Austin Brawley, UNM defense deliver as Lobos build national momentum

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –The New Mexico Lobos are making noise on the national stage.After a statement victory over North Dakota State, UNM football is knocking on the door of the AP Top 25, sitting at No. 27 in the latest poll with 41 votes. The Lobos are also ranked No. 29 in the Coaches Poll.While the offense faced a tough test against the Bison defense, UNM’s defense delivered another standout performance, helping the Lobos secure a signature win.Head coach Jason Eck called it a complete team effort, praising his defense for stepping up against one of the nation’s top defensive teams.“That truly was a team win,” Eck said. “Our defense was awesome. I thought in a battle of two top defenses, they really came up big and played huge.”Lobos dominate on the groundNorth Dakota State made life difficult for UNM’s offense, but the Lobos still found success on the ground.UNM finished with 187 rushing yards compared to just 53 for the Bison.Keifer Sibley led the way with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Scottre Humphrey added a two-yard touchdown run just before halftime to help the Lobos build their lead.The rushing production gave UNM another way to control the game while its defense continued to create problems for North Dakota State.Defense delivers another statementThe Lobos’ defense once again proved to be a difference-maker.Defensive standout Brett Karhu recorded a sack and five tackles, applying pressure on the Bison quarterback throughout the matchup.CJ McBean also came away with an interception, while safety Austin Brawley delivered one of the game’s biggest plays.Brawley picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown, putting an exclamation point on the Lobos’ defensive performance.Eck praised Brawley’s instincts and ability to turn an interception into a game-changing play.“He’s just got such a knack for making big plays,” Eck said. “That was a great play. They were trying to run a slot fade against man, but he comes all the way over as the middle safety to pick it and then to score. I mean, he’s got great ball skills.”Brawley continues to make big playsBrawley said he recognized the Bison’s formation and anticipated where the quarterback might go with the football.“I knew that was their go-to guy,” Brawley said. “The quarterback made a check, so I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s throwing the slot fade to him on third down.’ Played over top, made a play, stopped myself from going out of bounds and just made some alignment miss.”Brawley now has three interceptions on the season, continuing to make an impact in the Lobos’ secondary.He also credited the defense’s belief in one another for its success.“We had blood, sweat and tears out on the field,” Brawley said. “We truly believe in whoever’s going to be on that field on defense.”With the defense creating turnovers, limiting the run and delivering points of its own, the Lobos are building momentum at a critical point in the season.Lobos turn attention to San José StateUNM will look to keep that momentum rolling next Saturday when it hits the road to face San José State.Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the Lobos look to build on their statement win and strengthen their position in the national rankings.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.