New Mexico hangs around with No. 14 Michigan behind big night from Dorian Thomas

UNM vs. No. 14 Michigan: Photos

Aug 30, 2025

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jason Eck has said he doesn’t believe in moral victories.

“But I do think you can build confidence with how you play,” New Mexico’s first-year head coach said Tuesday, ahead of the Lobos’ game at Michigan. “And I think how you play in a game can also set precedents for later, for something to build upon.”

If Saturday was any example, the Lobos might have something to build on.

UNM overcame a slow start to give the 14th-ranked Wolverines (1-0) a challenge, scrapping over the final three quarters before falling 34-17 Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

The Lobos (0-1) were listed as 34-point underdogs entering their first-ever meeting with the Wolverines.

“Proud of our team,” Eck said Saturday in a postgame press conference. “I thought we battled and competed. I thought we were a little rattled early just with the atmosphere — (it’s) really tough to let a team who’s as good as Michigan get a 17-0 lead.

“But we battled … I believe in these guys, and I think we’ll continue to get better and grow.”

Tight end Dorian Thomas led the Lobos with 10 catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. The Arizona transfer’s second score made it 27-17 late in the third quarter, capping a 15-play, 75-yard drive aided by a targeting call on Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham; Barham was ejected after the hit on UNM quarterback Jack Layne.

Wolverines running back Justice Haynes (16 carries for 159 yards) answered with a 1-yard touchdown — his third of the day — in the fourth for the final score.

UNM, down 14-0 early, first scored on a trick play. With quarterback James Laubstein under center on fourth-and-1, the Lobos snapped the ball between his legs and bounced it to running back D.J. McKinney, who threw to a wide-open touchdown to Thomas with 5:55 left in the second quarter.

Eck said he previously ran the play against North Dakota State while he was the offensive coordinator at South Dakota State in 2021.

Kicker Luke Drzewiecki’s 44-yard field goal one drive later made it 17-10.

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (21-for-31, 251 yards, one touchdown) responded by finding tight end Marlin Klein in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.

The Wolverines led 24-10 at halftime.

Layne completed 31 of 47 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in his UNM debut. His first pick came on a deflected pass in the second quarter; his second and third interceptions came on back-to-back drives in the fourth.

Running back Scottre Humphrey led the Lobos with 10 carries for 33 yards on the ground. UNM rushed for 61 yards to Michigan’s 201.

Haynes scored two of his three touchdowns in the first quarter, including a 56-yard breakaway on the Wolverines’ first drive of the day. Kicker Dominic Zvada’s 21-yard field goal made it 17-0 in the second quarter.

Underwood, the fourth freshman to start at quarterback for college football’s winningest program, gave himself a C-plus when asked to grade the performance.

“A lot of things I got to work on,” said Underwood, who turned 18 earlier this month.