2016 North Texas Mean Green football team

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)
Co-defensive coordinatorTroy Reffett (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

The 2016 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Seth Littrell, the Mean Green compiled an overall record of 5–8 with a mark 3–5 in conference play, placing fourth in C-USA's West Division. Because there were not enough six-win bowl eligible teams, North Texas received a bowl invitation as a 5–7 team with the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) score. The Mean Green were invited to the Heart of Dallas Bowl, where they lost to Army in overtime. The team played home games at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas.

Schedule

[edit]

North Texas announced its 2016 football schedule on February 4, 2016. The schedule consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season.[1]

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 Techdagger
  • 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
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[2][3][4]

Game summaries

[edit]

SMU

[edit]
SMU Mustangs vs North Texas Mean Green – Game summary [5]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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.[6] This is North Texas's first ever win over Marshall.

At Army

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

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

at Cotton BowlDallas, Texas

  • Date: December 27, 2016
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Mostly Cloudy • Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NW 3 mph
  • Game attendance: 39,117
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Allen Bestwick (Play-by-play), Mike Bellotti (color), & Kris Budden (sideline)
  • [8]
Game information

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "North Texas Releases 2016 Football Schedule" (Press release). University of North Texas Department of Athletics. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "North Texas Mean Green Schedule 2016". ESPN. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "2016 North Texas Mean Green Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  4. ^ "2016 Football Schedule". University of North Texas. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  5. ^ "Football vs North Texas on 9/3/2016 - Box Score".
  6. ^ "Marshall vs. North Texas - Game Summary - October 8, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  7. ^ "North Texas vs. Army – Game Summary – October 22, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "Army vs. North Texas – Game Summary – December 27, 2016". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2018.