# 2024 North Texas Mean Green football team

The 2024 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mean Green were led by Eric Morris in his second year as the head coach. The Mean Green played their home games at DATCU Stadium, located in Denton, Texas.

## Preseason
### AAC media poll

The American Athletic Conference released its media prediction poll on July 23, 2024. The Mean Green were predicted to finish ninth in the conference.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Memphis | 409 (23) |
| 2 | UTSA | 368 (4) |
| 3 | Tulane | 362 (2) |
| 4 | South Florida | 339 |
| 5 | Army | 236 (1) |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic | 228 |
| 7 | East Carolina | 219 |
| 7 | Rice | 219 |
| 9 | North Texas | 216 |
| 10 | UAB | 192 |
| 11 | Navy | 150 |
| 12 | Tulsa | 95 |
| 13 | Charlotte | 77 |
| 14 | Temple | 40 |

## Schedule

North Texas and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2024 football schedule on February 29, 2024.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. | at South Alabama* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | W 52–38 | 15,559 |
| September 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin* | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 35–20 | 23,510 |
| September 14 | 11:00 a.m. | at Texas Tech* | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX | FS1 | L 21–66 | 57,865 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Wyoming* | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 44–17 | 27,049 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Tulsa | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 52–20 | 18,529 |
| October 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | ESPN2 | W 41–37 | 14,576 |
| October 19 | 6:30 p.m. | at Memphis | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 44–52 | 24,110 |
| October 26 | 11:00 a.m. | Tulane | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN2 | L 37–45 | 23,138 |
| November 9 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 25 Army | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN2 | L 3–14 | 28,519 |
| November 15 | 7:00 p.m. | at UTSA | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | ESPN2 | L 27–48 | 21,350 |
| November 23 | 2:30 p.m. | East Carolina | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | L 28–40 | 17,387 |
| November 30 | 11:00 a.m. | at Temple | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | ESPN+ | W 24–17 | 11,589 |
| January 3, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Texas State | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX (First Responder Bowl) | ESPN | L 28–30 | 28,725 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 5) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### at South Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 28 | 10 | 52 |
| Jaguars | 3 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 38 |
at Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, Alabama
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: SE at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 15,559
* Referee: Edwin Lee
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Pat Greenwood (play-by-play) and Brian Genard (analyst)
| Statistics | UNT | USA |
| First downs | 28 | 29 |
| Plays–yards | 76–550 | 82–582 |
| Rushes–yards | 34–104 | 33–150 |
| Passing yards | 446 | 432 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–42–0 | 26–49–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:32 | 30:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 32/41, 415 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Ikaika Ragsdale | 14 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 12 receptions, 230 yards, 2 TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | Gio Lopez | 26/49, 432 yards, 3 TD |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Gio Lopez | 13 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jamaal Pritchett | 10 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD |

### Stephen F. Austin (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks (FCS) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Mean Green | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: W at 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
* Game attendance: 23,510
* Referee: Reid Jackson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Peter Sousa (play-by-play), Doc Holliday (analyst)
| Statistics | SFA | UNT |
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 70–248 | 77–504 |
| Rushes–yards | 31–67 | 33–182 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 322 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–39–1 | 26–44–3 |
| Time of possession | 26:08 | 33:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/39, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 12 carries, 44 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 9 receptions, 74 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 26/44, 322 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Damashja Harris | 10 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | DT Sheffield | 6 receptions, 74 yards, 3 TD |

### at Texas Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Red Raiders | 17 | 35 | 7 | 7 | 66 |
at Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, Texas
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: SW at 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
* Game attendance: 57,865
* Referee: Tutashinda Salaam
* TV announcers (FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
| Statistics | UNT | TTU |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 64–353 | 71–586 |
| Rushes–yards | 34–135 | 37–232 |
| Passing yards | 218 | 354 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–30–3 | 24–34–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:29 | 32:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 15/27, 162 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 7 carries, 31 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Miles Coleman | 3 receptions, 75 yards |
| Texas Tech | Passing | Behren Morton | 15/19, 273 yards, 4 TD |
| Texas Tech | Rushing | Tahj Brooks | 17 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Tech | Receiving | Coy Eakin | 1 reception, 70 yards, 1 TD |

### Wyoming

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 20 | 14 | 3 | 44 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 94 °F (34 °C)
* Game attendance: 27,049
* Referee: Charles Lamertina
* TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)
| Statistics | WYO | UNT |
| First downs | 15 | 28 |
| Plays–yards | 60–244 | 75–534 |
| Rushes–yards | 32–69 | 32–216 |
| Passing yards | 175 | 318 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–28–0 | 30–43–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:13 | 31:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wyoming | Passing | Evan Svoboda | 11/23, 155 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Sam Scott | 11 carries, 39 yards |
| Wyoming | Receiving | John Michael Gyllenborg | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 28/41, 305 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 13 carries, 120 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | DT Sheffield | 8 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD |

### Tulsa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Hurricane | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
| Mean Green | 0 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 52 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: September 28
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: S at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
* Game attendance: 18,529
* Referee: Steven Anderson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst) and Smacker Miles (sideline)
| Statistics | TLSA | UNT |
| First downs | 27 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 91–415 | 60–618 |
| Rushes–yards | 47–229 | 26–179 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 439 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–44–2 | 22–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 36:35 | 23:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulsa | Passing | Kirk Francis | 13/29, 101 yards, 2 INT |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Bill Jackson | 16 carries, 77 yards |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Kamdyn Benjamin | 7 receptions, 68 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 22/34, 439 yards, 5 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Makenzie McGill II | 5 carries, 70 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Blair Conwright | 2 receptions, 115 yards, TD |

