College football’s potential awesome story of ‘25 is ‘north’ of Texas

For one night, all of college football will care about what is happening at Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute.

Today, the big, state four-year school in Denton is known as the University of North Texas.

With the weather forecast for Friday evening in the “perfect” range, the night in Denton promises to be one of those events that makes college football what it is, and all of that money worth it.

UNT will host No. 24 South Florida on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at DATCU Stadium in Denton. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2; UNT is a 1.5-point favorite. At 5-0, UNT is off to its best start since 1959, when a team led by coach Odus Mitchell and running back Abner Haynes finished 9-2, with a Sun Bowl appearance.

South Florida at UNT has playoff implications. Said in your best Jim Mora voice, “PLAYOFFS?!”

A win over USF, and the Mean Green should be ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1959, when the team was in the Missouri Valley Conference. In the latest AP Poll, UNT received 16 votes, or two more than TCU, six more than Washington, and 15 more than Auburn.

Between the backgrounds of both quarterback Drew Mestemaker and head coach Eric Morris, the Mean Green is developing into college football’s annual awesome story. Every year there is one team that grabs everybody and makes you a fan, even if you don’t care.

Previous occupiers of this role have been Utah, Boise State, Houston, Baylor and TCU. Sometimes the story transcends traditional fandom. Even Longhorns and Aggies can agree that what UNT is doing is awesome.

To encourage its students to attend Friday night’s game, all classes scheduled after noon have been cancelled. On Thursday afternoon, the school announced that this is the first sellout since the 30,000-seat stadium opened in 2011.

Tickets on the secondary market were going for $40, together, in a stadium that is just the right size; there is no bad seat in the house. If you want the really good ones, those were available for $118.

You can bet all of your money that “Mean” Joe Greene, Dallas Mavericks play-by-play announcer Mark Followill, The Ticket personality George Dunham and probably Stone Cold Steve Austin will be watching, either in person or on TV. All of those men are UNT alums.

As college sports evolved, and the money went from expensive to government-level irresponsible, UNT is like the majority of those that play in the Division-I level of NCAA athletics where it’s doable, but tight.

A member of the American Athletic Conference, UNT is like the rest of its league members where the budgets are modest. Playing in this new NIL world means you’ve also inherited the role of developmental program for those that play, and can pay, in the Power Four.

With the population growth both in Denton and all over DFW, UNT was always thought to be one of those “This could be so much bigger” schools, and specifically athletic departments.

One year ago, UNT had a record 46,309 enrollment.

Athletically, UNT has had its moments, particularly its basketball program. In 2021, UNT basketball won its first NCAA Tournament game when as a 13-seed the Mean Green upset No. 4 seed Purdue.

When you type in “North Texas upsets Texas Tech in football,” Google’s AI answers, “North Texas did not upset Texas Tech in football. Texas Tech defeated North Texas 66-21 in 2024.”

AI here gets a big, red-Sharpie “Come See Me” F. North Texas did defeat Tech in Lubbock in 1999, one of the high points for that program for … a decade?

The football team’s 44-17 win at Arkansas in 2018 drew national attention during a season where coach Seth Littrell won nine games for the second consecutive season. The program has also reached some conference title games, and bowl games.

None of these accomplishments would come close to doing what an undefeated run into November would do for North Texas. A flirt with a playoff berth is a jet-fuel injector of interest, donations and applications that is the dream of all schools that play Division-I football.

In this playoff format, a Group of Five team is guaranteed one spot. Last year, it was Boise State.

The highest ranked G5 team currently is fellow AAC member, No. 23 Memphis. The Tigers are 6-0, and their win over Arkansas is what led to coach Sam Pittman’s firing.

UNT’s regular season AAC schedule does not include Memphis, but does have 5-0 Navy. After Friday night, two of UNT’s six remaining opponents have winning records.

Much needs to be done, and to go right, for the Mean Green to make it into the playoff chat room, but for the first time it’s possible for the University of North Texas.