Could New Mexico Make the College Football Playoff?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Could New Mexico Make an Unlikely College Football Playoff Run?

New Mexico is 7-1 and ranked 22nd in the country, with its only loss coming against Oklahoma, 14-6. As the highest-ranked Group of Six team outside the 12-team playoff, New Mexico may have a path into the field.

The remaining schedule includes Nevada, UNLV at home, Wyoming on the road and Air Force at home. New Mexico will likely be favored in each game, although the matchup at Wyoming could be an exception.

If New Mexico wins out and then claims the conference championship, it would finish 12-1. It would still need to be selected over the American Conference champion, making its playoff chances slim—perhaps around 10%—but the possibility is not completely unreasonable.

New Mexico has been one of college football’s biggest surprises this season. Meanwhile, UTSA’s decisive loss to FAU removes it from the conversation, leaving the American Conference race to settle itself.