# 2021 North Texas Mean Green football team

The 2021 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mean Green played their home games at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA).
The Mean Green started the season 1–6 before winning five games in a row, including upset victories over UTEP and then-undefeated #22 UTSA, to finish the regular season at 6–6, 5–3 in C-USA play. The team was invited to the inaugural Frisco Football Classic, losing 14–27 to the Miami RedHawks.

## Preseason
### C-USA media days

The Mean Green were predicted to finish in sixth place in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.
Media poll (West Division) :
| Predicted finish | Team |
| 1 | UAB |
| 2 | UTSA |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech |
| 4 | Southern Miss |
| 5 | Rice |
| 6 | North Texas |
| 7 | UTEP |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Northwestern State* | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN3 | W 44–14 | 18,716 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at SMU* | Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX (Safeway Bowl) | ESPN+ | L 12–35 | 29,121 |
| September 18 | 6:30 p.m. | UAB | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | Stadium | L 6–40 | 17,731 |
| September 25 | 6:30 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | Stadium | L 17–24 | 15,488 |
| October 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at Missouri* | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | L 35–48 | 46,985 |
| October 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Marshall | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | CBSSN | L 21–49 | 13,123 |
| October 23 | 3:00 p.m. | Liberty* | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | L 26–35 | 13,454 |
| October 30 | 1:00 p.m. | at Rice | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN3 | W 30–24 $^{OT}$ | 17,354 |
| November 6 | 2:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | W 38–14 | 22,478 |
| November 13 | 3:00 p.m. | UTEP | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 20–17 | 20,056 |
| November 20 | 6:00 p.m. | at FIU | Riccardo Silva StadiumMiami, FL | ESPN3 | W 49–7 | 0 |
| November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 22 UTSA | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 45–23 | 16,933 |
| December 23 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Miami (OH)* | Toyota StadiumFrisco, TX (Frisco Football Classic) | ESPN | L 14–27 | 11,721 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Northwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 44 |
| Statistics | NWST | UNT |
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 418 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 345 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 182 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:49 | 27:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Kaleb Fletcher | 13/22, 134 yards, TD, INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Scooter Adams | 12 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Kendrick Price | 1 reception, 65 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Rudder | 10/21, 131 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 25 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 6 receptions, 114 yards, TD |

### At SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –22.5 | 75 |
| Statistics | UNT | SMU |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 506 | 536 |
| Rushing yards | 122 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 384 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 36:06 | 23:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Rudder | 32/51, 366 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 16 rushes, 71 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 12 receptions, 141 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 21/33, 311 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 10 rushes, 141 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Rashee Rice | 4 receptions, 99 yards, TD |

### UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blazers | 17 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 40 |
| Mean Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Statistics | UAB | UNT |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 407 | 220 |
| Rushing yards | 173 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 99 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:06 | 27:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UAB | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 6/7, 202 yards, 3 TD |
| UAB | Rushing | Jermaine Brown Jr. | 16 rushes, 58 yards |
| UAB | Receiving | Gerrit Prince | 3 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 8/21, 65 yards |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 24 rushes, 82 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 2 receptions, 21 yards |

### At Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Statistics | UNT | LT |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 333 | 286 |
| Rushing yards | 241 | 79 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 207 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:25 | 30:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 12/27, 79 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 26 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Jason Pirtle | 4 receptions, 26 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Aaron Allen | 14/18, 137 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 17 rushes, 73 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Samuel Emilus | 2 receptions, 69 yards, TD |

### At Missouri

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
| Tigers | 14 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 48 |
| Statistics | UNT | MIZ |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 493 | 474 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 306 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 168 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:12 | 31:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/26, 305 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 24 rushes, 85 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 2 receptions, 81 yards, TD |
| Missouri | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 22/33, 168 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Rushing | Tyler Badie | 17 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | J. J. Hester | 1 reception, 41 yards, TD |

### Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thundering Herd | 14 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 49 |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Statistics | MRSH | UNT |
| First downs | 24 | 18 |
| Total yards | 477 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 277 |
| Passing yards | 323 | 134 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:14 | 27:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Marshall | Passing | Grant Wells | 24/32, 323 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 20 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Marshall | Receiving | Xavier Gaines | 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/31, 121 yards, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 20 rushes, 179 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Jason Pirtle | 5 receptions, 35 yards |

### Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 26 |
| Statistics | LIB | UNT |
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 350 | 454 |
| Rushing yards | 45 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 212 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:10 | 35:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 12/18, 217 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | T. J. Green | 5 rushes, 25 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | C. J. Daniels | 7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 22/35, 212 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Ayo Adeyi | 16 rushes, 99 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 57 yards |

### At Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Mean Green | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Owls | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Statistics | UNT | RICE |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 314 | 368 |
| Rushing yards | 193 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 121 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 21:21 | 38:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 11/22, 121 yards |
| North Texas | Rushing | Austin Aune | 6 rushes, 65 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Bryson Jackson | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
| Rice | Passing | Jake Constantin | 16/30, 242 yards, 2 TD |
| Rice | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 14 rushes, 47 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 10 receptions, 143 yards, TD |

### At Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 21 | 10 | 38 |
| Golden Eagles | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | UNT | USM |
| First downs | 25 | 11 |
| Total yards | 537 | 229 |
| Rushing yards | 321 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:14 | 25:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/30, 216 yards, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Isaiah Johnson | 17 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Detraveon Brown | 4 receptions, 85 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 17/25, 116 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 12 rushes, 82 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD |

### UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Mean Green | 0 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
| Statistics | UTEP | UNT |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 382 | 423 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 240 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:45 | 30:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 15/29, 273 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 17 rushes, 85 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 5 receptions, 174 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 15/33, 240 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 18 rushes, 81 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD |

### At FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | UNT | FIU |
| First downs | 25 | 12 |
| Total yards | 611 | 245 |
| Rushing yards | 378 | 58 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:11 | 28:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 6/12, 219 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 18 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 3 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 15/32, 167 yards, TD, INT |
| FIU | Rushing | Shaun Peterson Jr. | 5 rushes, 30 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Tyrese Chambers | 3 receptions, 79 yards, TD |

### No. 22 UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Roadrunners | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| Mean Green | 17 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Statistics | UTSA | UNT |
| First downs | 16 | 27 |
| Total yards | 366 | 456 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 340 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Eddie Lee Marburger | 2/4, 74 yards, TD |
| UTSA | Rushing | Frank Harris | 10 rushes, 97 yards, TD |
| UTSA | Receiving | Tre'Von Bradley | 1 reception, 67 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 10/17, 116 yards |
| North Texas | Rushing | Ikaika Ragsdale | 20 rushes, 146 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Khatib Lyles | 3 receptions, 50 yards |

### Vs. Miami (OH) (Frisco Football Classic)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| RedHawks | 10 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| Statistics | UNT | MIA |
| First downs | 18 | 26 |
| Total yards | 317 | 431 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 21:39 | 38:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 15/32, 228 yards, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Austin Aune | 9 rushes, 28 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 4 receptions, 87 yards |
| Miami | Passing | Brett Gabbert | 22/31, 228 yards, 2 TD |
| Miami | Rushing | Kenny Tracy | 14 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| Miami | Receiving | Jack Sorenson | 7 receptions, 116 yards |