Jason Eck is, by all accounts, the absolute man. However, the head coach at New Mexico lost his mind on one of his own players during the college football game against North Dakota State.
It was a well-deserved butt-chewing!
The college football coach was informed by the referees of poor behavior that almost resulted in a penalty. He did not react positively.
New Mexico can make the College Football Playoff.
Don’t look now but a New Mexico team that had not made a bowl game since 2016 became bowl eligible on Saturday for the second time in two years. The Lobos moved to 6-1 with the win over the Bison on Saturday.
They are not done yet!
Head coach Jason Eck, who was hired to replace Bronco Mendenhall in 2025 after a three-year stint at Idaho, has his team in position to make the College Football Playoff. No, seriously.
New Mexico has five games remaining on its schedule: San Jose State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming and Air Force. If they can finish the season with five-straight wins, the Lobos will finish as Mountain West champions at 11-1. Depending on how things shake out around the country, they could also finish as the highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion. The highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion is guaranteed an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
Let’s not count chickens before they hatch. Even if New Mexico ends up being favored in four of its last five games (if not all five), Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming and Air Force are not to take lightly. And even the road game against an inferior San Jose State program next weekend poses a challenge because of the spot. The job is not finished!
With that being said, what Eck has been able to do in such a short amount of time is nothing short of spectacular. The 49-year-old has not lost at home in either of his first two years as head coach in Albuquerque. His team has won 11-straight games.
Not only is Eck one of the best coaches in college football, he is impossible to dislike. Players love him. Fans love him. It’s not hard to see why. Just look at his reaction to the win over North Dakota State:
Good night, Lobo Nation 🌙 pic.twitter.com/SVuJmRbawt
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) October 25, 2026
He also took the time to acknowledge the crowd after the game.
11 straight home wins for New Mexico, its longest run since 1928. Jason Eck is 10-0 at home.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 25, 2026
Fans chanted “Jason Eck” as the clock wound down. pic.twitter.com/eSoJl8iqDh
How can you not root for that guy?!
Jason Eck went ballistic.
Even if Jason Eck is widely beloved, that does not mean he is always nice. A head coach must still hold his players accountable!
That is exactly what happened during the second half on Saturday.
New Mexico scored a touchdown on a pick-six with just under 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to go up by 11. It was electric.
AGENT ZERO 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞 6⃣ 😱 @BrawleyAustin
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) October 25, 2026
📺 @TheCW_Sports pic.twitter.com/HcZegkkHz9
However, during the interception return, fifth-year defensive end Brett Karhu got in the face of North Dakota State’s quarterback.
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 25, 2026
Although he was pushed to the ground (flopped) by hands to the face, a penalty was not called. Neither the quarterback nor Karhu drew a flag. The touchdown stood. No foul.
That does not mean Eck was going to let his player off of the hook.
Karhu did not need to put himself in that situation. There was no reason to risk penalty that would negate the interception and/or the return. His head coach let him know that his behavior was unacceptable.
It looked like the officials told the head coach what his player said to trigger the quarterback. Eck chewed Karhu out on the sideline.
Jason Eck was mad his player got in the NDSU QB's face on the interception and almost cost them a penalty pic.twitter.com/NH8d08huUQ
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 25, 2026
Message received! Eck does not get angry unless it is warranted. Karhu called him the “best coach in the country” after the game. I can’t imagine he will do whatever he did again…