### at Florida Atlantic

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 14 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
| Owls | 7 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
at FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 14,576
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst) and Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline)
| Statistics | UNT | FAU |
| First downs | 26 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 71–484 | 74–519 |
| Rushes–yards | 26–148 | 43–168 |
| Passing yards | 336 | 351 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 27–45–1 | 22–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 23:50 | 36:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 27/45, 336 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 9 carries, 70 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | DT Sheffield | 11 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | Cam Fancher | 22/30, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | CJ Campbell Jr. | 18 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | Omari Hayes | 5 receptions, 89 yards, TD |

### at Memphis

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 21 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 44 |
| Tigers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 52 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Wind: E 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 24,110
* Referee: Tim Rich
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Noah Reed (play-by-play) and Craig Haubert (analyst)
| Statistics | UNT | MEM |
| First downs | 32 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 97–653 | 70–526 |
| Rushes–yards | 33–208 | 32–207 |
| Passing yards | 445 | 319 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 36–64–1 | 24–38–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:50 | 32:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 36/61, 445 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Chandler Morris | 10 carries, 71 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | DT Sheffield | 8 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 24/38, 319 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Mario Anderson Jr. | 22 carries, 183 yards, 4 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | DeMeer Blankumsee | 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

### Tulane

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Green Wave | 21 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Mean Green | 3 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 37 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: S 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 23,138
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (sideline)
| Statistics | TULN | UNT |
| First downs | 21 | 28 |
| Plays–yards | 60–472 | 82–525 |
| Rushes–yards | 47–297 | 25–76 |
| Passing yards | 175 | 449 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–13–1 | 38–57–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:59 | 29:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulane | Passing | Darian Mensah | 10/13, 175 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Tulane | Rushing | Makhi Hughes | 30 carries, 195 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 3 receptions, 92 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 38/57, 449 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Chandler Morris | 6 carries, 20 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | DT Sheffield | 9 receptions, 125 yards, TD |

### No. 25 Army

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Black Knights | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Mean Green | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: W 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
* Game attendance: 28,519
* Referee: Edwin Lee
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | ARMY | UNT |
| First downs | 23 | 18 |
| Plays–yards | 68–308 | 55–283 |
| Rushes–yards | 64–293 | 18–69 |
| Passing yards | 15 | 214 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 2–4–1 | 24–37–2 |
| Time of possession | 41:37 | 18:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Army | Passing | Bryson Daily | 2/4, 15 yards, INT |
| Army | Rushing | Bryson Daily | 36 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD |
| Army | Receiving | Josh Horton | 1 reception, 8 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 24/37, 214 yards, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 6 carries, 33 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 63 yards |

### at UTSA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 27 |
| Roadrunners | 14 | 13 | 3 | 18 | 48 |
at Alamodome • San Antonio, Texas
* Date: November 15
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 21,350
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
| Statistics | UNT | UTSA |
| First downs | 20 | 30 |
| Plays–yards | 61–480 | 91–681 |
| Rushes–yards | 25–239 | 48–302 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 379 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–2 | 29–43–1 |
| Time of possession | 20:44 | 39:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 21/36, 241 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 13 carries, 193 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 85 yards |
| UTSA | Passing | Owen McCown | 29/43, 379 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Robert Henry | 20 carries, 168 yards, 2 TD |
| UTSA | Receiving | David Amador II | 9 receptions, 122 yards, TD |

### East Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 0 | 7 | 24 | 9 | 40 |
| Mean Green | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, Texas
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: S 11 miles per hour (18 km/h)
* Game attendance: 17,387
* Referee: Charles Lamertina
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play), LaDarrin McLane (analyst) and Smacker Miles (sideline)
| Statistics | ECU | UNT |
| First downs | 26 | 30 |
| Plays–yards | 81–553 | 84–447 |
| Rushes–yards | 57–255 | 36–181 |
| Passing yards | 298 | 266 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–24–1 | 32–48–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:33 | 31:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| East Carolina | Passing | Katin Houser | 16/23, 298 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| East Carolina | Rushing | Rahjai Harris | 24 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD |
| East Carolina | Receiving | Anthony Smith | 4 receptions, 121 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 32/48, 266 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Shane Porter | 17 carries, 74 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 5 receptions, 68 yards |

### at Temple

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Owls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: November 30
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Joe Tordy (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst) and Maria Trivelpiece (sideline)
| Statistics | UNT | TEM |
| First downs | | |
| Plays–yards | – | – |
| Rushes–yards | – | – |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | –– | –– |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
| Temple | Passing |
| Temple | Rushing |
| Temple | Receiving |

### Texas State (First Responder Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Bobcats | 6 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, Texas
* Date: Friday, January 3, 2025
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 28,725
* Referee: Greg Sujack
* TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| Statistics | UNT | TXST |
| First downs | 22 | 26 |
| Total yards | 491 | 508 |
| Rushing yards | 98 | 201 |
| Passing yards | 393 | 307 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–41–2 | 26–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 22:13 | 37:47 |
| Team | Category |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
| Texas State | Passing |
| Texas State | Rushing |
| Texas State | Receiving |