In 2026, the game takes place on September 26 in Las Cruces rather than at University Stadium, since the rivalry alternates locations between the two schools.
How can I watch Lobos games from my RV site if I can’t attend in person?
Streaming through a cellular hotspot or available site Wi-Fi covers games carried on platforms like Fox Sports 1 or Mountain West Plus, though checking your data plan’s allowance before committing to a full game in HD is worth doing. A simple over-the-air antenna can also pick up any local broadcast coverage without a subscription.
Who is the head coach of the New Mexico Lobos?
Jason Eck is the Lobos’ head coach, entering his second season in 2026 after leading the team to a 9-4 record and a bowl appearance in his first year, the program’s best season since 2007.