Paloma Begaye-Ortiz · New Mexico Insider · College Debut · Week 8
Meet Your Insider
Red or green? Both. ¡Hola, Albuquerque! I'm Paloma Begaye-Ortiz, and when I'm not at a Lobos game, I'm floating a hot-air balloon over the Rio Grande at sunrise. Every October I fly in the Balloon Fiesta, and every Saturday I read Lobo football like wind currents: where it's drifting, where it's rising, and when it's about to soar. I travel with this team and I live with this team, and every week I'll bring you the players, the matchups, the history and the storylines, with some green-chile spice and a balloon metaphor for every drive. That offense floated like a balloon at dawn, up and up. When we win, I yell, "Red or green? BOTH!" and pump my fist. When we lose, I sigh, "Too much heat today."
The School in 60 Seconds
The New Mexico Lobos compete in the Mountain West. Our colors are cherry and silver. Home is University Stadium in Albuquerque, opened in 1960 and listed at 39,224 seats. The last five years started low: 3-9, 2-10, 4-8, then 5-7 and a big 9-4 in 2025. That's a balloon catching a thermal, y'all. Up and up.
The Coach and the Scheme
Jason Eck is the head coach; CFBD dates his hire to Dec. 16, 2024. And this defense is the brightest balloon in the sky. In six games, we've taken the ball away 21 times and given it away only 4. That's plus-17! We have 19 sacks. By my math from the season totals, we allow about 10.5 points a game and about 92 rushing yards. The offense runs the ball, 1,287 yards on 271 carries, and scores about 39.7 points a game. The passing game is lighter, 978 yards. When the wind's right, though, we soar: 70 points against Mercyhurst and 61 against UTEP.
Players to Know
RB Scottre Humphrey: 422 yards on 85 carries, 8 TD. At Hawai'i he ran 15 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns. That's a balloon at full burn.
QB Toa Fa'avae: 41 of 73 for about 700 yards (ESPN 698, CollegeFootballDigest 695), 5 TD, 3 INT. At Hawai'i he ran 10 times for 77 yards and a touchdown.
WR Bailen George: 12 catches, 240 yards, 3 TD.
S Tavian Combs: 4 interceptions. DE Darren Agu: 4 sacks. LB Mercury Swaim: team-high 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Conference Picture
New Mexico is 5-1 and 2-0 in the Mountain West. We beat Central Michigan 38-7, Mercyhurst 70-7, New Mexico State 42-18 on the road, UTEP 61-7 and Hawai'i 21-10 on the road. The one loss: a 14-6 fight at Oklahoma. We had a week off before Hawai'i. After the Bison, we head to San José State on Oct. 31. No standings math in the basket, y'all. Just know an unbeaten league record is a beautiful view from up here.
About Oklahoma: an SEC team, on the road, and we held them to 14 points. That's a balloon that didn't drop an inch in a strong wind.
Season so far, from the basket: it's been a sunrise flight, y'all. Five wins, all five by 11 points or more. When the wind is with you, you just enjoy the view. The defense has allowed 63 points in six games, total. The Hawai'i trip was a long flight over the Pacific, and we landed it, 21-10. Every pilot knows the hardest part is the landing. This team keeps sticking them. And last year's 9-4 team taught this group how to win. Now they're doing it with even more style.
This Week: North Dakota State (6-1) at New Mexico (5-1)
Saturday, Oct. 24 · 10 p.m. ET (8 p.m. Mountain) · University Stadium, Albuquerque · The CW. Forecast: 58 degrees, slight chance of showers. Bring a jacket, and green chile to keep you warm.
History: this is the first meeting on record. A whole new sky.
Their offense vs. our defense: North Dakota State QB Nathan Hayes has 1,272 passing yards and 10 TD. Receiver Jackson Williams just returned a missed field goal 100 yards for a touchdown against Nevada. Special teams, y'all. Watch the kicks.
Our offense vs. their defense: the Bison allow about 11.3 points a game by my math and have pitched two shutouts. They're plus-8 in turnovers. This is a real defense, and the Bison have 10 FCS national titles since 2011 to prove they know how to win.
Availability: no official availability report found for either team as of Oct. 18.
What decides it: (1) Our turnover magic against a careful Bison offense. (2) Humphrey and the run game. (3) Special teams, especially containing Williams on returns.
To Inga Halvorsen, North Dakota State's insider: hotdish? Hon, I'll trade you a tray of green-chile enchiladas. Christmas style.
Why I Love This Team
I love a defense with 21 takeaways in six games. I love Humphrey's eight touchdowns. I love that the Lobos are climbing. And I love Albuquerque on a fall night, when the balloons are put away and the stadium lights come up. Red or green? Both.
My call: New Mexico Lobos 26, North Dakota State Bison 19.