Imagine the thrill of a game-winning performance mixed with the shock of a major coaching departure— that's the wild ride North Texas fans are on right now! The Mean Green just crushed Temple 52-25 on November 28, 2025, securing their spot in the American Conference championship, all while their head coach, Eric Morris, is gearing up to head to Oklahoma State after the season. But here's where it gets controversial: could this powerhouse team unravel without its leader, or will they prove even stronger? Stick around to dive into the details of this explosive victory and the buzz surrounding what's next.
In Denton, Texas, quarterback Drew Mestemaker lit up the field, racking up 366 passing yards and three touchdowns—highlighting a stunning 77-yard throw to receiver Cameron Dorner—and helping No. 21 North Texas (with a record of 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the American Conference) clinch a berth in the conference title showdown with this dominant 52-25 win over Temple on Friday night.
This was the team's first matchup since the bombshell announcement that coach Eric Morris had agreed to take the helm at Oklahoma State, a move that has everyone talking. For context, the American Conference championship pits teams from Group of Five conferences (which include schools not in the Power Five like the SEC or Big Ten) against each other for a chance at the College Football Playoff (CFP), a prestigious tournament that determines the national champion. North Texas will face off against either the 22nd-ranked Tulane Green Wave or the Navy Midshipmen for the title—and potentially a coveted CFP spot. Tulane, currently No. 24 in the CFP rankings, will host the championship game next Friday if they beat Charlotte this Saturday night; otherwise, the Mean Green will play at home against Navy. North Texas itself remains unranked, but that's not stopping their momentum.
'I'm incredibly proud of our players first and foremost,' Morris shared after the game. 'Clearly, there were a lot of distractions this week, and I'm well aware that my situation was a big part of that.' It's easy to see how he might feel that way—handling a transition like this in the middle of a winning season can be tough, but the team seemed to rise above it.
Temple (5-7, 3-5 American), the Owls, battled back to tie the score at 7-7 early in the first quarter thanks to a fourth-down touchdown pass from Evan Simon to Ryder Kusch. Yet, North Texas, boasting the nation's top offense in total yards per game, flipped the script by scoring touchdowns on their first five drives. They piled up 366 yards in the first half alone, building a commanding 35-7 lead.
Rookie sensation Caleb Hawkins, who already led the country in total touchdowns, boosted his tally to 26 with four rushing scores against Temple. He amassed 122 of his 186 rushing yards in the first half, showcasing why he's become such a force. For beginners wondering about college football stats, touchdowns like these come from either rushing the ball into the end zone or catching a pass there, and tracking them helps show a player's versatility and impact.
North Texas revealed on Tuesday that Morris would depart after the season, potentially even after a bowl game if their first 10-win campaign doesn't qualify them as the Group of Five rep for the CFP—a scenario that's definitely got fans speculating. And this is the part most people miss: there's chatter that quarterback Drew Mestemaker, a redshirt freshman who never played QB at the varsity level in high school, might also leave UNT, possibly to follow his coach to Stillwater, Oklahoma. As a friendly reminder, 'redshirt' means he sat out a year to develop, which is common for young players.
Mestemaker, the nation's top passer, went 20-for-24 with three scores and zero interceptions for the second straight game, bringing his season totals to 29 touchdown passes and just four picks. 'Our offense has been absolutely electric in so many ways this year,' Morris noted. 'Drew was outstanding tonight, reading the field perfectly and getting the ball out quickly.'
Since breaking into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 66 years—a historic drought for any FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) school—North Texas has dominated, outscoring opponents 108-49 in their last two games. They celebrated that milestone with a 56-24 rout of Rice, and now, with this win, they're riding high. A prime example: Mestemaker's 75-yard pass to Wyatt Young set up Hawkins' fourth touchdown, pushing the Mean Green past the 50-point mark for a league-leading seventh time this season.
Young hauled in 127 receiving yards, just a week after smashing the American Conference record with 295. Dorner snagged four catches for 125 yards, proving the team's depth.
On the takeaway front for Temple: The Owls were never truly in contention, missing out on their first bowl appearance since 2019. Still, rookie coach K.C. Keeler broke a four-year skid of 3-9 records, which is a small victory in its own right.
For North Texas: Mestemaker nailed his first 11 throws, and that 77-yard TD bomb to Dorner capped off a 99-yard scoring drive on their opening possession—an explosive start that set the tone.
And here's a fun fact for football history buffs: Mestemaker shattered Dillon Gabriel's American Conference record for freshman passing yards, hitting 3,835 on the season. Gabriel had amassed 3,654 at UCF before starring at Oklahoma and Oregon, and now he's a rookie starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL—a great example of how college success can lead to professional glory.
Looking ahead, Temple faces Rhode Island as their opener for the 2026 schedule. North Texas, meanwhile, didn't clash with Tulane during the regular season, but they've earned a home title game in a potential three-way tie thanks to their 31-17 win over Navy.
But let's stir up some debate: Is it fair for a coach like Morris to leave mid-season, potentially disrupting a team's chemistry, or does loyalty in college football hold less weight compared to NFL deals? And with Mestemaker possibly following suit, could this be the start of a talent drain at North Texas, or will they rebuild stronger? Share your opinions in the comments—what do you think North Texas' chances are in the championship without their coach? Do you agree with players jumping ship together, or should they stay put? We'd love to hear your takes!
