2021 Frisco Football Classic

The 2021 Frisco Football Classic was a college football bowl game played on December 23, 2021, in Frisco, Texas,[3] with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT local time), televised on ESPN.[4] It was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season.

This article is about the one-off bowl game played in December 2021. For the December 2021 edition of the annual Frisco Bowl, see 2021 Frisco Bowl.

2021 Frisco Football Classic
1st Frisco Football Classic
North Texas Mean Green Miami RedHawks
(6–6) (6–6)
C–USA MAC
14 27
Head coach: 
Seth Littrell		 Head coach: 
Chuck Martin
1234 Total
North Texas 7700 14
Miami 101070 27
DateDecember 23, 2021
Season2021
StadiumToyota Stadium
LocationFrisco, Texas
MVPBrett Gabbert (QB, Miami) & Jacquez Warren (DB, Miami)[1]
FavoriteMiami by 3.5
RefereeMarshall Lewis (Sun Belt) [2]
Attendance11,721
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersClay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Brazil
AnnouncersMatheus Suman (play-by-play) and Antony Curti (analyst)

The NCAA approved the bowl game in order to accommodate all 83 bowl-eligible teams; otherwise, one bowl-eligible team would not have been selected for a bowl game.[lower-alpha 1] The added bowl game essentially served as a replacement for the canceled San Francisco Bowl.[6]

Teams

The game features teams from the Group of Five conferences.[7] This was the first time that North Texas and Miami University ever played each other.[8]

North Texas Mean Green
Main article: 2021 North Texas Mean Green football team

North Texas, from Conference USA (C–USA), finished the regular season 6–6, 5–3 in conference play. The Mean Green won their season opener against Northwestern State, 44–14, but then lost the next six games, dropping to 1–6. North Texas then went on to win its next five games, including upset victories over UTEP and a 45–23 victory over then-undefeated #22 UTSA in the regular season finale, handing UTSA its first loss of the season.

Miami RedHawks
Main article: 2021 Miami RedHawks football team

Miami, from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), finished the regular season 6–6, 5–3 in conference play. In the team's regular season finale, the RedHawks had a chance to play in the MAC Championship Game by defeating Kent State. Miami trailed 31–41 with 11:17 left in regulation, coming back to tie the game 41–41 to send it to overtime. Kent State went on offense first, scoring a touchdown and making the point after attempt. The RedHawks would score a touchdown and attempted a two-point conversion pass, but the pass was incomplete. Miami lost 47–48, sending Kent State to the conference championship game.

Game summary
2021 Frisco Football Classic
Period 1 2 34Total
North Texas 7 7 0014
Miami 10 10 7027

at Toyota Stadium • Frisco, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • 12:27 MIA – Graham Nicholson 48-yard field goal. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 1:22. Miami 3–0
  • 8:06 UNT – Isaiah Johnson 1-yard run, Ethan Mooney kick good. Drive 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:21. North Texas 7–3
  • 3:59 MIA – Kenny Tracy 8-yard run, Graham Nicholson kick good. Drive 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:03. Miami 10–7
Second quarter
  • 11:32 UNT – Austin Aune 2-yard run, Ethan Mooney kick good. Drive 10 plays, 90 yards, 3:21. North Texas 14–10
  • 6:52 MIA – Graham Nicholson 36-yard field goal. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:40. North Texas 14–13
  • 4:08 MIA – Kevin Davis 5-yard pass from Brett Gabbert, Graham Nicholson kick good. 4 plays, 30 yards, 1:56. Miami 20–14
Third quarter
  • 11:31 MIA – Nate Muersch 11-yard pass from Brett Gabbert, Graham Nicholson kick good. 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:29. Miami 27–14
Fourth quarter
no scoring plays

Statistics
Statistics UNT MIA
First downs1827
Plays–yards63–31779–426
Rushes–yards32–8948–198
Passing yards228228
Passing: comp–att–int15–32–222–31–0
Time of possession21:3938:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North Texas PassingAustin Aune15/32, 228 yards, 2 INT
RushingAustin Aune9 carries, 28 yards, TD
ReceivingRoderic Burns4 receptions, 87 yards
Miami PassingBrett Gabbert22/31, 228 yards, 2 TD
RushingKenny Tracy14 carries, 92 yards, TD
ReceivingJack Sorenson7 receptions, 116 yards

See also

Notes
  1. There were 83 teams that finished bowl-eligible, plus Hawaii, who compiled six wins in a 13-game schedule and would be selected ahead of any five-win team.[5]

References
  1. "Gabbert leads Miami (Ohio) to Frisco Football Classic win". Texarkana Gazette. AP. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  2. "2021-22 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  3. McMurphy, Brett (December 2, 2021). "Brett McMurphy's Updated CFB Bowl Projections". Action Network. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  4. McMurphy, Brett (December 2, 2021). "Sources: NCAA to Add New Bowl Game in Texas". Action Network. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  5. "Waiver approved for replacement bowl game". bowlseason.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021. Hawaii is an alternate ahead of any 5-7 teams because it participated in 13 regular-season contests and finished the season with six wins that count toward meeting the definition of a 'deserving team.'
  6. Russo, Ralh D. (December 3, 2021). "NCAA approves late addition to bowl lineup, 42nd game". Houston Chronicle. AP. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  7. Kelley, Kevin (December 2, 2021). "NCAA adds 42nd game to 2021-22 bowl schedule, per report". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  8. "Winsipedia - Miami (OH) vs. North Texas". Winsipedia.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
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