There wasn’t much mystery to North Texas during last year’s 6-7 season that ended with a 30-28 loss to Texas State in the First Responder Bowl.
The Mean Green simply relied on their offense. North Texas finished third nationally in total offense, averaging 488.8 yards per game and 23rd in scoring offense (33.5 points per game).
On the other side, North Texas placed 127th in total defense, allowing 460.5 yards per game, and 118th in scoring defense, allowing 34.15 PPG.
As head coach Chad Morris enters his third season, the offense should again be strong. The defense has questions but could see improvement with a new coordinator and several transfer portal additions.
North Texas Football’s AAC Title Betting Odds
UNT’s odds to make it to the AAC Championship are +500, via BetMGM.
North Texas Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- UNT’s win total Over/Under is 6.5.
- The Under is at +135.
- The Over is at -160.
North Texas Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 vs Lamar
- 9/6 at Western Michigan
- 9/13 vs Washington State
- 9/20 at Army
- 9/27 vs South Alabama
- 10/10 vs South Florida
- 10/18 vs UTSA
- 10/24 at Charlotte
- 11/1 vs Navy
- 11/15 at UAB
- 11/22 at Rice
- 11/29 vs Temple
Bold indicates AAC contests
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Key North Texas Football Returners
OL Braydon Nelson
North Texas Season Preview
What Are North Texas’ Options At QB?
The Mean Green’s two main quarterback candidates are Drew Mestemaker and Reese Poffenbarger.
Mestemaker is a redshirt freshman who preserved his redshirt status last year. His best performance came in North Texas’ bowl loss to Texas State, where he completed 26 of 41 passes for 396 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also scored on a 70-yard run.
Poffenbarger is a transfer from Miami, where he backed up NFL No. 1 draft choice Cam Ward. Last season, Poffenbarger only attempted seven passes. This is Poffenbarger’s fourth stop. He began his career in 2021 at Old Dominion, where he redshirted. Poffenbarger was then a two-year starter at Albany, where he threw for 60 touchdown passes before transferring to Miami last year.
UNT’s Offense Returns Plenty Of Experience
One of UNT’s top offensive playmakers is sophomore wide receiver Miles Coleman. Last season as a true freshman, Coleman had 36 receptions for 378 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games, including two starts.
Leading the ground game is redshirt sophomore Makenzie McGill II, who rushed for 478 yards and 10 touchdowns in 78 attempts. Also expected to contribute is sophomore Jayden Becks, who had 1,116 all-purpose yards last year at Missouri State.
Leading the offensive line is sophomore Braydon Nelson, who made 11 starts at both right guard and left tackle.
Gabe Blair is expected to be another key member of the offensive line. Due to injury, he missed most of last season but started in the bowl game at right guard. A second-team All-AAC selection in 2023, he is expected to play center.
A key offensive line transfer is Ugonna Nnanna, who spent the past two years at Virginia after beginning his career at Houston. In 29 career games, he has made nine starts, including three starts last year for Virginia.
North Texas’ New Defensive Coaching Staff A Key
North Texas has a new defensive staff, led by coordinator Skyler Cassity, who came from Sam Houston, where he had the same job. His defense at Sam Houston was aggressive, forcing 22 turnovers, the 16th most in the FBS. Sam Houston allowed 20.46 points per game, which was tied for 21st in the FBS.
Not only has North Texas brought Cassity and several assistants from Sam Houston but also players on all three levels on defense.
One of North Texas’ most experienced returning defenders is junior safety Evan Jackson, who appeared in all 13 games and made nine starts while totaling 55 tackles and three interceptions.
One of the key newcomers is cornerback David Fisher, who spent the last four seasons at Sam Houston with 28 starts for the Bearkats.
Senior defensive tackle Fatafehi Vailea II appeared in all 13 games for the Mean Green with seven starts. He recorded 34 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
A key addition to the defensive line is tackle Richard Outland Jr., who spent four seasons at Sam Houston, appearing in 22 games, with 11 starts last year.
Senior linebacker Shane Whitter, who spent his first four seasons at Oklahoma, appeared in 12 games with five starts last year for the Mean Green. He contributed 49 tackles and three pass breakups.
Another expected contributor at linebacker is Trey Fields, who appeared in 49 games for Sam Houston including 12 starts, all which came last year for the Bearkats.
North Texas has both a veteran placekicker and punter.
Sophomore Kali Nguma went 11 for 16 on field goal attempts and made all 55 point-after kicks last season. Senior Sawyer Evans averaged 40.95 yards per punt and only allowed five total punt returns, the fewest in the FBS.
North Texas Football Season Prediction
I don’t see North Texas challenging for the AAC title, but I predict that the Mean Green will win seven games.
Not having to play AAC contenders Memphis and Tulane helps, although the Mean Green does have to face another contender, Navy, albeit at home.
As with many teams, a lot will depend on how the new players jell. North Texas will have 51 new players, 40 transfers and 11 freshmen, including 14 transfers via the spring transfer portal window.
A key will be how the Mean Green fare in three potential toss-up non-conference games at Western Michigan and at home against Washington State and South Alabama. If North Texas earns two of three wins in these games, then the seven-win total is very attainable and could even be surpassed.
