The University of Colorado Boulder has selected Fernando Lovo to lead its premier athletic department, CU Chancellor Justin Schwartz announced today.  Lovo, who comes to Boulder from the University of New Mexico, was approved by unanimous vote of the CU Board of Regents and will succeed Rick George, who will transition to an AD Emeritus role.  Lovo will officially start on January 1, 2026. 

“When we began our national search for a new Director of Athletics, we sought someone of high character, committed to the student-athlete experience who has an innovative approach to revenue generation,” said Schwartz. “Fernando is a dynamic leader who is perfect for these dynamic times and embodies CU’s high standards and values. He has a proven track record of leading student-athletes to success both in competition and in the classroom, and I’m confident that he is the perfect steward to lead CU Athletics into this new era of college athletics. We are thrilled to welcome Fernando, Jordan, Liam and Layla to the Buffalo family.”

After joining New Mexico as Vice President/Director of Athletics in December, 2024, Lovo presided over eight Mountain West titles, tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most of any Mountain West school last year. UNM finished 2024-2025 ranked 49th in the Learfield Director’s Cup, tops among all Group of 5 schools and is off to another strong start this year, finishing the fall ranked 20th, which also leads the G5.  The Lobos also set numerous academic records, including a Mountain West record 231 Scholar-Athlete selections, which goes to student-athletes who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, and 273 conference All-Academic Team members, which recognizes those student-athletes who have cumulative GPA for the academic year of 3.0 or higher. 

“I’m honored to join this incredible group of student-athletes, coaches and staff at a tremendous institution that strives for excellence and espouses the right values,” said Lovo. “We are in a time of extraordinary change in college athletics and Colorado should lead the way in shaping what comes next. I look forward to helping our student-athletes succeed in every aspect of their lives while bringing championships to Buff Nation. I am sincerely grateful to the CU Board of Regents, President Saliman, and Chancellor Schwartz for this incredible opportunity to lead this iconic department and its storied programs.  I am also honored to take over leadership of CU Boulder Athletics from Rick George, one of the legendary athletic directors in the country.”  

In just his second week on the job at New Mexico, Lovo was tasked with hiring a new football coach and brought in Jason Eck, who promptly led the Lobos to a 9-3 regular season record, their first nine-win season since 2016 and a berth in the Rate Bowl against Minnesota, while earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors. Lovo also hired basketball coach Eric Olen from UC San Diego in what is widely considered one of the best hires of the offseason and who has UNM off to a 10-2 start this year.  

Lovo also led the UNM Athletic Department to a record revenue year, growing the overall operating budget of the department by 17.6% from FY25 to FY26, and achieving record marks in ticket sales, multimedia rights, parking, concessions, and trademark and licensing revenue, along with a record year in Lobo Club fundraising.

Prior to becoming Vice President/Director of Athletics for New Mexico, Lovo had two stints at the University of Texas at Austin, during which he served in a number of administrative roles.  Beginning in December 2021, he was Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations before quickly being promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director, Facilities, Capital Projects & Game Operations. His final position with the Longhorns was as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director- Operations, where, in addition to serving as sports coordinator for men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis, he oversaw nearly half a billion dollars in capital projects.  

Lovo first joined UT as Chief of Staff for Football from 2016 through early 2021 before taking the position of Chief of Staff with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.  

He began his collegiate career at the University of Florida, working in football equipment and operations while completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees. During his time in Gainesville, he was a part of the Gators’ 2008 National Championship football team, establishing a championship pedigree that he’s carried throughout his career.

Later, Lovo served as a Football Operations Coordinator at The Ohio State University from 2012-2015, where he was also a part of the Buckeyes’ 2014 National Championship football team. He then moved to the University of Houston, where he was Assistant A.D. for Football Operations for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. During that time, Houston went 22–5 and laid the foundation for the university’s eventual move to the Big 12.

Lovo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government in 2010 and a Master of Science in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management in 2012, both from the University of Florida.

A native of New Orleans, Lovo grew up in Miami. He and his wife, Jordan, have two children, Liam and Layla.

Steve Hurlbert, Director of Strategic Communications Press Release

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — No. 25 North Texas survived a frantic finish and edged San Diego State 49-47 on Dec. 27 in the 2025 New Mexico Bowl, sealing the victory when the Aztecs’ final drive stalled inside the final minute at University Stadium.

