2016 North Texas Mean Green football team

The 2016 North Texas Mean Green football team represented University of North Texas in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mean Green played their home games at the Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by first-year head coach Seth Littrell. They finished the season 5–8, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. Because there were not enough 6-win bowl eligible teams, they received a bowl invitation as a 5–7 team with the highest APR score. They were invited to the Heart of Dallas Bowl where they lost to Army in overtime.

2016 North Texas Mean Green football
Heart of Dallas Bowl, L 31–38 OT vs. Army
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionWest Division
Record5–8 (3–5 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGraham Harrell (1st season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorMike Ekeler (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumApogee Stadium
Seasons
← 2015
2017 →
2016 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Western Kentucky xy$   7 1     11 3  
Old Dominion x   7 1     10 3  
Middle Tennessee   5 3     8 5  
FIU   4 4     4 8  
Charlotte   3 5     4 8  
Marshall   2 6     3 9  
Florida Atlantic   2 6     3 9  
West Division
Louisiana Tech xy   6 2     9 5  
UTSA   5 3     6 7  
Southern Miss   4 4     7 6  
North Texas   3 5     5 8  
Rice   2 6     3 9  
UTEP   2 6     4 8  
Championship: Western Kentucky 58, Louisiana Tech 44
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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North Texas announced its 2016 football schedule on February 4, 2016. The 2016 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Mean Green will host C–USA foes Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, and Southern Miss, and will travel to Rice, UTEP, UTSA, and Western Kentucky (WKU).[1]

The team will play four non–conference games, two home games against Bethune-Cookman from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and SMU from the American Athletic Conference, and two road games against Army and Florida from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 p.m.SMU*ASNL 21–3424,718
September 106:00 p.m.Bethune-Cookman*
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
CUSA.tvW 41–2015,609
September 176:30 p.m.at No. 23 Florida*ESPNUL 0–3286,848
September 245:00 p.m.at RiceCUSA.tvW 42–35 2OT20,792
October 16:00 p.m.Middle Tennessee
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
CIL 13–3019,823
October 86:00 p.m.Marshall
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ASNW 38–2118,216
October 2211:00 a.m.at Army*CBSSNW 35–1831,127
October 296:00 p.m.at UTSACUSA.tvL 17–3119,553
November 54:30 p.m.Louisiana Tech 
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPN3L 24–4521,643
November 122:30 p.m.at WKUESPN3L 7–4516,239
November 194:30 p.m.Southern Miss
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
beINW 29–2319,120
November 263:00 p.m.at UTEPCUSA.tvL 24–5218,591
December 2711:00 a.m.vs. Army*ESPNL 31–38 OT39,117
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
  • All times are in Central time
Schedule Source:[2]

Game summaries

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SMU Mustangs vs North Texas Mean Green – Game summary [3]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
SMU 17 7 10034
North Texas 0 14 0721

at Apogee StadiumDenton, Texas

  • Date: September 3, 2016
  • Game time: 06:06 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: 12 E • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 24,718
  • Referee: Referee: Tracy Jones, *Umpire: Nick Pergine* Linesman: Lyndell Shelton* Line Judge: Colin Gaynor* Back Judge: Jim Downey* Field Judge: Jim Smith* Side Judge: Matt Waldron*
  • TV: ASN
Game information

Bethune–Cookman

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Bethune–Cookman Panthers vs North Texas Mean Green – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 7 0 6720
Mean Green 7 17 10741

at Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas

  • Date: September 10, 2016
  • Game time: 06:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 15,609
  • TV: CUSA.TV
Game information

After falling to FCS Portland State 66–7 the previous season, the Mean Green soundly beat FCS Bethune–Cookman 41–20. Mason Fine entered the game as North Texas's quarterback midway through the 3rd quarter following an Alec Morris interception that was returned for a touchdown. Fine would later be named as the starter for the Mean Green.

At Florida

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North Texas Mean Green at #23 Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 0 0 000
#23 Gators 5 14 01332

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 17, 2016
  • Game time: 06:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy, 73% humidity
  • Game attendance: 86,848
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick and Dusty Dvoracek
Game information

At Rice

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North Texas Mean Green at Rice Owls – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OT2OTTotal
Mean Green 0 14 777742
Owls 10 7 387035

at Rice StadiumHouston, Texas

  • Date: September 24, 2016
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 20,792
  • TV: CUSA.TV
Game information

The Mean Green traveled to Houston to open up conference play against the Rice Owls. UNT won over Rive 42–35 in double overtime after trailing 17–0. With the win, the Mean Green improved to an overall record of 2–2, and surpassed their win total from the previous season.

Middle Tennessee

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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at North Texas Mean Green – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Blue Raiders 0 13 71030
Mean Green 7 0 0613

at Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas

  • Date: October 1, 2016
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 19,823
  • TV: CI
Game information

Marshall

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Marshall Thundering Herd at North Texas Mean Green – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thundering Herd 7 0 14021
Mean Green 7 7 141038

at Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas

  • Date: October 8, 2016
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 18,216
  • TV: ASN
Game information

Marshall entered the game with a 76.6% win probability against North Texas, but the Mean Green came out on top over the Thundering Herd with a 38–21 victory.[4] This is North Texas's first ever win over Marshall.

At Army

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North Texas Mean Green at Army Black Knights – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 14 0 14735
Black Knights 7 3 8018

at Michie StadiumWest Point, NY

Game information

At UTSA

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North Texas Mean Green at UTSA Roadrunners – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 0 0 71017
Roadrunners 7 7 10731

at AlamodomeSan Antonio, Texas

  • Date: October 29, 2016
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 19,553
  • TV: CUSA.tv
Game information

Louisiana Tech

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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at North Texas Mean Green – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 14 17 7745
Mean Green 7 14 3024

at Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas

  • Date: November 5, 2016
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 21,643
  • TV: ESPN3
Game information

At WKU

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North Texas Mean Green at Western Kentucky Wildcats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 0 0 707
Hilltoppers 17 14 14045

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: November 12, 2016
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 16,239
  • TV: ESPN3
Game information

Southern Miss

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Southern Miss Golden Eagles at North Texas Mean Green – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Golden Eagles 0 7 13323
Mean Green 17 3 0929

at Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas

  • Date: November 19, 2016
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Wind: N 7 MPH
  • Game attendance: 19,120
  • TV: beIN
Game information

At UTEP

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North Texas Mean Green at UTEP Miners – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mean Green 7 10 0724
Miners 10 21 14752

at Sun Bowl StadiumEl Paso, Texas

  • Date: November 26, 2016
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 18,591
  • TV: CUSA.tv
Game information

Army–Heart of Dallas Bowl

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Heart of Dallas Bowl – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Black Knights 12 12 70738
Mean Green 7 14 73031

at Cotton BowlDallas, Texas

Game information

References

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  1. ^ "North Texas Releases 2016 Football Schedule" (Press release). University of North Texas Department of Athletics. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "2016 North Texas Mean Green Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "Football vs North Texas on 9/3/2016 - Box Score".
  4. ^ "Marshall vs. North Texas - Game Summary - October 8, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  5. ^ "North Texas vs. Army – Game Summary – October 22, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Army vs. North Texas – Game Summary – December 27, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2018.