ALBUQUERQUE — The promising run of the University of New Mexico football team suffered a significant setback Thursday when it was announced starting quarterback Jack Layne will miss the season due to his ailing throwing arm.
The senior, who transferred to UNM from Idaho last season, will undergo another procedure on his right elbow, the same joint that caused him to sit out portions of practice with the Lobos a year ago.
“We have some bad news on a second opinion on Jack Layne, so, unfortunately, he is going to have to have another surgery, and he is going to have to miss the season,” UNM coach Jason Eck told KRQE on Thursday. “So, we really feel for Jack. You know, he is a great competitor, and he’s someone who absolutely loves football, and I think he will still travel with us and do a great job of being like a coach, which he wants to do long term. But, disappointing news for him.”
Layne started 13 games last season, passing for 2,486 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also scored four times rushing the ball, leading the Lobos to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Rate Bowl against Minnesota.
He has attended every practice this fall, dressing out in uniform and miming his way through most plays run by the offense. He would typically stand a few yards behind the play and go through the motions a quarterback typically would, doing everything but throwing a football.
Layne had surgery on the elbow before he took a snap for UNM, and spent much of the 2025 season and ensuing offseason rehabbing and trying to make it stronger.
The presumptive starter is now Luke Moga, a transfer from Oregon. Moga spent two seasons with the Ducks, throwing just five passes for 58 yards in three games. James Laubstein is a returner who had productive snaps throughout last season, and will likely see plenty of time as a fill-in for Moga.
The Lobos open their season Sept. 5 against Central Michigan. Projected as a favorite in the Mountain West Conference, UNM is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history.
When asked about his status during a practice two weeks ago, Layne looked down at his right arm and admitted it wasn’t feeling as well as he wanted it to.
“I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been tough times with it,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I can to be on the field and be the player this team needs.”
Layne earned instant respect from UNM fans for his play in last season’s opener at Michigan. Time and again he took huge hits from the Wolverines defense, only to get up and continue playing. His toughness became one of the main storylines for a team that surpassed all expectations in Eck’s first year as head coach.
UNM is exploring options to get Layne an additional year of eligibility. The NCAA recently did away with medical redshirts, opting for a 5-for-5 policy that gives players five years to play five seasons. This would have been Layne's fifth season as a college player.
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