Pressed by increasing injuries, the Cougars decided to use the shot-gun offense against the Lobos. The plan backfired. Although the Cougars completed 27 of 52 attempts, the Lobos used a powerful running game (377 yards on 75 carries) to subdue BYU. Too much Sam Scarber, Nate McCall, Fred Henry and Rocky Long.
BYU's overall rushing yardage was minus-96.
The 51 points by New Mexico was the most ever scored against a Hudspeth team and was BYU's first loss to UNM since 1964.