UNM Football Schedule Games, Results & Key Dates
For fans searching for the UNM football schedule, the most important information is knowing when the New Mexico Lobos play, where each game takes place, which matchups are on television, and how the team performed in its previous season.
The University of New Mexico enters the 2026 campaign following a 9-4 season in 2025, including a 6-2 Mountain West record. The Lobos’ 2026 schedule features 12 regular-season games, with notable matchups against Oklahoma, New Mexico State, UTEP, North Dakota State, UNLV and Air Force.
UNM Football Schedule at a Glance
The 2026 New Mexico football schedule begins on September 5 and runs through November 27. The Lobos have six home games at University Stadium and six road games.
The schedule combines non-conference opponents with Mountain West competition. Early in the season, New Mexico faces Central Michigan, Mercyhurst, Oklahoma and New Mexico State before beginning the later portion of its schedule against conference opponents.
Here is the complete 2026 regular-season schedule currently listed by the official New Mexico athletics website:
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | Central Michigan | Albuquerque | 8:00 p.m. MDT |
| September 12 | Mercyhurst | Albuquerque | TBA |
| September 19 | Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | 5:30 p.m. MDT |
| September 26 | New Mexico State | Las Cruces | 1:30 p.m. MDT |
| October 3 | UTEP | Albuquerque | TBA |
| October 17 | Hawai’i | Honolulu | TBA |
| October 24 | North Dakota State | Albuquerque | 8:00 p.m. MDT |
| October 31 | San José State | San José, California | TBA |
| November 6 | Nevada | Reno, Nevada | 7:00 p.m. MST |
| November 14 | UNLV | Albuquerque | 5:30 p.m. MST |
| November 20 | Wyoming | Laramie, Wyoming | 7:00 p.m. MST |
| November 27 | Air Force | Albuquerque | 2:30 p.m. MST |
Times marked TBA can be updated as television selections and scheduling decisions are finalized. The official schedule lists the latest available dates, locations and broadcast information.
UNM Football 2026 Opening Games
Central Michigan — September 5
The Lobos begin the 2026 season at home against Central Michigan on September 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MDT at University Stadium, UNM Football with the game listed for FS1.
Starting at home gives New Mexico an opportunity to establish momentum before a demanding stretch of road games.
Mercyhurst — September 12
New Mexico remains at home the following week against Mercyhurst. The September 12 matchup is currently listed with a time to be determined and is scheduled for Mountain West+.
This gives UNM two consecutive home games to begin the regular season.
Two Major Road Tests in September
September becomes considerably more challenging after the opening two home games.
Oklahoma — September 19
New Mexico travels to Norman to face Oklahoma on September 19. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MDT and is listed for ESPN2.
A road game against a major college football opponent makes this one of the most prominent non-conference games on the UNM schedule.
New Mexico State — September 26
One week later, the Lobos travel to Las Cruces to face New Mexico State.
The rivalry matchup is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MDT and is listed for CBS Sports Network. For New Mexico fans, this game carries significance beyond the regular standings because of the in-state rivalry between the Lobos and Aggies.
October Brings Key Home Matchups
The October portion of the schedule features a mixture of rivalry competition, conference play and challenging road assignments.
UTEP — October 3
UNM returns to Albuquerque on October 3 to host UTEP.
The game is currently listed as TBA for kickoff time and is scheduled for Mountain West+. The matchup gives the Lobos an opportunity to return home after two consecutive road games.
Hawai’i — October 17
After a bye week, New Mexico travels to Honolulu to face Hawai’i on October 17.
The trip represents one of the longest travel assignments on the regular-season schedule. The game time is currently listed as TBA, with FOX Networks listed as the broadcast outlet.
North Dakota State — October 24
The Lobos return home on October 24 to host North Dakota State.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MDT, and the game is listed for The CW. North Dakota State adds an interesting nontraditional matchup to the UNM schedule and gives Albuquerque fans another nationally visible home game.
San José State — October 31
UNM closes October on the road against San José State.
The October 31 game is scheduled for CEFCU Stadium in San José, although the kickoff time is currently listed as TBA. Mountain West+ is the listed broadcast platform.
November Schedule and Important Dates
November features the final five regular-season games, including home contests against UNLV and Air Force.
Nevada — November 6
The Lobos travel to Reno to face Nevada on Friday, November 6.
The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST and is listed for CBS Sports Network. The Friday-night setting makes it one of the distinctive late-season games on the schedule.
UNLV — November 14
New Mexico returns home to host UNLV on November 14.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST, with The CW listed as the broadcast outlet.
This is one of the more important late-season home games because UNLV is a Mountain West opponent and the result could have conference implications depending on the teams’ records at that point in the season.
Wyoming — November 20
The Lobos then travel to Laramie to meet Wyoming on November 20.
The Friday game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST and is listed for FS1. Playing in Laramie late in the season presents a different road environment from New Mexico’s earlier games.
Air Force — November 27
UNM closes its regular season at home against Air Force on November 27.
The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. MST and is listed for The CW. Because it is the regular-season finale, its importance will depend heavily on the Lobos’ position in the Mountain West standings at the time.
UNM Football 2026 Home Games
Fans attending games in Albuquerque can expect six regular-season home dates in 2026:
- Central Michigan — September 5
- Mercyhurst — September 12
- UTEP — October 3
- North Dakota State — October 24
- UNLV — November 14
- Air Force — November 27
The official schedule lists University Stadium in Albuquerque as the home venue for these games.
