NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
College football fans demand a lot from a bowl game that doesn’t involve high stakes, like fighting for the national championship.
But the New Mexico Lobos were thrust into the spotlight Friday night as they took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Rate Bowl. The fans went wild as the team donned their turquoise jerseys for the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) throws the ball around Minnesota linebacker Maverick Baranowski in the first half of a Rate Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
They made it known before and during the match.
New Mexico announced its “United in Turquoise” campaign before the start of the 2025 season. The team wore the unique jerseys for a game against Utah State in October.
The school said in August that the color was added to the school’s official color palette in the 1970s and that it used it on its jerseys until 1980, when it reverted to cherry and silver. Alternative turquoise colors returned in 2013 and 2022.
UNIVERSITY OF OHIO HIRES COACH TO REPLACE BRIAN SMITH, WHO HAD CONTROVERSIAL EXIT FROM SCHOOL
New Mexico running back Damon Bankston (1) stiff arms Minnesota defensive lineman Steven Curtis in the first half of a Rate Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New Mexico quarterback James Laubstein moves the ball away from Minnesota defensive lineman Anthony Smith (0) in the first half of a Rate Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
“Each uniform reveal has a narrative element. None have the significance of our United States in Turquoise. The importance of turquoise to the state of New Mexico cannot be understated, and that is why we will wear this color with pride,” the school said in August.
“For the past we honor. For the state we live in. For New Mexico.”
New Mexico safety Austin Brawley drives the ball away from Minnesota wide receiver Jalen Smith in the first half of an NCAA Rate Bowl college football game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
It was a huge success when the Lobos announced the colors this summer and they were a huge success again.
