Following a historic 2024-25 campaign, the University of New Mexico cross country program is looking to keep the momentum rolling as it unveiled its full 2025 schedule this week. With both the men’s and women’s squads returning key All-Americans and eyeing repeat top-10 national finishes, the Lobos are primed for another push toward the podium.
The regular season spans four meets over eight weeks, beginning Aug. 30 and culminating in championship competition with the Mountain West Championships on Oct. 31 in Fresno, California, and the NCAA Mountain Regional in Salt Lake City on Nov. 14. A strong showing at Regionals could once again propel the Lobos to the NCAA Championships, this year hosted in Columbia, Missouri, on Nov. 22.
Under second-year head coach Darren Gauson, the Lobos made program history last season by achieving the lowest-ever combined team finishes at nationals—seventh for the women and ninth for the men. Among just 11 programs to qualify both teams, UNM joined BYU and Northern Arizona as the only schools to place both in the top 10.
The Lobos return five All-Americans from last season, including national runners-up Pamela Kosgei and Habtom Samuel. Also back are Mercy Kirarei (35th), Collins Kiprotich (35th), and Evans Kiplagat (40th), all of whom are expected to anchor deep and experienced lineups.
UNM opens the season Aug. 30 at the Lori Fitzgerald Open in Las Cruces, marking the fifth straight year of kicking things off with a 5K rust-buster. The Lobos will then host the Lobo Invitational on Sept. 13 at their home course on UNM’s North Golf Course, which is also set to host the 2026 NCAA Mountain Regional.
The schedule ramps up on Sept. 26 with a trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the OSU Cowboy Jamboree. It will be the second consecutive year the Lobos run the storied course, where the women won the team title and the men placed second in 2024. On Oct. 18, the Lobos return to Wisconsin for the Nuttycombe Invitational—last season’s pre-nationals site—where Kosgei and Samuel both won individual titles in course-record fashion.
Postseason action begins Oct. 31 at the Mountain West Championships, where UNM looks to extend its remarkable streak of at least one team title in each of the past 17 seasons. The Lobos swept both team titles in 2024, as well as the individual crowns, en route to Coach Gauson being named both men’s and women’s Coach of the Year.
If all goes according to plan, the Lobos will make their eighth dual-team NCAA Championship appearance on Nov. 22.
Humphrey, Williams Highlight Lobo Football’s Preseason Recognition
Two of New Mexico football’s newest stars are already making waves before the 2025 season begins. FCS All-Americans Scottre Humphrey and Abraham Williams were named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team this week, as announced at the conference’s annual media days in Las Vegas.
The duo becomes UNM’s first preseason selections since 2023 and represents the program’s strongest preseason showing since 2017. Williams, the nation’s active leader in kickoff return touchdowns with five 100-yard scores, also brings starting defensive back experience. A former consensus All-American at Idaho, he averaged 37.4 yards per return in 2022 and holds the FCS record for career 100-yard returns.
Humphrey, who starred at Montana State with 1,386 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024, is the Lobos’ first preseason offensive honoree since Tyrone Owens in 2017. One of his standout performances came at University Stadium last year, where he gashed the Lobos for 140 yards and a game-winning score with 10 seconds left.
Both are part of a massive 45-player transfer class that ranks third nationally. Dubbed the “Rushmore Four,” Humphrey joins fellow 1,000-yard rushers Damon Bankston, D.J. McKinney, and Deshaun Buchanan—who together totaled over 3,500 rushing yards last season.
Despite being picked 11th in the preseason poll, UNM is poised to exceed expectations again, much like last year when it climbed from a predicted 11th to a tie for fifth.
Men’s Basketball Sets Exhibition, Prepares for Hall of Fame Classic
Lobo fans won’t have to wait long to see the 2025-26 squad in action. The New Mexico men’s basketball team will host Northern Arizona in a preseason exhibition on Oct. 30 at The Pit. Thanks to updated NCAA rules, the matchup—against a Division I opponent—is open to the public and included in season ticket packages.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since a 2009-10 UNM blowout win. The programs also agreed to a regular-season matchup in 2026.
UNM will then travel to Kansas City for its first-ever appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center. The Lobos open with Nebraska on Nov. 20 before facing either Kansas State or Mississippi State on Nov. 21. All games will be streamed live via Peacock and NBC Sports Now.
Mountain West Soccer Schedule Adjusted with Addition of Grand Canyon
The 2025 Mountain West women’s soccer slate has undergone adjustments following Grand Canyon University’s entry into the league. The Lobos will now host GCU on Oct. 9, replacing a previously scheduled road match at Nevada, which has been moved to Oct. 12. The only opponents UNM will not face in 2025 are Air Force and Colorado State.
New Mexico opens conference play at home on Sept. 25 against Colorado College and will wrap up the regular season Oct. 30 at San Diego State. The Mountain West Championship is scheduled for Nov. 2–8, hosted by Boise State.
Lobo Volleyball Continues Academic Excellence with AVCA Recognition
The UNM volleyball team has once again proven its prowess in the classroom, earning the AVCA Team Academic Award for the sixth straight year. The Lobos posted a cumulative 3.40 GPA in 2024-25 and set a program record with a 3.79 GPA in the spring semester.
New Mexico has now reached a 3.0 or better team GPA for 28 consecutive semesters and is one of six Mountain West programs to earn the prestigious national honor this season.
“It’s exciting to see our student-athletes’ work off the court match the success they’ve achieved on it,” said AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon. “These honors reflect the commitment to excellence in all areas.”