For fans planning to attend, checking the official schedule before traveling is important because kickoff times can change when television selections are finalized.
UNM Football 2026 Road Games
The six road games are:
- Oklahoma — September 19
- New Mexico State — September 26
- Hawai’i — October 17
- San José State — October 31
- Nevada — November 6
- Wyoming — November 20
This creates a schedule with significant travel demands, including trips to Norman, Las Cruces, Honolulu, San José, Reno and Laramie.
2026 UNM Football Television Coverage
Television availability is an important part of following college football, particularly for fans who cannot attend games in person.
The official New Mexico athletics department announced in May 2026 that at least eight Lobos games had been selected for national television, with the possibility of a ninth. The announced outlets include FS1, ESPN2, CBS Sports Network, The CW, FOX Networks and Mountain West+.
Because broadcast assignments and kickoff times can change, fans should check the latest official schedule before each game.
UNM Football Results: Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 season provides useful context for the 2026 campaign.
New Mexico finished the 2025 regular season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 Mountain West record. The Lobos went 6-0 at home, 3-3 on the road and 0-1 at a neutral site.
Their 2025 results included several notable performances:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| August 30 | Michigan | Loss, 17-34 |
| September 6 | Idaho State | Win, 32-22 |
| September 12 | UCLA | Win, 35-10 |
| September 27 | New Mexico State | Win, 38-20 |
| October 3 | San José State | Loss, 28-35 |
| October 11 | Boise State | Loss, 25-41 |
| October 18 | Nevada | Win, 24-22 |
| October 25 | Utah State | Win, 33-14 |
| November 1 | UNLV | Win, 40-35 |
| November 15 | Colorado State | Win, 20-17 |
| November 22 | Air Force | Win, 20-3 |
| November 28 | San Diego State | Win, 23-17, 2OT |
| December 26 | Minnesota | Loss, 17-20, OT |
The season included a strong conference finish and several close games. New Mexico also earned notable road victories at UCLA and UNLV before ending the campaign with an overtime loss to Minnesota in the postseason.
What Makes the 2026 Schedule Interesting?
The 2026 schedule has several features worth watching.
A challenging non-conference slate
The Lobos face Central Michigan, Mercyhurst, Oklahoma and New Mexico State before moving deeper into the Mountain West schedule.
The Oklahoma trip stands out as the biggest national-profile road matchup, while New Mexico State represents an important in-state rivalry game.
Six home games
The schedule gives Albuquerque fans six regular-season opportunities to watch the Lobos at University Stadium.
The home slate includes Central Michigan, Mercyhurst, UTEP, North Dakota State, UNLV and Air Force.
A demanding travel schedule
The trip to Hawai’i is particularly notable because of the distance and logistics involved. Road games at Oklahoma, New Mexico State, San José State, Nevada and Wyoming add further travel demands.
How a team handles those road environments can become an important factor during a long college football season.
How to Follow the UNM Football Schedule
The best way to keep track of changes is to check the official New Mexico athletics schedule regularly.
Before each game, fans should verify:
- Date and kickoff time
- Home or away status
- Television or streaming information
- Venue
- Any schedule changes
- Game-day information
This is especially useful for games initially listed as TBA because broadcast selections can determine final kickoff times.
Understanding the Mountain West Schedule
UNM football competes in the Mountain West, making conference games especially important when determining the team’s position in the league standings.
The 2026 conference schedule includes games against UTEP, Hawai’i, North Dakota State, San José State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming and Air Force. The Lobos’ results in those games will be central to their conference campaign.
The conference schedule was formally announced in March 2026, with television partners later determining additional kickoff and broadcast details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UNM football team called?
The University of New Mexico football team is known as the Lobos. The program represents the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
When does UNM football start in 2026?
The Lobos open the 2026 season on September 5 against Central Michigan at University Stadium in Albuquerque. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MDT.
How many regular-season games does UNM play in 2026?
New Mexico’s 2026 schedule contains 12 regular-season games, with six home games and six road games.
Who does UNM football play in 2026?
The Lobos’ 2026 opponents are Central Michigan, Mercyhurst, Oklahoma, New Mexico State, UTEP, Hawai’i, North Dakota State, San José State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming and Air Force.
When does UNM play Oklahoma?
New Mexico visits Oklahoma on September 19, 2026. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MDT and is listed for ESPN2.
When is the UNM vs. New Mexico State game?
The Lobos travel to New Mexico State on September 26, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MDT, with CBS Sports Network listed as the broadcaster.
How did UNM football perform in 2025?
New Mexico finished the 2025 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 Mountain West record. The Lobos went 6-0 at home during the season.
Where does UNM football play its home games?
The Lobos play their home games at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The official 2026 schedule lists six regular-season home games at the venue.
Conclusion
The UNM football schedule offers a varied 2026 campaign, beginning with two home games before sending the Lobos on significant road trips. Oklahoma and New Mexico State highlight the September schedule, while UTEP, North Dakota State, UNLV and Air Force are among the key home matchups later in the season.
The Lobos enter the year with the benefit of a strong 2025 campaign, when they finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Mountain West play. Their 2026 schedule presents new challenges, including a trip to Oklahoma and a long journey to Hawai’i, alongside important conference games that could shape the season’s outcome.
For the most reliable information, fans should continue checking the official UNM athletics schedule as game times, broadcast details and other scheduling information can be updated throughout the season.
