ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Austin Brawley returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and New Mexico Lobos held on to beat North Dakota State Bison 21-16 on Saturday night.

Brawley's pick-6 gave the first-place Lobos (6-1, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) a 21-9 lead early in the fouth quarter. The senior safety had a 65-yard pick-6 in the previous home game - a 61-7 romp over UTEP.

New Mexico marched 75 yards in six plays to start the game, scoring on Kiefer Sibley's 29-yard run for a 7-0 lead it never relinquished. Sibley finished with 91 yards on 13 carries.

Scottre Humphrey scored on a 2-yard run with 10 seconds left in the first half for a 14-3 advantage.

North Dakota State (6-2, 3-2) managed only 74 yards of offense and Drew Klein's 27-yard first-quarter field goal before halftime.

Nathan Hayes finished off a 63-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Reis Kessell, but Klein's extra-point kick was blocked and the Bison trailed 14-9.

Brawley picked Hayes off and returned it for a touchdown and a 12-point lead.

New Mexico has forced at least two turnovers in every game this season and leads the nation with 23.

Hayes answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Collins 10 plays later to cut it to 21-16 with 6:44 left, but New Mexico prevailed. Hayes had 198 yards on 17-for-33 passing but threw two interceptions.

The Lobos have won four in a row following their only loss - a 14-6 setback to then-No. 24 Oklahoma on the road.

North Dakota State: Hosts UTEP on Saturday.

New Mexico: At San Jose State on Saturday.

---

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.

Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.