Former Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s debut as the head coach of the New Mexico Lobos did not go as planned, as they fell 35-31 to Montana State in a heartbreaking loss. Despite holding a 31-14 lead going into the fourth quarter, Montana State scored 21 unanswered points to secure the victory with just 10 seconds remaining. This marks Mendenhall’s second debut loss to an FCS opponent, with his first being a 37-20 loss to Richmond in his first game as Virginia’s head coach in 2016.
Mendenhall, who resigned from Virginia after six seasons in 2021, took on the role of head coach at New Mexico this past offseason, marking his official return to college football. He brought in familiar faces from his time at Virginia to join his coaching staff, including former UVA quarterbacks coach Jason Beck as offensive coordinator and former UVA defensive coordinator Nick Howell in the same role at New Mexico. While the defense performed well for the first three quarters of the game, the fourth-quarter collapse raised concerns about defensive consistency.
The Lobos will face a tough schedule ahead, with a game against No. 21 Arizona next week followed by a road game against Auburn after a bye week. While the loss was a disappointing start for Mendenhall and his team, there is still hope for improvement as they continue to adjust to his coaching style and the challenges of a new season.
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