The UNLV Rebels are off their third and final bye, returning home well-rested after suffering their first loss of the season against the Boise State Broncos in Week 8. With the pressure of the perfect season off their shoulders, UNLV is locked in for a massive five-game stretch in a wildly competitive Mountain West Conference.
UNLV will host the New Mexico Lobos for a noon kick-off inside Allegiant Stadium in Week 10. The Lobos, at 5-3, will look to stay hot and extend their win streak to three games. Meanwhile, UNLV will look to get back in the win column and start their run to a Mountain West championship game. Let’s dive into this UNLV vs. New Mexico 2025 game preview.
UNLV Rebels vs. New Mexico Lobos: Matchup History
UNLV has historically been successful in this matchup. The Rebels lead the all-time meetings 15-12 and have won nine of the last 12. UNLV won its most recent game of this matchup back in 2023, in Albuquerque, 56-14. The Rebels have also won the last three straight meetings. As they search for four straight, this is the first meeting between UNLV’s head coach, Dan Mullen, and New Mexico’s Jason Eck.
Each program is seeing success under new coaching. Eck has the Lobos averaging 29 points per game, and outside of the Michigan and Boise State games, New Mexico has been very competitive.
With UNLV being the highest-scoring offense in the Mountain West, averaging 37 points per game, all eyes may be on the over in this one. Points may be coming from every which way in this key Mountain West matchup.
UNLV vs. New Mexico 2025 Preview: Keys and Predictions
Key Players for UNLV
If points are going to fly in this match-up, the key players in this game for UNLV come up front, and it is the entire offensive line. Starting with the bookends, Will Thomas and Austin Boyd will be tasked with limiting a New Mexico pass rush that ranks second in the Mountain West in sacks, with 19 on the year.
Pressure was a factor in UNLV’s loss to Boise State, as the offensive line allowed three sacks. With Anthony Colandrea under pressure, UNLV was also forced to punt seven times, with a third-down efficiency of only 30-percent in the loss.
Now, not only will pass protection be key, but how about the interior offensive line in the run game as well? Center Reid Williams will have to be on top of his communication as this UNLV offensive line is taking on a Lobos front that ranks second in stopping the run, allowing 119 yards per game.
If UNLV wants to see its offense fly, score into the thirties, and win this game, it will all start up front with the offensive line.
Key Players for New Mexico
Freshman tight end Cade Keith was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week after a career game last time out against Utah State. Keith had seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
What this young man is able to do after the catch is quite impressive, too, as he had a career-long 40-yard catch and run in the Aggies’ victory. Keith may be a massive factor in this ball game, as UNLV’s passing defense has struggled mightily throughout this season.
Jaxton Eck is leading the Lobos’ defense. In the win over Utah State, Eck had a safety, two tackles for loss, and seven tackles total. Eck is a captain and the heartbeat of a very stout Lobo defense. When offenses can not identify him early, it usually leads to a long day trying to contain Eck.
2025 Game Preview: How UNLV Wins vs. New Mexico in Week 10
Complementary football is a term that gets thrown around so much in football. Yet, in a match-up like this, it can not be understated. If UNLV wants to get back in the win column, they must bring a balanced offensive attack by winning the trenches up front to open up some play action for quarterback Anthony Colandrea.
New Mexico is gunning for bowl eligibility with a win. It would be the first time since 2016 that the Lobos would be going bowling, and also could keep them in a conversation of a Mountain West championship run. Needless to say, UNLV will get New Mexico’s best punch.
This is a fantastic match-up between the Mountain West’s two newest coaches. If UNLV can control the line of scrimmage, they can walk out with a victory, but if New Mexico generates consistent pressure, it may be a long day for UNLV, and the Lobos could put UNLV on upset alert.
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