UCLA
0-3 , 0-0
New Mexico
2-1 , 0-0
UCLA Football Falls to New Mexico, 35-10
September 12, 2025 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – The UCLA football team lost to New Mexico, 35-10, in a non-conference game at the Rose Bowl on Friday night.
Bruins' quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 22 of 34 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Anthony Woods finished as UCLA's leading rusher, totaling 64 yards on 10 carries.
New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne finished the game having completed 12 of 16 passes for 152 yards. The visiting Lobos (2-1) totaled 298 rushing yards, as two players registered at least 80-plus yards on the ground – led by Damon Bankston's 154 rushing yards. D.J. McKinney had a team-leading 21 carries for 89 yards.
Friday's game marked the Bruins' third and final non-conference contest of the regular-season schedule before Big Ten play starts with a game at Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 27.
"Not the outcome at all that we wanted, it's coming down to discipline and execution," said UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster. "Not executing at a high level and not making plays when we need to. We're not at our best when our best is needed. We've got two weeks to fix this, and just looking forward to this opportunity to get it fixed."
The Bruins (0-3) pulled to within 14-10 of New Mexico after having trailed, 14-0, early in the second quarter. Mateen Bhaghani's 51-yard field goal at the 3:34 mark in the third quarter reduced UNM's margin to 14-10.
New Mexico pushed ahead, 28-10, with touchdowns on its next two offensive series. The Lobos, leading 14-10, used a 13-play, 75-yard drive to score a touchdown and lead by 11 points. Bankston used a 2-yard touchdown carry to put New Mexico on top, 21-10, with 10:42 left in regulation.
New Mexico logged its fourth touchdown of the game on a 43-yard reception by Bankston at the 7:06 mark in the fourth quarter. The Lobos added their fifth touchdown with 36 seconds to play in the final quarter.
UCLA trailed New Mexico by a 14-7 tally at halftime.
The visiting Lobos raced ahead, 14-0, with touchdowns late in the first quarter and early in the second period. UNM's first scoring drive concluded with a one-yard rush by Scottre Humphrey at the 3:10 mark in the opening quarter. The Lobos secured a 14-0 cushion after a seven-play, 59-yard drive early in the second period.
The Bruins scored on their next possession, using an eight-play drive to cover 78 yards. Titus Mokiao-Atimalala caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava to cut UNM's advantage in half.
UCLA's defense came up with major fourth-down stops – once at the conclusion of the second quarter, and again midway through the third quarter. New Mexico was unable to convert a fourth-and-short situation with 1:09 to play in the second quarter.
At the start of the third quarter, New Mexico drove 59 yards and inside UCLA's five-yard line. The Lobos fumbled the ball on a fourth-down play, allowing the Bruins to take over at their own three-yard line. Four offensive plays later, the Bruins punted the ball and recovered a fumbled punt return, taking over at their own 41-yard line.
Following a bye week, the Bruins will return to action at Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 27. The game time for UCLA's road contest in Evanston, Ill., has not been determined. UCLA's next home game will take place against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Team Stats
UNM 7, UCL 0
UNM - Humphrey,Scottre 1 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 05:25
UNM 14, UCL 0
UNM - Mapa,Simon 8 yd pass from Layne,Jack (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:56
UNM 14, UCL 7
UCL - Mokiao-Atimalala,Titus 12 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 8 plays, 78 yards, TOP 03:39
UNM 14, UCL 10
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 51 yd field goal 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 03:00
UNM 21, UCL 10
UNM - Bankston,Damon 2 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:52
UNM 28, UCL 10
UNM - Bankston,Damon 43 yd pass from Layne,Jack (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 3 plays, 42 yards, TOP 02:07
UNM 35, UCL 10
UNM - McKinney,D.J. 3 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 03:22