The Mean Green jumped out early, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions and building a cushion that proved just enough. North Texas led 28-14 at halftime and extended the advantage to 49-34 midway through the fourth quarter before San Diego State mounted a late comeback that fell short.

North Texas (10-4) rolled up big offensive numbers, finishing with more than 550 yards and scoring on seven of its first nine drives. Quarterback Jace Carter threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, repeatedly exploiting mismatches downfield. The Mean Green also controlled the tempo on the ground, converting key third downs to keep San Diego State’s offense on the sideline for much of the night.

“We wanted to be aggressive from the start,” North Texas coach Eric Morris said. “Our guys trusted the game plan, and that fast start gave us something to lean on when things got tight at the end.”

San Diego State (9-4) refused to fade. The Aztecs answered North Texas scores throughout the second half and closed the gap with two late touchdowns, pulling within two points in the final minutes. A potential game-tying or winning drive ended when North Texas’ defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield, allowing the Mean Green to run out the clock.

Aztecs coach Sean Lewis praised his team’s resolve despite the loss. “I’m incredibly proud of how our players competed for 60 minutes,” Lewis said. “We didn’t play our cleanest early, but the fight and belief never went away.”

San Diego State quarterback play fueled the rally, as the Aztecs consistently found success through the air and finished with more than 500 yards of total offense. Still, defensive breakdowns and missed stops early loomed large.

For North Texas, the win capped one of the best seasons in program history and delivered a bowl victory in dramatic fashion. Players celebrated afterward, acknowledging both the offensive explosion and the tense final moments.

“We knew they weren’t going to quit, and neither were we,” Carter said. “That’s what bowl games are about — finishing strong, no matter how crazy it gets.”

The victory gave North Texas momentum heading into the offseason, while San Diego State closed its year with a hard-fought but narrow defeat in one of the most entertaining games of bowl season.

Texas- Friday’s SERVPRO First Responder Bowl featured familiar foes from back in Conference USA. It was the fifth overall meeting between Florida International and UTSA, and their first since UTSA moved to the American Conference in 2023. Both teams entered the night with winning streaks. FIU’s four-game winning streak and UTSA’s two-game bowl winning streak. By the time the clock struck midnight, it was UTSA’s bowl-winning streak staying afloat with a 57-20 dominant effort against the Panthers.

Like the 75-degree kickoff weather (despite the latest start time in First Responder Bowl history), both teams came out sizzling in the first half of the first quarter. First, it was FIU prowling.

“The game was an epitome of what our season was like,” UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said after the game. “[We] got off to a rough start, looked really bad, and like these kids have done all year, they’re extremely resilient.”

The Panthers’ opening drive featured five first downs; however, two of those came on UTSA penalties. It capped off with a 19-yard catch and run by Kyle McNeal. It initially didn’t look like McNeal extended the ball before his elbow hit the ground. Though the officials ruled McNeal did, along with the ball crossing the plane before it popped out of his hands. It was the second time on FIU’s opening drive that the ball came out of McNeal’s hands after ruled down.

On UTSA’s next drive, they ended up punting while Owen McCown took a vicious hit by FIU’s Antonio Patterson.

“I’m a little undersized, so I think all these hits are going to look bad,” UTSA quarterback Owen McCowen said about the hit.

The punt took Maguire Anderson to the Panthers’ three, and he sped down the field and took it all the way for a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown, putting FIU up 14-0 five minutes into the game.

“It’s one of those deals where [Anderson] kept back up like, no, no, no, no, no, he caught the ball and the first guy misses, and it was like, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” Panthers’ head coach Willie Simmons said after the game on the punt return touchdown.

Then, in less than 3 minutes, UTSA marched down the field, starting with a nine-yard carry, then a 39-yard completion, followed by a 17-yard completion. The Roadrunners punched the ball into the end zone three plays later on a Will Henderson run up the middle.

On UTSA’s next possession, it was more of the same. Inspired by the Roadrunner from Looney Tunes, Henderson sped down the field for his second touchdown of the night, a 40-yard catch and sprint to the right, erasing the 14-point deficit in five minutes of game clock.

UTSA took the lead on their following possession with a seven-play drive set up by a fourth-down turnover, resulting in a Michael Petro 37-yard field goal, and drove to the end zone on their next possession on a 23-yard catch from Devin McCuin.

