Another strike against college football: New Mexico governor wants no fall season for in-state schools

The Big Ten and Pac-12 have gone to conference-only schedules this fall in college football. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC could choose the same path as early as Friday. While the Power 5 conferences could in theory do what they want, the Group of 5 conferences and independents are in a completely different boat. New Mexico plays in the Mountain West and New Mexico State is an independent, and this week New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham urged leadership at both schools to suspend all contact sports this fall.

Lujan has cited the rise of positive COVID-19 cases among young people in the state, and the letter to school officials said in part that it is "critical that you postpone collegiate athletics in this moment of escalating danger" and there is potential they could be resumed in late 2020 or early 2021.

Earlier in July, Grisham announced that contact sports at the high school level would not be permitted under the state's updated public health order. It should be noted that Grisham doesn't have any power to ban or restrict NCAA sports at New Mexico and New Mexico State.

Mountain West schools play eight conference games and four non-conference. New Mexico has lost a Sept. 12 matchup at USC (because of the Pac-12 decision) and also has Idaho State (Aug. 29), at Mississippi State (Sept. 5) and vs. UMass (Oct. 3) out of conference on the slate. The Lobos are +10000 long shots on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to win the Mountain West.

New Mexico State has lost two games: Aug. 29 at UCLA and Nov. 14 vs. Texas Southern (the SWAC is moving football to the spring). The Aggies' other Power 5 scheduled game is Nov. 21 at Florida.

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