2023 North Texas Mean Green football team American college football season
The 2023 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas as a member of American Athletic Conference (The American) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by first-year head coach Eric Morris . The Mean Green played their home games at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas . The North Texas Mean Green football team drew an average home attendance of 17,761 in 2023.
Previous season
The 2022 team , the Mean Green's last season as a member of Conference USA (C-USA), finished the regular season with a record of 7–5, going 6–2 in C-USA play to finish second in the conference, tied with Western Kentucky . North Texas was selected for the C-USA Championship Game based on tiebreakers, having defeated Western Kentucky 40–13 in the regular season and played at UTSA (who would also be departing C-USA for the American), losing 27–48. Two days after the championship game head coach Seth Littrell was fired. The Mean Green were invited to the Frisco Bowl with defensive coordinator Phil Bennett serving as the team's interim head coach for the bowl game. North Texas played Boise State in the bowl game, losing 32–35 to finish the season with an overall record of 7–7.
Offseason
Coaching changes
After 7 seasons, on December 4, 2022, the Mean Green fired head coach Seth Littrell .[ 1]
On December 13, 2022, the Mean Green hired Eric Morris to be their next head coach, he will be the team's 20th head coach. He was previously the offensive coordinator for Washington State.[ 2]
On December 28, 2022, the Mean Green hired Chris Gilbert as their assistant head coach he will also coach the tight ends.[ 3] Drew Svoboda as their special teams coach and associate head coach, Patrick Cobbs as the running backs coach, and Sean Brophy as the quarterback's coach. Additionally, they hired Rolando Surita as their chief of staff.[ 4]
The next day on December 29, 2022, the Mean Green made five hires. They hired Matt Caponi as their defensive coordinator and cornerback's coach, Jordan Davis as their offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, and Colby Kratch as their linebacker's coach. They also named Bryan Kegans the Director of Strength & Conditioning, and Justin Owens as their Director of Recruiting.[ 5]
And on December 30, 2022, the Mean Green made the last of their hirings naming Clay Jennings as their safeties coach and Demerick Gary as their defensive line coach.[ 6]
Schedule
North Texas and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2023 football schedule on February 21, 2023.[ 7]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 2 3:00 p.m. California * ESPNU L 21–5821,350 September 9 5:30 p.m. at FIU * ESPN+ L 39–4615,754 September 16 6:00 p.m. at Louisiana Tech * ESPN+ W 40–3717,434 September 30 6:00 p.m. Abilene Christian * ESPN+ W 45–3121,494 October 7 2:30 p.m. at Navy CBSSN L 24–2728,648 October 14 11:00 a.m. Temple ESPNU W 45–1413,678 October 21 2:30 p.m. at No. 23 Tulane ESPN2 L 28–3530,000 October 28 2:00 p.m. Memphis ESPN+ L 42–4518,062 November 4 2:00 p.m. UTSA ESPN+ L 29–3717,354 8:00 p.m. at SMU ESPN2 L 21–4522,043 November 18 2:00 p.m. at Tulsa ESPN+ W 35–2816,520 November 25 1:00 p.m. UAB ESPN+ W 45–4214,628
Game summaries
vs California
California Golden Bears (0–0) vs North Texas Mean Green (0–0) — Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Golden Bears 14
19
15 10 58
Mean Green
7
14
0 0 21
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, TX
Date : September 2, 2023Game time : 3:00 p.m.Game attendance : 21,350TV : ESPNU
Game information
First quarter (12:53) CAL - Jeremiah Hunter 23-yard pass from Sam Jackson V, Michael Luckhurst kick (Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards, 0:46; California 7-0 )
(11:04) UNT - Ja'Mori Maclin 3-yard pass from Stone Earle, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:49; Tied: 7-7 )
(1:04) CAL - Jaydn Ott 4-yard run, Michael Luckhurst kick (Drive: 4 plays, 14 yards, 1:39; California 14-7 ) Second quarter (14:33) UNT - Ja'Mori Maclin 59-yard pass from Stone Earle, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:31; Tied 14-14 )
(7:30) CAL - Isaiah Ifanse 26-yard run, Michael Luckhurst kick (Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 2:21; California 21-14 )
(5:42) CAL - Jaydn Ott 66-yard run, Michael Luckhurst kick blocked (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:29; California 27-14 )
(1:47) UNT - Xzavior Kautai 12-yard pass from Stone Earle, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards, 1:04; California 27-21 )
(0:07) CAL - Isaiah Ifanse 8-yard run, two-point pass conversion failed (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 1:40; California 33-21 ) Third quarter Isaiah Ifanse 1-yard run, Ben Finley pass to Jack Endries for two-point conversion (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:36; California 41-21 )
Taj Davis 4-yard pass from Ben Finley, Michael Luckhurst kick (Drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 3:15; California 48-21 ) Fourth quarter Ashton Stredick 5-yard run, Michael Luckhurst kick (Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 3:14; California 55-21 )
Michael Luckhurst 31-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 23 yards, 4:18; California 58-21 )
Statistics
CAL
UNT
First downs
29
9
Plays–yards
95-679
53-225
Rushes–yards
56-357
27-41
Passing yards
322
184
Passing: comp –att –int
27-39-1
15-26-3
Time of possession
39:07
20:53
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
California
Passing
Ben Finley 24/34, 289 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Jaydn Ott 20 carries, 188 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jeremiah Hunter
6 receptions, 64 yards, TD
North Texas
Passing
Stone Earle
12/19, 174 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Isaiah Johnson
6 carries, 34 yards
Receiving
