New Mexico's nation-leading scoring defense has Lobos in playoff conversation originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Mexico isn't just playing good defense.
Statistically, the Lobos are playing some of the best defense of any FBS team in the 21st century.
Six games in, New Mexico is allowing a nation-leading 10.5 points per game. According to the NCAA record book, only nine teams have allowed fewer points per game over a full season since the start of the 2000 season. Alabama in 2011 was the best, allowing just 8.2 points per contest.
It's translating to success. The Lobos are 5-1, with their only loss a 14-6 setback at Oklahoma. The Lobos remain in the hunt for a spot for the Group of Six spot in the College Football Playoff as they prepare to host North Dakota State on Saturday.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables knew what he was getting into before the Sooners played the Lobos on Sept. 19.
"They're a confident, aggressive football team," he said that week. "They're coming here expecting to win. They deserve our full respect and our best preparation."
Darren Agu leads the New Mexico defense with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He is the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
Tavian Combs has four interceptions and Austin Brawley has two. Mercury Swaim leads the way with 32 tackles. Jaxton Eck, who was co-Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year last season, is second on the team with 25 stops.
UNM DE Darren Agu is having a really great start to the season. He added another sack to his total on Saturday and he now has 3 sacks on the year. @agu_darren @UNMLoboFB @Coach_Eck @coach_nowinsky https://t.co/OU8FJZ8viY
— Chaz Wright 🌵 (@ChazWrightTV) October 5, 2026
Venables said he has great respect for New Mexico coach Jason Eck, who was Mountain West Coach of the Year last season. Coach Eck is Jaxton Eck's father.
"Coach Eck does a fantastic job," Venables said. "He's gotten more out of less wherever he's been. They've built that program there in New Mexico with really good players that they've developed."
Spence Nowinski is the defensive coordinator. He was a Broyles Award nominee for the nation's top assistant coach last season at New Mexico.
The Lobos aren't just keeping teams off the scoreboard -- they are shutting opponents down. They are allowing just 262.7 yards per game, sixth nationally, and held Oklahoma to 299 yards. They rank third in the nation with 9.0 tackles for loss per game.
The Lobos have held all their opponents under 20 points, with the high coming in a 42-18 win over New Mexico State. Three of their six opponents have been held to single digits.
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The biggest challenge appears to be Air Force on Nov. 27. The Falcons are 5-1 and rank second nationally with 343 yards rushing per game.
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