“My dad said in one of our meetings during the spring, ‘if we put out the same effort we put out last year, we’re gonna get a worse result,’” University of New Mexico linebacker Jaxton Eck said of his father, Head Coach Jason Eck.
There isn't a better way to put it, and it couldn’t be more true for the 2026 New Mexico Lobos. They’ll need a different type of effort, one much greater than last year’s 9-win season — ending in a bowl game — type of effort.
They’re aware of the year 1964, which sits embedded at the top of University Stadium; A year representing greatness, but also a reminder of the 61 straight seasons the UNM football program fell short of their goal: winning a conference championship.
“I think that’s definitely something we talk about a lot,” Jaxton Eck said. “I think we have a more clear vision of what we could be, so that is definitely something that motivates us.”
A conference championship feels closer than ever for New Mexico. But according to running back Scottre Humphrey, it’s always been close, even before the Lobos took the field and reached a bowl game last season. He says Coach Eck challenged the team to think bigger.
“Coach (Eck) was really explaining to us how… we’re gonna make a change,” Humphrey said. “He said we’re gonna sell out the stadium, we’re gonna go to a bowl game and we did those, we achieved those things.”
The players made it clear that the foundation of their recent success and belief isn’t from talent alone, but also the relationships built within the locker room.
“We’re all willing to die for each other,” Humphrey said. “If you’re going into a war and the guy next to you is willing to die for you, nothing more has to be said.”
Defensive tackle Brian Booker said “it starts with the relationships with each other.”
“We all have a tight-knit relationship,” Booker said. “Everybody talks to each other. We all just love to be around each other.”
So how does a team that was projected to win as few as three games just a season ago keep that same chip on their shoulder?
“It starts with a level of humility for sure,” Booker said. “When you start off with humility you know what you need to do, you know you need to come to work every day, you know you need to do what it takes to go where you want to go. We’re always hungry, we’re always trying to push each other to get better.”
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That mindset is important now that New Mexico has shifted from underdogs to favorites. A year ago, the Lobos were looking to prove themselves, but now, they’re the measuring stick.
“You’re able to kinda surprise teams when you’re not picked high in (the conference),” Jaxton Eck said. “You know those games, as an underdog… those are the games you get fired up for. That’s how teams are gonna feel when they play us. I think that’s big for us to remember this season.”
For New Mexico's seniors, the 2026 season is more than a chance to compete for a conference championship — it's a final opportunity to capitalize on the culture and foundation they’ve helped build.
“You know you only get to play for so long and knowing that your career is starting to come to an end in college, I think just not taking it for granted,” Jaxton Eck said. “I wouldn’t say (there’s) pressure, but I think (there’s) urgency.”
“I just wanna do everything in my power to win," Humphrey said. “I feel like the biggest thing for me is winning. Whatever I can do to help my team win, (I’m going to) do. If it's meant to be a lead blocker, if (they) need me to run for over 100 yards a game, (I’m going to)do it.”
This year’s spring game added fuel to their fire. The Lobos saw their biggest turnout for the annual event in quite some time.
“The fan turnout for the spring game was incredible,” Booker said. “They should be excited for what we have going on this year. I don’t see why not to be excited.”
The Lobos saw the nation's highest increase in home crowd attendance with a 57.8% leap from last season, and ended the season with their first sell-out crowd in 18 years.
“Having the support of Albuquerque and New Mexico as a whole… it makes us wanna play to the best of our abilities so we can make everybody happy,” Humphrey said. “Have everybody keep coming to these games, keep selling out those crowds.”
Winning a conference championship and selling out crowds isn’t the players’ lone goal. They want to establish a new standard, a new norm. How do they want the 2026 Lobos to be remembered?
“I hope they say we’re the best team in school history,” Jaxton Eck said. “(I want) to be the team that breaks that conference championship streak and possibly be the first team to go to the (College Football Playoff), that would be pretty sweet.”
Edge Garcia is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @ByEdgeGarcia