Ja'Mori Maclin 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
at FIU
North Texas Mean Green (0-1) at FIU Panthers (1-1) – Game Summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Mean Green
10
10
7 12 39
Panthers 7
10
21 8 46
at Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, Florida
Date : Game time : 6:30 p.m. EST /3:30 p.m. PST Game attendance : 15,754TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics
North Texas
Florida International
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Florida International
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Louisiana Tech
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
10
13
7
10
40
Bulldogs
0
14
0
23
37
Statistics
UNT
LT
First downs
32
21
Total yards
562
432
Rushing yards
249
215
Passing yards
313
217
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
33:24
26:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas Passing
Chandler Rogers 24/40, 313 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Ayo Adeyi
19 rushes, 148 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Roderic Burns
11 receptions, 134 yards
Louisiana Tech Passing
Jack Turner
9/13, 145 yards, TD
Rushing
Tyre Shelton
16 rushes, 152 yards, TD
Receiving
Cyrus Allen
5 receptions, 82 yards, TD
vs Abilene Christian
at Navy
Game information
First quarter (2:43) UNT – Noah Rauschenberg 42-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 4:11; North Texas 3-0 ) Second quarter (7:18) NAVY – Alex Tecza 39-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:15; Navy 7-3 )
(2:42) UNT – Chandler Rogers 75-yard run, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:37; North Texas 10-7 ) Third quarter (0:43) NAVY – Nathan Kent 26-yard pass from Tai Lavatai, Nathan Kirkwood missed PAT (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:59; Navy 13-10 ) Third Quarter (8:26) NAVY – Anton Hall 1-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:34; Navy 20-10 ) Fourth quarter (13:01) UNT – Ja'Mori Maclin 18-yard pass from Chandler Rogers, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 14 plays, 93 yards, 4:57; Navy 20-17 )
(7:07) Navy – Alex Tecza 21-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood (Drive: 1 play, 21 yards, 0:06; Navy 27-17 )
(5:23) UNT – Ayo Adeyi 47-yard run, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 1:44; Navy 27-24 )
Statistics
North Texas
Navy
First downs
23
21
Plays–yards
69–473
68–406
Rushes–yards
36–206
58–331
Passing yards
267
75
Passing: comp –att –int
22–33–0
4–10–0
Time of possession
26:05
33:55
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas
Passing
Chandler Rogers
22–32–0, 267 yards, TD
Rushing
Ayo Adeyi
14 carries, 125 yards, TD
Receiving
Ja'Mori Maclin
6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Navy
Passing
Tai Lavatai 4–8–0, 75 yards, TD
Rushing
Alex Tecza
17 carries, 137 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Brandon Chatman
1 reception, 38 yards
vs Temple
at No. 23 Tulane
North Texas Mean Green (3–3) vs No. 23 Tulane Green Wave (5–1) – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Mean Green
0
0
21 7 28
No. 23 Green Wave 7
14
7 7 35
at Yulman Stadium , New Orleans, LA
Date : October 21, 2023Game time : 2:30 p.m. CDT Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind : SE 6 mphGame attendance : 30,000Referee : Nate BlackTV announcers (ESPN2 ) : Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (color), Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter (9:34) TUL – Alex Bauman 2-yard pass from Michael Pratt, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:58; Tulane 7–0 ) Second Quarter (5:12) TUL – Makhi Hughes 10-yard run, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:33; Tulane 14–0 )
(0:17) TUL – Lawrence Keys III 23-yard pass from Michael Pratt, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 0:41; Tulane 21–0 ) Third Quarter (10:20) UNT – Ja'Mori Maclin 7-yard pass from Chandler Rogers, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 2:49; Tulane 21–7 )
(4:39) TUL – Alex Bauman 21-yard pass from Michael Pratt, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:41; Tulane 28–7 )
(3:05) UNT – Ayo Adeyi 18-yard run, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:34; Tulane 28–14 )
(0:17) UNT – Oscar Adaway III 1-yard run, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:47; Tulane 28–21 ) Fourth Quarter (9:08) UNT – Landon Sides 6-yard pass from Chandler Rogers, Noah Rauschenberg kick (Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:35; Tied 28–28 )
(2:34) TUL – Michael Pratt 19-yard run, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:34; Tulane 35–28 )
Statistics
UNT
TUL
First downs
23
24
Total yards
426
439
Rushing yards
83
245
Passing yards
343
194
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
27:24
32:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas Passing
Chandler Rogers
35/51, 343 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Chandler Rogers
8 carries, 34 yards
Receiving
Ja'Mori Maclin
8 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Tulane Passing
Michael Pratt 15/21, 194 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Makhi Hughes 20 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Lawrence Keys III
5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
vs Memphis
vs UTSA
1
2
3
4
Total
Roadrunners
10
17
3
7
37
Mean Green
0
13
0
16
29
at SMU
North Texas Mean Green at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Mean Green
7
7
0 7 21
Mustangs 14
3
14 14 45
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
Date : Game time : 8:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Cloudy, 57 °F (14 °C)Game attendance : 22,043Referee : Nate BlackTV announcers (ESPN2 ) : Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, and Paul CarcaterraBox score , Recap
Game information
First quarter
SMU – Moochie Dixon 8-yard pass from Preston Stone (Collin Rogers kick), 11:39. Mustangs 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:05.
