Exactly 18 years have passed since a staggering 41,033 spectators arrived for a sold-out Rio Grande Rivalry at the University Stadium (NM). Since then, the downfall has been drastic—we’re talking about a mere 14,966 fans turning up in 2022. So when coach Jason Eck demanded, “I want to see 30,000 [people this year],” it seemed like a stretch. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, that’s exactly what happened. 

On September 27, the New Mexico Lobos and the New Mexico State Aggies met for the 115th edition of their iconic rivalry. While the Lobos took the game home 38-20, their athletic director, Fernando Lovo, took the celebration up a notch. “So many emotions tonight… but above all, proud, blessed, and grateful. For the first time since 2007, we SOLD OUT University Stadium—and @UNMLoboFB delivered a rivalry win in front of 37,440 strong,” he began on X.

The executive then went on to congratulate first-year program coach Jason Eck and the team, who made this day bigger than football. But the heroes of the night were not the ones on the turf. As stated by Lovo, “And to Lobo Nation—thank you from the bottom of my heart. You showed up, you believed, and you created an incredible atmosphere. Today was bigger than football—it was a powerful reminder of the impact @UNMLOBOS can have on our city, our university, and our great state.” You must be wondering what caused the recurrence of a full stadium. It all comes down to a beloved tradition brought back after more than a decade, the iconic game ball run.

Two days before the clash, NMSU cadets reportedly received the game ball from Aggies HC Tony Sanchez, which they then took to the halfway point at Fort Craig. From there, the ANM Army ROTC cadets took over to complete the 240-mile marathon. 

“So far, they’re all really excited about making it happen,” a UNM Army ROTC official said. “Not only between the ROTC programs, but also to show unity and cohesion, what is otherwise a pretty bitterly contested rivalry, realizing that at the end of the day, we’re all New Mexicans, we’re all here occupying the same state.” Yet, there’s no denying that a custom is hardly enough to dampen the friction between age-old foes. This time, though, Jason Eck’s team had the last laugh. 

Notably, the Lobos were at a 17-14 deficit at halftime, but the relentless defense and a composed second half made this every bit of a statement win. Jack Layne threw four touchdown passes, and the defense went on to log nine sacks, tying a single-game team record. By the fourth quarter, the pressure wore the Aggies down as they could score only 3 points as opposed to New Mexico’s 24.

Layne, especially, had been surgical, going 23-of-30 for 303 yards. One of his key moments came in the third quarter when the QB threw a 24-yard TD to tight end Dorian Thomas, giving the team an evident upper hand. The Lobos should be getting full marks for creativity, too, with the receiver Michael Buckley taking a lateral and firing a 41-yard touchdown to Keegan Johnson as the Aggies trimmed the margin with a field goal. This was the first time since 1992 that both teams entered the game with winning records (2-1). 

The night couldn’t get any bigger for the Lobos. The Aggies, on the other hand, will have to wait for their turn. But, keeping the rivalry aside, it was still a night to remember, thanks to a packed stadium.