2023 North Texas Mean Green football team

The 2023 North Texas Mean Green football team represents the University of North Texas as a member of American Athletic Conference (The American) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by first-year head coach Eric Morris. The Mean Green play their home games at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas.

2023 North Texas Mean Green football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record3–4 (1–2 AAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJordan Davis (1st season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorMatt Caponi (1st season)
Base defense3–3–5
Home stadiumDATCU Stadium
(capacity: 30,850)
2023 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 22 Tulane  3 –0   6 –1  
SMU  3 –0   5 –2  
UTSA  3 –0   4 –3  
Memphis  2 –1   5 –2  
Rice  2 –1   4 –3  
Florida Atlantic  2 –1   3 –4  
South Florida  2 –2   4 –4  
Navy  2 –2   3 –4  
North Texas  1 –2   3 –4  
Tulsa  1 –2   3 –4  
Charlotte  1 –2   2 –5  
UAB  1 –3   2 –6  
East Carolina  0 –3   1 –6  
Temple  0 –4   2 –6  
Championship: December 2, 2023
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
As of October 23, 2023
Rankings from AP Poll

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] Also on December 28 they added 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]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 23:00 p.m.California*
ESPNUL 21–5821,350
September 95:30 p.m.at FIU*
ESPN+L 39–4615,754
September 166:00 p.m.at Louisiana Tech*
ESPN+W 40–3717,434
September 306:00 p.m.Abilene Christian*
  • DATCU Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPN+W 45–3121,494
October 72:30 p.m.at Navy
CBSSNL 24–2728,648
October 1411:00 a.m.Temple
  • DATCU Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPNUW 45–1413,678
October 212:30 p.m.at No. 23 Tulane
ESPN2L 28–3530,000
October 282:00 p.m.Memphisdagger
  • DATCU Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPN+
November 42:00 p.m.UTSA
  • DATCU Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPN+
November 108:00 p.m.at SMU
ESPN2
November 18at Tulsa
November 25UAB
  • DATCU Stadium
  • Denton, TX

Game summaries

vs California
See also: 2023 California Golden Bears football team
California Golden Bears (0–0) vs North Texas Mean Green (0–0) — Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Golden Bears 14 19 151058
Mean Green 7 14 0021

at DATCU Stadium • Denton, TX

  • Date: September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 21,350
  • TV: 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 downs299
Plays–yards95-67953-225
Rushes–yards56-35727-41
Passing yards322184
Passing: comp–att–int27-39-115-26-3
Time of possession39:0720:53
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
California PassingBen Finley24/34, 289 yards, TD, INT
RushingJaydn Ott20 carries, 188 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJeremiah Hunter6 receptions, 64 yards, TD
North Texas PassingStone Earle12/19, 174 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingIsaiah Johnson6 carries, 34 yards
ReceivingJa'Mori Maclin4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD

at FIU
See also: 2023 FIU Panthers football team
North Texas Mean Green (0-1) at FIU Panthers (1-1) – Game Summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 10 10 71239
Panthers 7 10 21846

at Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, Florida

  • Date: September 9th
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m. PST
  • TV 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
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          North Texas Passing
          Rushing
          Receiving
          Florida International Passing
          Rushing
          Receiving

          at Louisiana Tech
          See also: 2023 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team

          vs Abilene Christian
          See also: 2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

          at Navy
          See also: 2023 Navy Midshipmen football team
          North Texas Mean Green (2-2) vs. Navy Midshipmen (1-3) – Game summary
          Period 1 2 34Total
          Mean Green 3 7 01424
          Midshipmen 0 13 7727

          at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland

          • Date: October 7th
          • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
          • Game weather: Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: W at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
          • Game attendance: 28,648
          • Referee: Tim Rich
          • TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadack (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)
          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 downs2321
          Plays–yards69–47368–406
          Rushes–yards36–20658–331
          Passing yards26775
          Passing: comp–att–int22–33–04–10–0
          Time of possession26:0533:55
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          North Texas PassingChandler Rogers22–32–0, 267 yards, TD
          RushingAyo Adeyi14 carries, 125 yards, TD
          ReceivingJa'Mori Maclin6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
          Navy PassingTai Lavatai4–8–0, 75 yards, TD
          RushingAlex Tecza17 carries, 137 yards, 2 TD
          ReceivingBrandon Chatman1 reception, 38 yards

          vs Temple
          See also: 2023 Temple Owls football team

          at No. 23 Tulane
          See also: 2023 Tulane Green Wave football team
          North Texas Mean Green (3–3) vs No. 23 Tulane Green Wave (5–1) – Game summary
          Period 1 2 34Total
          Mean Green 0 0 000
          No. 23 Green Wave 0 0 000

          at Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA

          Game information
          StatisticsUNTTUL
          First downs
          Total yards
          Rushing yards
          Passing yards
          Turnovers
          Time of possession
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          North TexasPassing
          Rushing
          Receiving
          TulanePassing
          Rushing
          Receiving

          vs UTSA
          See also: 2023 UTSA Roadrunners football team

          at SMU
          See also: 2023 SMU Mustangs football team and Safeway Bowl
          North Texas Mean Green at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
          Period 1 2 34Total
          Mean Green 0 0 000
          Mustangs 0 0 000

          at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas

          • Date: November 10
          • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
          • TV: ESPN2

          Statistics

          StatisticsUNTSMU
          First downs
          Total yards
          Rushing yards
          Passing yards
          Turnovers
          Time of possession
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          North TexasPassing
          Rushing
          Receiving
          SMUPassing
          Rushing
          Receiving

          at Tulsa
          See also: 2023 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

          vs UAB
          See also: 2023 UAB Blazers football team

          References
          1. Cruz, Alex (December 4, 2022). "North Texas fires football coach Seth Littrell after seven seasons". WFAA. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
          2. "Eric Morris Hired as 20th Head Football Coach". Mean Green Sports. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
          3. Eberts, Wescott. "North Texas hires Chris Gilbert as AHC/TEs coach". Burnt Orange Nation. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
          4. "Morris Finalizes Initial Group of Football Staff Hires". Mean Green Sports. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
          5. "Morris Adds Five more to Football Staff". Mean Green Sports. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
          6. Vito, Brett. "UNT set to add Clay Jennings, Demerick Gary to Eric Morris' first staff". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
          7. "2023 North Texas Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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