North Texas football, 6-2 under new coach Neal Brown, hosts Rice for Homecoming
The gist
North Texas is 6-2 and 4-0 in American Conference play, alone atop the standings, before Homecoming against Rice.
A first-year coach and rebuilt roster have the Mean Green chasing a conference title.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2, 2025Neal Brown is named the 21st head coach in UNT football history by athletic director Jared Mosley.
- Sep 5, 2026UNT opens the season with a 52-16 loss at defending national champion Indiana; Tayven Jackson throws for 192 yards and an interception in his Mean Green debut.
- Oct 1, 2026UNT beats Tulsa 45-44 in overtime in its conference opener, with defensive end Udoka Ezeani stopping a two-point conversion attempt just short of the goal line.
Key terms
- American Conference
- A US collegiate athletic conference in NCAA Division I, with members mainly in the Northeast, Midwest and South.
- Homecoming
- A tradition of welcoming back alumni to celebrate an organization, common in US schools and colleges.
- option-style offense
- An American football offensive system where a key player chooses among options based on the defense, relying mainly on running plays.
Source: Wikipedia