Under two minutes in the first half, UTSA added another score with A’Marion Peterson’s 10-yard rushing touchdown, taking on tacklers, finishing an 11-play and 66-yard drive. After the FIU punt return for a touchdown, the Roadrunners outscored the Panthers 31-0, outgaining FIU 291-45 for the rest of the first half.

“Everybody came together and talked it over. We had to figure it out quickly, and we knew what we had to do. [FIU] made those plays better than what we didn’t do,” UTSA linebacker Shad Banks Jr. said about the defensive buckle down after FIU’s opening drive.

UTSA started the second half similarly to the first. After a three-and-out, the Roadrunners took it 47 yards as Henderson tallied his third touchdown of the night (second rushing). FIU followed with a four-minute and seventy-five-yard touchdown score from Joe Pesanasky to Dallas Payne, breaking 38 unanswered points from UTSA. However, the two-point conversion attempt resulted in an Ahamad Chapman interception, which he took the other way for a Roadrunners two-point conversion, halting the Panthers’ momentum.

To start the fourth quarter, McCown added another score with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Patrick Overmyer. Followed that up with another Petro field goal, and Bryson Donnell touchdown run, and UTSA scored 57 of the game’s final 63 points Friday.

McCown finished the night 18 for 28 for 295 yards and three scores while completing his first seven passes Friday. UTSA finishes the college season and playoff over .500 for the sixth straight year. Even coach Traylor attempted to avoid the water bath at the end, but couldn’t, despite valiant and planned efforts.

“The worst part was they tackled me, which is ridiculous that they piled on me, which they deserved another penalty. [I] had enough, and then they dumped me with like I can’t tell you how much water and ice. It was bad.”

While the outcome wasn’t ideal, Florida International finishes over .500 for the first time since 2018. Coach Simmons says this is the beginning of the program and of FIU fans getting used to Panthers postseason football.

“I think the standard is set. The expectation is that we should do it every year. Hopefully playing for the conference championship, [but also] playing postseason [and] postseason games. It’s going to be normal.”

Westwood, CA – Quarterback Nico Iamaleava will return to the UCLA football program for the 2026 season, giving the Bruins a proven leader and one of the Big Ten’s most dynamic dual-threat players for his redshirt junior year.

The Long Beach, California, native announced his decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft in an Instagram post, signaling his commitment to continue building UCLA’s program after a breakout 2025 campaign. Iamaleava emerged as the centerpiece of the Bruins’ offense last season, accounting for the majority of the team’s production and providing stability at the game’s most important position.

“I’m not done yet,” Iamaleava wrote in his announcement. “There’s more to accomplish with my brothers, and I believe in what we’re building at UCLA.”

In 2025, Iamaleava completed 208 of 323 passes (64.4%) for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also led the Bruins in rushing, totaling 505 yards on 112 carries, showcasing the versatility that made him one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Big Ten Conference. Overall, he accounted for 17 of UCLA’s 24 total touchdowns, underscoring his importance to the offense.

Iamaleava consistently delivered explosive plays, leading the team with 10 rushing attempts of 20 or more yards. He recorded four games with at least 200 passing yards and finished as UCLA’s leading rusher in five contests, an uncommon feat for a quarterback at the Power Five level.

His signature performance came Oct. 4 at the Rose Bowl, when UCLA stunned then-No. 7 Penn State 42-37. Iamaleava produced 294 yards of total offense and scored five touchdowns — three rushing and two passing — to lift the Bruins to their first victory over an AP top-10 opponent since 2010. The performance earned him a sweep of national weekly honors from the Associated Press, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award, along with Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week recognition.

UCLA coach Bob Chesney said retaining Iamaleava was a major boost for the program as it looks ahead to the 2026 season. “Nico is a competitor in every sense of the word,” Chesney said. “He elevates everyone around him, and his decision to return says a lot about his belief in this team and this university.”

A local Southern California product, Iamaleava starred at Warren High School in Downey, where he developed into one of the region’s top quarterbacks before continuing his career in Westwood. His return provides UCLA with continuity on offense and a veteran presence as the Bruins aim to build momentum in the Big Ten.

With Iamaleava back under center, UCLA enters 2026 with optimism — and a quarterback capable of changing games with both his arm and his legs.