Honestly, if you’re a Washington State fan, you probably still have a bit of a headache thinking about Albuquerque. It was supposed to be a business trip. A nationally ranked team rolls into town, takes care of a sub-.500 squad, and keeps those College Football Playoff dreams alive. That was the script.
But sports don’t care about your script.
The Washington St vs New Mexico matchup on November 16, 2024, wasn't just a game; it was a total derailment. It was the kind of night where the desert air feels a little too thin and the opposing quarterback suddenly looks like a Heisman finalist. By the time the clock hit zero at University Stadium, the Lobos had secured a 38-35 victory, and the Cougars were left wondering how a 14-point halftime lead evaporated like a mirage.
The Night the Playoff Hopes Died
You’ve gotta feel for John Mateer. The guy was surgical for most of that game. He finished with 375 yards through the air and four touchdowns. In the first half, it looked like a blowout was brewing. Wazzu was up 28-14, and New Mexico’s defense looked like they were trying to catch smoke with their bare hands. Kyle Williams was a monster, hauling in nine catches for 181 yards and three scores.
But then the second half started.
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New Mexico didn't just adjust; they transformed. Bronco Mendenhall, in his first year coaching the Lobos, seemingly found a way to flip a switch. While the Cougars’ offense went cold—stifled by a New Mexico defense that had been struggling all year—the Lobos’ ground game became an absolute juggernaut.
Devon Dampier is a Name You Won't Forget
If there is one person WSU fans will see in their nightmares, it’s Devon Dampier. The kid was electric. He didn't just beat the Cougars with his arm; he tore them apart with his legs.
- Rushing Yards: 192 (A career high)
- Rushing TDs: 2 (Including the game-winner)
- Passing: 174 yards and a touchdown
The stat that really bites? Dampier ran for 142 of those yards in the second half alone. He moved the chains when it mattered most. On that final drive, with Washington State clinging to a 35-31 lead, Dampier just kept finding gaps. He capped off a 75-yard march with a 1-yard plunge with only 21 seconds left on the clock.
That was it. Game over. Playoff hopes? Poof.
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Looking at the Bigger Picture: Washington St vs New Mexico History
Before that November shocker, these two teams hadn't seen each other in two decades. Most people don't realize how rare this matchup actually is. They aren't rivals. They don't share a recruiting footprint. But they have this weird habit of playing close games when they do meet.
- 2003: Washington State won 23-13 in Pullman.
- 2004: The Cougars squeezed out a 21-17 win in Albuquerque.
- 2024: The Lobos finally get their revenge, 38-35.
Basically, every time they play, it’s a dogfight. The 2024 win was actually New Mexico's first victory over a ranked opponent since 2003. Think about that for a second. Twenty-one years of frustration, all released on a cold night against a Wazzu team that probably looked past them.
The "How Did This Happen?" Breakdown
It’s easy to blame the altitude or a "trap game" mentality, but the tape shows a different story. Washington State’s defense, which had been relatively solid, simply couldn't get a stop on third down in the fourth quarter.
Eli Sanders was the "other" headache for the Cougs. He chipped in 108 yards and a touchdown. When you give up 360 rushing yards to a team that’s 4-6 entering the game, you’re asking for trouble. Wazzu's front seven got bullied. There’s no softer way to put it.
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On the flip side, the Lobos' defense played "hero ball" in the second half. Drew Speech, a guy who had barely played all year, ended up being the one to knock away Mateer's final Hail Mary attempt. That’s the beauty (or the horror) of college football.
What This Means Moving Forward
For Washington State, the 2024 loss to New Mexico serves as a brutal lesson in "any given Saturday." They were 8-2 and ranked No. 18 in the country. They had everything to play for. Now, they’re left rebuilding and looking toward the 2025 and 2026 seasons to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the shifting college landscape.
New Mexico, meanwhile, used that win as a massive recruiting tool. Beating a ranked team on national TV? That’s how you rebuild a program. Bronco Mendenhall knows what he’s doing, and that game was his proof of concept.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Season:
- Watch the Lines: If you’re betting or just following Washington St vs New Mexico in future seasons, look at the rushing defense stats first. Wazzu’s inability to stop the run was the literal difference between a playoff spot and a mid-tier bowl game.
- The Dampier Factor: Keep an eye on Devon Dampier’s development. If he stays healthy, he’s a dark horse for Mountain West Player of the Year.
- Home Field is Real: Albuquerque's altitude and the late-season desert chill are legitimate factors that visiting teams from the Pacific Northwest often underestimate.
The 2024 game changed the trajectory of both programs. It wasn't just another Saturday on the calendar—it was a reminder that in the world of Washington St vs New Mexico, you better be ready to play for all sixty minutes.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats from that night, check out the official box scores on the WSU Cougars athletics site or the New Mexico Lobos' home page. You'll see the 360-to-172 rushing yard disparity that tells the whole story. For your next step, you should look into the 2025 recruitment rankings for both schools to see how that specific game impacted their ability to pull in defensive line talent.