# 2013 North Texas Mean Green football team

The 2013 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by third-year head coach Dan McCarney and played its home games at Apogee Stadium. It was the Mean Green's first season as members of Conference USA, competing in the West Division. The team earned a 9–4 record (6-2 in conference) and won the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Additionally, it set a school record for average home attendance per game at 21,030. The defense was notable for being statistically the best second half defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It received two top 25 votes in the Coaches' Poll to end the season.
The team began the season with a 2–3 record in its first five games before going on a five-game winning streak, culminating in a win against the Rice Owls, which was televised on Fox Sports 1. After losing to the UTSA Roadrunners, the Mean Green were eliminated from conference championship contention. After defeating the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to end the regular season, the Mean Green defeated the UNLV Rebels in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The bowl game win gave the Mean Green their best season and first bowl win since 2002 and their first winning season since 2004.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 pm | Idaho* | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | NTTV | W 40–6 | 21,975 |
| September 7 | 6:00 pm | at Ohio* | Peden StadiumAthens, OH | ESPN3 | L 21–27 | 24,511 |
| September 14 | 3:00 pm | Ball State* | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | FSN | W 34–27 | 14,747 |
| September 21 | 11:21 am | at No. 9 Georgia* | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA | SECTV | L 21–45 | 92,746 |
| October 5 | 2:30 pm | at Tulane | Mercedes–Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | FCS | L 21–24 | 20,734 |
| October 12 | 6:00 pm | Middle Tennessee | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | NTTV | W 34–7 | 21,171 |
| October 19 | 2:30 pm | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | CBSSN | W 28–13 | 20,317 |
| October 26 | 6:00 pm | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | FCS | W 55–14 | 23,203 |
| October 31 | 6:30 pm | Rice | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | FS1 | W 28–16 | 22,835 |
| November 9 | 2:30 pm | UTEP | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | CSS/TWCSC | W 41–7 | 26,119 |
| November 23 | 2:30 pm | UTSA | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | TWCSC | L 13–21 | 19,335 |
| November 30 | 1:30 pm | at Tulsa | Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | FSN | W 42–10 | 17,792 |
| January 1, 2014 | 11:00 am | vs. UNLV* | Cotton BowlDallas, TX (Heart of Dallas Bowl) | ESPNU | W 36–14 | 38,380 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP PollAll times are in Central time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Idaho

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vandals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mean Green | 14 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 103 °F (39 °C)
* Game attendance: 21,975
* Referee: Jerry Banks
* TV: NTTV
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | IDHO | UNT |
| First downs | 14 | 27 |
| Total yards | 369 | 591 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 404 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:41 | 31:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Idaho | Passing | Chad Chalich | 19/27, 230 yards, TD |
| Idaho | Rushing | Jerrel Brown | 6 rushes, 70 yards |
| Idaho | Receiving | Dezmon Epps | 8 receptions, 94 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 23/27, 349 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 7 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Brelan Chancellor | 6 receptions, 135 yards, TD |

### At Ohio

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Bobcats | 7 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
at Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Clear, 77 °F (25 °C)
* Game attendance: 24,511
* Referee: Steve Barth
* TV: ESPN3
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNT | OHIO |
| First downs | 14 | 20 |
| Total yards | 299 | 442 |
| Rushing yards | 104 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 40:26 | 32:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 19/29, 195 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Antoinne Jimmerson | 12 rushes, 35 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Darnell Smith | 9 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
| Ohio | Passing | Tyler Tettleton | 19/30, 239 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Ohio | Rushing | Ryan Boykin | 19 rushes, 93 yards |
| Ohio | Receiving | Chase Cochran | 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD |

### Ball State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Mean Green | 3 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 34 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 90 °F (32 °C)
* Game attendance: 14,747
* Referee: Mark Klucznski
* TV: FSN
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | BALL | UNT |
| First downs | 19 | 31 |
| Total yards | 496 | 505 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 231 |
| Passing yards | 333 | 274 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 22:24 | 37:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ball State | Passing | Keith Wenning | 27/46, 333 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Horactio Banks | 11 rushes, 141 yards, TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jamill Smith | 4 receptions, 115 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 31/47, 274 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 18 rushes, 79 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Brelan Chancellor | 9 receptions, 88 yards, TD |

