What Is 2017 New Mexico Lobos football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 6–6 record under head coach Bob Davie and becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016. They played their home games at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque.

Key Facts

The 2017 New Mexico Lobos finished with a 6–6 overall record
They played in the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division
Head coach Bob Davie led the team in his seventh season
They became bowl-eligible but were not invited to a postseason game
Quarterback Tevaka Tuiawa started 10 games

Overview

The 2017 New Mexico Lobos football season marked a modest turnaround for the University of New Mexico’s program under head coach Bob Davie. Competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Lobos played as members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division.

The team showed improvement over previous years, finishing the regular season with a 6–6 record, making them bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016. Despite this achievement, the Lobos were not selected for a postseason bowl game due to a lack of available slots and conference tie-ins.

Record: The Lobos finished the 2017 season with a 6–6 overall record, including a 4–4 mark in conference play.
Head coach:Bob Davie was in his seventh year as head coach, leading the program from 2012 to 2019 before being dismissed.
Home stadium: The team played home games at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, which has a seating capacity of 38,317.
Quarterback:Tevaka Tuiawa started 10 games at QB, throwing for 1,899 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Bowl eligibility: Despite reaching the 6-win threshold, the Lobos were not invited to a bowl game due to a surplus of 6–6 teams nationally.

Performance & Season Highlights

The 2017 campaign featured several notable performances and key moments that defined the Lobos’ season. While they struggled with consistency, the team managed to secure crucial wins against conference opponents.

Season opener: The Lobos defeated UTEP 24–0 on September 2, 2017, marking a strong defensive start to the season.
Conference play: New Mexico earned wins over Colorado State, Wyoming, San Diego State, and Air Force in Mountain West action.
Key loss: A 45–40 defeat to rival New Mexico State on November 25 ended a four-game winning streak and dashed bowl hopes.
Offensive stats: The team averaged 27.3 points per game and 375.8 total yards, led by Tuiawa and running back Jhurell Pressley.
Defensive effort: The Lobos defense forced 18 turnovers, including 10 interceptions, though they allowed 33.8 points per game.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of the 2017 Lobos to recent seasons reveals trends in performance and competitiveness:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Bowl Game
2015	7–6	4–4	Bob Davie	Yes (Arizona Bowl)
2016	6–7	4–4	Bob Davie	Yes (Frisco Bowl)
2017	6–6	4–4	Bob Davie	No
2018	3–9	2–6	Bob Davie	No
2019	2–10	1–7	Bob Davie	No

The 2017 season was the last year the Lobos reached bowl eligibility during Davie’s tenure. Despite matching the win total of 2016, they were left out of the postseason due to a national bowl logjam, highlighting the challenges mid-major programs face in securing bowl invitations even when eligible.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was a pivotal moment in the trajectory of New Mexico football, representing both progress and systemic limitations in college football’s postseason structure.

Program momentum: Achieving a 6–6 record gave fans hope for sustained improvement after years of sub-.500 seasons.
Bowl snub impact: Being excluded despite eligibility underscored inequities in bowl access for Group of Five teams.
Player development: Quarterback Tevaka Tuiawa emerged as a reliable starter, paving the way for future roster depth.
Coaching evaluation: The season delayed calls for Davie’s dismissal, though his tenure ended two years later due to declining results.
Recruiting implications: A winning season helped the program attract higher-caliber recruits in the 2018 and 2019 classes.
Conference standing: The Lobos remained competitive in the Mountain West, maintaining relevance in a tough division.

While the 2017 season did not culminate in a bowl game, it served as a benchmark for future rebuilding efforts. The performance laid groundwork for eventual changes in leadership and strategy that followed in subsequent years.