What Is 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 2–3 record under head coach Bob Davie, who resigned after the season.

Key Facts

The 2020 New Mexico Lobos finished the season with a 2–3 overall record
Head coach Bob Davie resigned following the conclusion of the 2020 season
The team played in the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division
Due to the pandemic, the season was shortened and began in October 2020
The Lobos scored an average of 20.2 points per game in 2020

Overview

The 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division, the team faced a shortened schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the usual college football calendar.

Under the leadership of head coach Bob Davie, the Lobos struggled to maintain consistency, finishing the season with a 2–3 record. The team's final game marked the end of Davie's tenure, as he announced his resignation shortly after the season concluded, concluding a seven-year run with the program.

Season record: The Lobos finished 2–3 overall and 2–3 in conference play, one of the shortest seasons in program history due to pandemic-related cancellations.
Head coach: Bob Davie resigned in December 2020 after seven seasons, leaving with a career record of 28–58 at New Mexico.
Season start: The team began play in October 2020, nearly two months later than originally scheduled, due to health and safety protocols.
Home games: All home games were played at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, though attendance was severely limited or prohibited.
Scoring: The offense averaged 20.2 points per game, while the defense allowed 30.8 points per game, highlighting defensive struggles.

Season Structure and Performance

The 2020 season was marked by disruption, with the Mountain West Conference initially postponing football before reversing course and launching a shortened, six-game schedule. The Lobos were scheduled to play six games, but only five were completed due to ongoing pandemic complications.

Game cancellations: The matchup against Nevada was canceled due to COVID-19 cases within the Wolf Pack program, reducing the scheduled games.
Opening game: The Lobos opened on October 24, 2020, with a 38–7 loss to San Diego State, setting a tough tone for the season.
First win: New Mexico earned its first victory on November 7 with a 31–28 win over Colorado State, led by quarterback Trae Hall.
Homecoming game: The November 21 game against Wyoming was designated as Homecoming, though it ended in a 37–34 loss in double overtime.
Final game: The season concluded on December 12 with a 28–7 loss to Air Force, marking the end of Davie’s coaching era.
Offensive stats: Quarterback Trae Hall threw for 902 yards and 6 touchdowns, while running back Marquel Gray added 341 rushing yards.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2020 season performance is best understood in comparison to recent years, particularly 2019 and the eventual 2021 season under new leadership.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Points Per Game
2018	3–9	2–6	Bob Davie	20.5
2019	2–10	2–6	Bob Davie	18.4
2020	2–3	2–3	Bob Davie	20.2
2021	2–10	1–7	Jason Eck (interim)	19.8
2022	2–10	1–7	Jason Eck	18.9

The table illustrates that while the 2020 season had a better winning percentage due to fewer games, the underlying performance remained stagnant. The team continued to struggle with consistency, particularly on defense, and failed to secure a bowl berth in any season from 2018 to 2022.

Why It Matters

The 2020 season was a turning point for the Lobos program, symbolizing both the challenges of the pandemic era and the need for structural change in the coaching staff and team development.

Coaching transition: Bob Davie’s resignation opened the door for new leadership, eventually leading to the hiring of Bronco Mendenhall in 2023.
Pandemic impact: The shortened season highlighted the vulnerability of college sports to public health crises and disrupted player development.
Recruiting: Poor performance in 2020 and prior years made it harder to attract top-tier talent to the Albuquerque program.
Conference standing: The Lobos remained near the bottom of the Mountain West, affecting revenue and media exposure.
Player development: Limited games in 2020 reduced opportunities for young players to gain experience and improve.
Program morale: The losing record and coaching change led to declining fan engagement and lower season ticket renewals.

In summary, the 2020 New Mexico Lobos football season was a brief but significant chapter in the program’s recent history, reflecting broader challenges and setting the stage for future overhauls both on and off the field.