Once in the shadow of basketball, New Mexico football jumps into the AP Top 25 for the first time

The University of New Mexico football team has entered the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in program history, as reported on November 5, 2026. This marks a significant milestone for the Lobos, a program long overshadowed by the university's basketball team, which plays in the iconic arena known as The Pit. The achievement represents a historic shift in the athletic profile of UNM, whose football program has traditionally played second fiddle to its basketball counterpart.