### At No. 9 Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| No. 9 Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 45 |
at Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 11:21 a.m. CDT/12:21 p.m. EDT
* Game attendance: 92,746
* TV: SECTV
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNT | UGA |
| First downs | 13 | 26 |
| Total yards | 245 | 641 |
| Rushing yards | 7 | 191 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 450 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:28 | 31:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 21/36, 202 yards, TD, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 11 rushes, 23 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Reggie Pegram | 4 receptions, 53 yards |
| Georgia | Passing | Aaron Murray | 22/30, 408 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Georgia | Rushing | Todd Gurley | 21 rushes, 91 yards, TD |
| Georgia | Receiving | Reggie Davis | 2 receptions, 134 yards, TD |

### At Tulane

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Green Wave | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
at Mercedes–Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 20,734
* Referee: Brad Rogers
* TV: FCS
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNT | TULN |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 360 | 227 |
| Rushing yards | 34 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 326 | 132 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:44 | 32:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 29/42, 326 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Derek Thompson | 6 rushes, 19 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Darnell Smith | 8 receptions, 130 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Passing | Nick Montana | 18/28, 132 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Rushing | Orleans Darkwa | 16 rushes, 44 yards |
| Tulane | Receiving | Ryan Grant | 7 receptions, 60 yards |

### Middle Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Overcast, 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 21,171
* Referee: Wayne Winkler
* TV: NTTV
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MT | UNT |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 205 | 416 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 303 |
| Passing yards | 66 | 113 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 22:11 | 37:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Austin Grammer | 6/22, 36 yards, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Austin Grammer | 15 rushes, 106 yards, TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Chris Perkins | 5 receptions, 33 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 13/19, 113 yards, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 20 rushes, 139 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Darnell Smith | 5 receptions, 44 yards |

### At Louisiana Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Overcast, 64 °F (18 °C), NNW 11 miles per hour (18 km/h)
* Game attendance: 20,317
* Referee: Brad Rogers
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Brad Johansen (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst), Rashan Ali (sideline)
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNT | LT |
| First downs | 20 | 20 |
| Total yards | 386 | 404 |
| Rushing yards | 165 | 37 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 367 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:51 | 27:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 16/24, 221 yards, TD, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 14 carries, 71 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Brelan Chancellor | 5 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Ryan Higgins | 36/54, 343 yards, 2 INT |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Kenneth Dixon | 12 carries, 25 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Andrew Guillot | 10 receptions, 99 yards |

### At Southern Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 13 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 55 |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 23,203
* Referee: Clay Martin
* TV: FCS
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNT | USM |
| First downs | 30 | 10 |
| Total yards | 529 | 249 |
| Rushing yards | 229 | 39 |
| Passing yards | 300 | 210 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 41:51 | 18:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 18/27, 300 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Reggie Pegram | 19 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Brelan Chancellor | 4 receptions, 127 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Nick Mullins | 12/31, 210 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | George Payne | 9 rushes, 44 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Dominique Sullivan | 2 receptions, 97 yards, TD |

### Rice

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: October 31
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 69 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 22,835
* Referee: Chris Snead
* TV: FS1
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Rice | Passing |
| Rice | Rushing |
| Rice | Receiving |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
With the win, the Mean Green became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2004 season.

### UTEP

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Mean Green | 14 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 41 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 26,119
* TV: CSS/TWCSC
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |

### UTSA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Roadrunners | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Mean Green | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
at Apogee Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 19,335
* TV: TWCS
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UTSA | Passing |
| UTSA | Rushing |
| UTSA | Receiving |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |

### At Tulsa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Golden Hurricane | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Chapman Stadium
* Date: November 30
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 17,792
* TV: FSN
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
| Tulsa | Passing |
| Tulsa | Rushing |
| Tulsa | Receiving |

### Vs. UNLV (Heart of Dallas Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rebels | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 36 |
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
* Date: January 1, 2014
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 38,380
* Referee: Ron Snodgrass
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb, and Dawn Davenport
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UNLV | UNT |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 262 | 397 |
| Rushing yards | 66 | 141 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 256 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:44 | 35:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UNLV | Passing | Caleb Herring | 22/41, 196 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UNLV | Rushing | Caleb Herring | 15 rushes, 33 yards |
| UNLV | Receiving | Devante Davis | 10 receptions, 96 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 21/30, 256 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Brandin Byrd | 20 rushes, 52 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Darnell Smith | 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD |