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College football fans demand a lot from a bowl game that doesn’t include high stakes like vying for the national championship.
But the New Mexico Lobos were thrust into the spotlight Friday night when they took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Rate Bowl. Fans went wild when the team donned their turquoise jerseys for the game.
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New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) throws the ball around Minnesota linebacker Maverick Baranowski during 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 game.
New Mexico announced its “United in Turquoise” campaign before the start of the 2025 season. The team wore the unique jerseys to a game against Utah State back in October.
The school said in August that the color was added to the school’s official color palette in the 1970s and used it on their jerseys until 1980, when they returned to cherry and silver. The alternate turquoise colors returned in 2013 and 2022.
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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 runs 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)
“Every uniform unveiling has a storytelling component. None has the meaning of our United in turquoise. The importance of turquoise to the state of New Mexico cannot be understated, and that’s why we will wear the 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 punts the ball away from Minnesota wide receiver Jalen Smith during the first half of a Rate Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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It was a huge hit when the Lobos announced the colors in the summer and they were a huge hit again.
