New Mexico: 2026 Week 12 recap

New Mexico sits at No. 23 after a massive week that saw its rating jump 5.1 points following a 31–3 demolition of Nevada in Week 10. The Lobos are 8–1 and now project to win the Mountain West conference (84% per GIE), though their path to the playoff remains narrower at 45%. The numbers reveal both strength and vulnerability: their red-zone efficiency is a concern at 13%, and third-down conversion sits at 36%, suggesting they're leaving scoring opportunities on the field. Late-game execution is a bright spot (5.76 leverage performance), but those efficiency gaps will matter against tougher matchups. Up next is UNLV at home in Week 11—a chance to strengthen bowl positioning before the stretch run.