UNT – Trey Cleveland 19-yard pass from Chandler Rogers (Noah Rauschenberg kick), 4:47. Tied 7–7. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:50.
SMU – RJ Maryland 24-yard pass from Preston Stone (Collin Rogers kick), 0:34. Mustangs 14–7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:13. Second quarter
SMU – Collin Rogers 20-yard field goal, 10:29. Mustangs 17–7. Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards, 3:42.
UNT – Oscar Adaway III 7-yard run (Noah Rauschenberg kick), 7:07. Mustangs 17–14. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:22. Third quarter
SMU – Tyler Lavine 5-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 11:08. Mustangs 24–14. Drive: 3 plays, 17 yards, 0:51.
SMU – Jaylan Knighton 20-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 2:15. Mustangs 31–14. Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:29. Fourth quarter
SMU – Camar Wheaton 22-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 12:44. Mustangs 38–14. Drive: 3 plays, 77 yards, 1:02.
SMU – LJ Johnson Jr. 3-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 4:00. Mustangs 45–14. Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 6:38.
UNT – Blair Conwright 29-yard pass from Chandler Rogers (Noah Rauschenberg kick), 1:27. Mustangs 45–21. Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 2:28.
Statistics
UNT
SMU
First downs
18
28
Total yards
372
552
Rushing yards
132
318
Passing yards
240
234
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
26:34
33:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas Passing
Chandler Rogers
18/31, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Oscar Adaway III
11 rushes, 90 yards, TD
Receiving
Trey Cleveland
3 receptions, 72 yards, TD
SMU Passing
Preston Stone 11/20, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Jaylan Knighton
17 rushes, 129 yards, TD
Receiving
Moochie Dixon
3 receptions, 99 yards, TD
at Tulsa
North Texas (3–7, 1–5) at Tulsa (3–7, 1–5) – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
North Texas 7
14
14 0 35
Tulsa
7
14
0 7 28
at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OK
Date : November 18, 2023Game time : 2:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : • Temperature :Game attendance : 16,250TV : ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
UNT
TLSA
First downs
22
22
Plays–yards
78–593
77–434
Rushes–yards
47–299
43–183
Passing yards
294
251
Passing: comp –att –int
19–31–0
17–34–1
Time of possession
32:04
27:56
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas
Passing
Chandler Rogers
19/31, 294 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Oscar Adaway III
16 carries, 126 yards, TD
Receiving
Ja'Mori Maclin
2 receptions, 61 yards
Tulsa
Passing
Kirk Francis 17/34, 251 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Anthony Watkins
21 carries, 115 yards, TD
Receiving
Kamdyn Benjamin
8 receptions, 93 yards, TD
vs UAB
References
^ Cruz, Alex (December 4, 2022). "North Texas fires football coach Seth Littrell after seven seasons" . WFAA . Retrieved December 4, 2022 . ^ "Eric Morris Hired as 20th Head Football Coach" . Mean Green Sports . Retrieved March 7, 2023 .^ Eberts, Wescott. "North Texas hires Chris Gilbert as AHC/TEs coach" . Burnt Orange Nation . Retrieved March 7, 2023 . ^ "Morris Finalizes Initial Group of Football Staff Hires" . Mean Green Sports . Retrieved March 7, 2023 .^ "Morris Adds Five more to Football Staff" . Mean Green Sports . Retrieved March 7, 2023 .^ Vito, Brett. "UNT set to add Clay Jennings, Demerick Gary to Eric Morris' first staff" . Denton Record-Chronicle . Retrieved March 7, 2023 . ^ "2023 North Texas Football Schedule" . FBSchedules . Retrieved March 7, 2023 .
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