New Mexico's Top 25 Case Grows Ahead of the First CFP Rankings

New Mexico beat North Dakota State 21–16 on Saturday to reach 6–1, then gained much wider support among AP voters. Twenty-one of the 70 included the Lobos in the October 25 poll, up from five a week earlier.

All five returning supporters raised New Mexico, and 16 other voters added it. The Lobos remain outside the Top 25, but their case now includes a win over a 6–2 opponent as the first College Football Playoff rankings approach.

The new support is mostly at the bottom of ballots. Thirteen voters placed New Mexico exactly 25th, worth one point each under AP scoring. Its 41 points leave it well behind Boise State, while 49 voters still omit the Lobos.

Boise State's Wins Set the Comparison

Boise followed its 31–10 win at Washington State with a move from 21st to a tie for 20th. Its completed schedule includes a 38–20 win over Memphis, now 6–2, and a 38–31 road win at Fresno State. Its only defeat was 34–27 at Oregon.

New Mexico's only loss was 14–6 at Oklahoma. Against North Dakota State, the Lobos allowed 53 rushing yards and intercepted two passes. Austin Brawley's fourth-quarter interception return supplied the winning touchdown, giving New Mexico a useful result against a team that arrived with one loss.

The rest of the win column is less persuasive. New Mexico's other FBS victories came against Central Michigan, New Mexico State, UTEP and Hawai‘i, all currently below .500. It also beat Mercyhurst. North Dakota State gives the Lobos a better win, but it does not yet give them a clear advantage over Boise.

UTSA's Record Comes With Close Calls

UTSA received its first AP point of the season after winning 42–19 at Tulane. The Roadrunners are 7–1 and 4–0 in the American, with a 31–24 win over 5–2 South Florida among their better results.

There is a reasonable case for more consideration, but the schedule also explains why the record alone is insufficient. UTSA beat Rice 16–14 and Navy 38–34; those teams are now 1–7 and 2–5. Its loss at Texas was 30–6, and Tulane committed six turnovers Saturday. Games at Florida Atlantic on November 5 and against North Texas on November 14, both currently 5–2, offer stronger tests.

The Playoff Route Does Not Require an AP Ranking

The committee releases its first rankings November 3. Under the 2026 protocol, the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt receives an automatic playoff place. That team need not be a conference champion. An AP ranking is unnecessary, and the committee must identify a qualifier even if none of those teams appears in its own Top 25.

James Madison lost all 21 of its AP inclusions after Thursday's 34–31 overtime defeat at App State. The Dukes are 7–1, and their absence from this week's AP ballots does not by itself remove them from the playoff race. The committee will make its own comparison.

New Mexico has earned a credible place in that discussion, with Boise still offering the stronger current comparison. The Lobos next visit San José State on October 31, but their later games at Wyoming and against Air Force can address the thinness of the win column more directly. Both opponents currently have winning records. Beating them would give New Mexico additional results of the kind it just secured against North Dakota State, and a firmer argument for moving beyond the last line of an AP ballot.