Lobos Earn First-Ever AP Top 25 Ranking

New Mexico football debuts at No. 22 in the AP poll after a 4-0 start in Mountain West play.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football

Live Poll

Would you attend a Lobo football game this season in Albuquerque?

The New Mexico Lobos earned a spot in the AP Top 25 poll at No. 22, the first official national ranking in program history. The Lobos moved up from effectively 27th last week after beating San Jose State for the first time since 1969.

Why it matters

The ranking marks a milestone for the Albuquerque-area program and reflects a 7-1 start that has put New Mexico atop the Mountain West standings. Their only loss came to Oklahoma, which was ranked 24th at the time.

The Lobos collected 179 points in the AP poll, and their only loss this season was a 14-6 game to Oklahoma, which was ranked 24th when it played New Mexico.

The players

New Mexico Lobos

The football program of the University of New Mexico, which competes in the Mountain West Conference and is based in Albuquerque.

The details

No other Mountain West team made the Top 25 or received votes in the new poll. The men's basketball program had reached as high as 19th in the 2023-24 season, but the football ranking is the first official AP placement in program history.

The new AP Top 25 poll was released Sunday, November 1, 2026, placing the Lobos at No. 22.
The Lobos last beat San Jose State in 1969, before this season's win.

Season Trajectory

The ranking shifts the Lobos' trajectory from a conference contender to a national-poll presence, with the AP Top 25 serving as the benchmark for that status. The team is also projected as a favorite to make the College Football Playoff, which would further test its standing among the country's top programs.

The Lobos' 4-0 Mountain West start leaves them atop the conference standings, which will shape bowl and playoff considerations as the season continues. A ranked opponent in the coming weeks would test whether the 22nd-place spot holds.

The takeaway

A first national ranking reflects sustained conference success, and the next few games will show whether New Mexico can keep building on a 7-1 record.