The New Mexico Lobos defeated the Colorado State Rams 20-17 on Saturday, November 15, 2025, in what may be the last matchup between the longtime Mountain West rivals. Colorado State, set to join the Pac-12 in 2026, fought back late but fell short after a turnover on downs. The game took place at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Game Overview
In a tightly contested Week 12 college football game, New Mexico snapped a 13-game losing streak against Colorado State with a 20-17 victory. The Lobos, hosting at University Stadium, built a lead in the second half thanks to key defensive plays and a touchdown run by quarterback Jack Layne. Colorado State, the 14.5-point underdogs, mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, including a 41-yard touchdown screen pass from Darius Curry to Lloyd Avant, but time expired after a failed lateral attempt on the final play.
Key Moments
The game remained scoreless after the first quarter, with both teams punting three times. New Mexico took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by D.J. McKinney following a 12-play, 77-yard drive. They extended it to 10-0 at halftime with a 45-yard field goal by Luke Drzewiecki.
Colorado State's defense shone in the third quarter, forcing three fumbles—all recovered by Andrew Laurich, who had a career day. This set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Curry to Rocky Beers, narrowing the score to 10-7. Isaiah Hankins tied it at 10-10 with a 30-yard field goal before the quarter ended.
In the fourth, interceptions plagued Curry, leading to a 12-yard touchdown keeper by Layne and a 35-yard field goal by Drzewiecki, pushing New Mexico ahead 20-10. The Rams responded with Avant's score to make it 20-17, but the Lobos ran out the clock, turning it over on downs at the CSU 19 with 15 seconds left.
Context and Implications
This was the 90th meeting since 1935, with CSU holding a 13-game win streak since New Mexico's last victory in 2009. Injuries hampered the Rams, including the midweek departure of running back Jalen Dupree and absences of offensive linemen Tanner Morley and Alex Foster. New Mexico improved to 6-4, while Colorado State fell to 3-7. The win boosts the Lobos' bowl eligibility hopes in the Mountain West Conference.
Pre-game predictions favored New Mexico, with Kevin Lytle forecasting a 30-17 Lobos win and John Canzano predicting 38-10. The game aired on Altitude Sports and streamed on The Mountain West Network.