Nevada (3-5, 2-2 MW) vs. No. 22/25 New Mexico (7-1, 4-0 MW)
Friday, November 6 - 6 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV: CBS Sports Network (PxP: Jack Gordon; Analyst: Taylor McHargue)
Radio: 105.7 KOZZ / The Varsity Network (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards; Sideline: Terrence Newman)

RENO, Nev. - It's a battle under the Friday night lights of Mackay Stadium this week as Nevada begins November hosting No. 22/25 New Mexico. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and air on CBS Sports Network with Jack Gordon (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst) on the call.

The radio broadcast of the game will be available on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play), Mike Edwards (analyst) and Terrence Newman (sideline) will be on the call, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 5 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday's meeting will be just the 12th all-time between Nevada and New Mexico, with the Wolf Pack holding a 6-4-1 edge in the series. New Mexico defeated the Pack, 24-22, last October to put a halt to Nevada's three-game run in the series.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico remained unbeaten in Mountain West play Saturday, improving to 4-0 (and 7-1 overall) with a 21-16 victory at San José State. Sunday afternoon, the Lobos cracked the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in program history, checking in at No. 22. The Lobos were also No. 25 in the Coaches Poll.

The Lobos bring the Mountain West's top-scoring offense to Reno this weekend averaging 35.0 points per game. New Mexico, the last remaining unbeaten team in Mountain West play, has scored a Mountain West-best 34 touchdowns on offense and its 213.1 rushing yards per game is second in the Conference. The pair of Scottre Humphrey (540 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and Kiefer Sibley (485 rushing yards, three TDs) leads the ground attack while Toa Fa'avae has thrown for 891 yards and six touchdowns with Cade Keith and Bailen George each hauling in three scoring grabs.

Defensively, New Mexico limits opponents to a conference-low 81.6 rushing yards per game and ranks second in the Mountain West in total defense allowing just 258.1 yards per game. Mercury Swaim paces the Lobo defense with 50 tackles including 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks while Darren Agu and Brett Karhu share the Mountain West lead with six sacks apiece, Agu pacing the conference with 12.0 TFLs. The Lobo defense has also intercepted 17 passes led by four apiece from Austin Brawley and Tavian Combs.

AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
Through Week 9 of the campaign Nevada holds some impressive spots in the FBS rankings.

After breaking up seven passes and limiting No. 7/7 UCLA to 178 passing yards Saturday, the Wolf Pack defense remains one of the best in the nation ranking eighth allowing just 156.9 yards through the air per game. Nevada's defense has been key in getting the offense opportunities by getting the ball back, as Wolf Pack opponents' third-down success rate of 30.3 percent is the 10th-lowest in FBS and tops in the Mountain West.

Nevada is one of the nation's most efficient teams in the red zone with its 88.0 scoring rate (22-for-25) third in the Mountain West. In the red zone, the Pack's three failed trips came on two interceptions then kneeling out the final minute of a 28-13 win over San José State (October 24) from inside the 20.

Individually, linebacker EJ Smith is third in the country with 10.6 tackles per game,  tied for fourth with 5.75 solo tackles per game and 41 solo tackles, and fifth in total tackles (85).

On special teams, the Pack's units are among the best in FBS with top-30 figures in kick returns (fourth, 32.33 ypr), punt return defense (20th, 3.91 ypr), and net punting (40th, 41.18 net yards per punt). Gerick Robinson is second in the Mountain West and 17th in the country with an average of 12.8 yards over 18 returns. Robinson ranks seventh in the country with 218 punt-return yards while seven of his 18 returns have gone for double-digit yardage. Staying on the return game, kick returner Ky Woods leads the Mountain West and ranks fourth in the country averaging 32.3 yards per return, and just missed housing a return October 24 against San José State, being dropped at the eight-yard line after a 90-yard return.

NEVADA AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Friday will mark Nevada's 42nd game against an Associated Press Top-25 team since the Wolf Pack moved up to the FBS level in 1992. Nevada is 5-36 in those contests, with its last such win coming on Nov. 9, 2019, a 17-13 victory at No. 24 San Diego State.

BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST TITLE CHASE
Nevada closed its four-game non-conference slate Saturday at No. 7/7 UCLA and now turns its attention to the final four Mountain West games of the campaign.

The Wolf Pack, at 2-2 in conference play, is in a six-team logjam for the two spots in December 4's Mountain West Football Championship Game and still very much alive for a spot in the contest.

EYES ON BOWL ELIGIBILITY
Another goal for the Wolf Pack which is well within reach as it enters the final month of the regular season is getting to six wins and gaining bowl eligibility. Currently at 3-5, Nevada will need to take three of its final four contests to gain bowl eligibility and have a chance at its first bowl game since 2021.

TAKING IT TO A TOP-10 TEAM
Nevada's defense looked forward to the national stage last Saturday at No. 7/7 UCLA and showed what it is capable of. UCLA brought one of the nation's top offenses into the contest, but were held by the Wolf Pack to just 125 rushing yards (108 yards below its per-game average heading into Saturday's contest) and just 303 total yards (141.4 yards below its per-game average entering the game).