Next month, New Mexico could very well be picked to win the Mountain West for the first time in program history.
But at least in one virtual estimation, they’re not quite at the top of the league.
UNM was given a 76 overall rating in the initial release of team ratings from EA Sports College Football 27, landing in a tie for the second-highest rating of Mountain West teams in the wildly popular college football video game.
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With an offensive rating of 77 and defensive rating of 76, the Lobos had the same overall rating as Hawaii (76) ahead of the game’s release on July 9. UNLV (78) led the Mountain West while future Pac-12 member Boise State (80) received the highest rating of any Group of Six program.
New Mexico is a 76 overall (77 OFF/76 DEF) at launch, tied with Hawaii for the second-best rating of any MW team. https://t.co/24m8A43Dmn
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) June 23, 2026
Oregon claimed the game’s highest overall rating at 91. Reigning national champion Indiana and Ohio State tied for second at 90; the latter team is listed by multiple sportsbooks as the favorite to win a national championship.
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Among national sportsbooks, UNM is listed as the consensus favorite to win its first-ever Mountain West title under second-year head coach Jason Eck. The Lobos finished 9-4 last season, tying with three other teams for first place in the league.22
EA Sports College Football 27 ratings: Mountain West
-UNLV (78 overall; 80 offense, 77 defense)
-UNM (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)
-Hawaii (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)
-North Dakota State (75 overall; 75 offense, 75 defense)
-Air Force (74 overall; 76 offense, 72 defense)
-Nevada (73 overall; 73 offense, 73 defense)
-Wyoming (73 overall; 73 offense, 72 defense)
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-San Jose State (72 overall; 73 offense, 70 defense)
-UTEP (72 overall; 73 offense, 71 defense)
-Northern Illinois (70 overall; 72 offense, 68 defense)
Committed
The Lobos’ blistering recruiting month has led to another commitment.
Offensive line prospect Ilias Williams committed to UNM on Monday night via social media, setting the Lobos up with their fourth commitment in the last week and ninth overall in June.
Go Lobos!!!!! @Coach_Eck @Coach_CBooth @Coach_Galliano @UNMLOBOS @BrandonHuffman @247Sports pic.twitter.com/oYhVwewOYF
— Ilias Williams (@IliasW21239) June 23, 2026
“Go Lobos!!!!!” he posted via X with a commitment graphic attached.
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A 6-foot-4, 260-pound incoming senior at San Jacinto (California) High School, Williams represents the Lobos’ 14th commitment in the class of 2027.
Rule change
Tuesday, the NCAA Division I Cabinet voted unanimously to approve an age-based eligibility policy – better known as the “5-for-5” rule – before an announcement that the rule would be formally adopted Wednesday.
The rule stipulates that athletes will have five years to compete immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday. The clock would start for athletes on the earliest of those two occasions.
Eck has been a fan of the policy since it was first floated earlier this spring.
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“I kind of like the idea of getting rid of the waivers and just saying, ‘hey, you got five years,’” he said in April. “ … I do think it would be good legislation and I’m hoping for it.”
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
