North Texas Mean Green (6-6, 5-3 C-USA) at Miami-Ohio Redhawks (6-6, 5-3 MAC)
North Texas Mean Green Notes
STORY LINES
• North Texas takes on Miami (Ohio) for the first time in program history in the 2021 Frisco Football Classic.
• Sixth-year head coach Seth Littrell has now led the Mean Green to five bowl game appearances. In the 102-year history of the program prior to Littrell’s arrival in 2016, North Texas had made just eight total bowl game appearances.
• The Mean Green enter Thursday’s game versus Miami 0-4 in bowl games under sixth-year head coach Seth Littrell. UNT is 3-9 all-time in bowl games. Its last bowl victory came on Jan. 1, 2014, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. UNT beat UNLV 36-14 in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl.
• The Mean Green enter the 2021 Frisco Football Classic riding a five-game winning streak. The active winning streak comes on the heels of a six-game losing streak UNT had earlier in the year. UNT began the 2021 season 1-6 before hitting this current five-game streak.
• North Texas (2021), Old Dominion (2021) and Miami Ohio (2016) are the only teams in the AP Poll Era (since 1936) to win 6 games after starting 1-6 or worse.
• North Texas earned bowl eligibility by defeating previously undefeated rival No. 15 UTSA on Nov. 27. The 45-23 victory over UTSA in Denton marked the program’s first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 1974 (14-9 over No. 20 San Diego St.) and just the second ever win over a nationally ranked opponent. UNT had been 1-47 all-time versus ranked opponents.
• During North Texas’ current five-game winning streak, the Mean Green defense is holding its opponents to an average of just 17 points per game. In the first seven games of the year prior to the current winning streak, UNT’s defense was giving up an average of 35 points per game.
• North Texas’ five-game winning streak is its longest win streak since the 2017 season when they rallied together five straight wins between Oct. 28 and Nov. 25th of that year. It’s tied for the ninth-longest active winning streak among FBS programs. UNT hasn’t won six straight games since the 2004 season when they ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. The Mean Green would fall to Southern Miss, 31-10, in the 2004 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl and snapping that seven-game winning streak.
• A win on Thursday would improve the Mean Green’s record to 7-6 on the year and mark just their seventh winning season since moving back up to the Division 1A/ FBS ranks in 1995 (26 seasons).
MORE QUICK HITTERS
• The Mean Green defense led by first-year coordinator Phil Bennett is allowing 144.3 less yards per game in total defense from 2020 to 2021, the biggest improvement in the nation.
• North Texas has won five straight games for the first time since 2017. The five-game streak is tied for the sixth-longest active streak among FBS programs.
• The streak is UNT’s first with five consecutive wins over conference opponents since 2013.
• UNT ranks 10th nationally with only 14 sacks allowed this season, has not allowed a sack in the last three games and has given up only two in the last six games.
• Junior linebacker KD Davis is one of the top defenders in all of Conference USA. He leads the league in tackles (107), ranks fourth in tackles for loss (15.5) and stands 12th in sacks (5.0).
• The Mean Green are led by one of the nation’s top rushing attacks. UNT is averaging 246.2 yards per game on the ground this season, the third-best total among FBS programs.
• North Texas’ 246.2 rushing yards per game in 2021 stands as the fifth best per game average in program history and the tops since 1959.
• UNT ranks No. 17 nationally with 30 rushing touchdowns on the season, including 19 in the last five games. That total is the third most in program history and the most since 2013.
• North Texas ranks in the top 32 nationally in sacks (34) and top 40 in tackles for loss (80).
• Senior running back DeAndre Torrey is one of the nation’s top active rushers for his career with 3,228 yards (9th, FBS) and 36 touchdowns (6th, FBS). He is also sixth in all-purpose yards (4,775) and fifth in total touchdowns scored (41).
• UNT’s dominating 45-23 victory over No. 15 UTSA was the program’s second win all-time over a ranked team in 47 years and the first at 10-year-old Apogee Stadium in the facility’s first visit from a Top 25 team.
• The Murphy Twins – redshirt freshmen edge rushers Grayson and Gabriel – both rank in the top six in Conference USA in sacks and top eight in tackles for loss. Grayson has 7.5 sacks and 12.5 TFL, while Gabriel has 6.0 sacks and 10.5 TFL.
• UNT led Conference USA in Total Defense (304.3 ypg) and ranked second in Total Offense (506.8 ypg) for the month of November.
MIAMI SERIES HISTORY
• Thursday will mark the first all-time meeting between Miami and the Mean Green.
• UNT is 3-5 all-time versus the MAC the conference. They last played a team from the MAC on Sept. 14, 2013 in a 34-27 victory at home over Ball State.
• The Mean Green are in a bowl game for the 13th time in program history (3 wins, 9 losses). Previous bowl appearances include: 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl, 2004 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, 2003 New Orleans Bowl, 2002 New Orleans Bowl, 2001 New Orleans Bowl, 1959 Sun Bowl, 1948 Salad Bowl and the 1946 Optimist Bowl.
DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND FROM LAST YEAR
• After possessing one of the worst statistical defenses in the country in 2020, UNT head coach Seth Littrell made the bold move to hire an entire new defensive staff led by DC Phil Bennett. The move is paying dividends in 2021.
• The Mean Green defense led by first-year coordinator Phil Bennett is allowing 143.9 less yards per game in total defense from 2020 to 2021, the biggest improvement in the nation. Below is a breakdown of key statistical categories and the improvements from 2020 to 2021.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT DURING 2021
• Not only has North Texas’ defense improved drastically since last season but it’s also improved drastically since the start of this year. The Mean Green defense is drastically better across the board during its current five-game winning streak compared to its 1-6 start to this season. Most notably UNT’s defense is giving up on average 18 fewer points per game during its five-game winning streak compared to the first seven games of the year.
OFFENSE FLIPS SWITCH IN SECOND HALF
• During North Texas’ five-game winning streak, the Mean Green offense is averaging 47.8 more yards per game and scoring 13.4 more points per game than during its first seven games of the year.
MEAN RUSHING MACHINE
• North Texas’ offense has been led by its ground attack during its current five-game winning streak but also
this entire season in general.
• UNT is averaging 246.2 yards per game on the ground this season, the third-best total among FBS programs.
• North Texas’ 246.2 rushing yards per game in 2021 stands as the fifth best per game average in program history and the tops since 1959.
• UNT ranks No. 17 nationally with 30 rushing touchdowns on the season, including 19 in the last five games. That total is the third most in program history and the most since 2013.
• Senior running back DeAndre Torrey is one of the nation’s top active rushers for his career with 3,228 yards (9th, FBS) and 36 touchdowns (6th, FBS). He is also sixth in all-purpose yards (4,775) and fifth in total touchdowns scored (41).
DOMINATE UP FRONT
• North Texas’ offensive line combined has made 133 starts led by junior Manase Mose (47) who also has the most career starts on the entire team.
• Through 12 games, North Texas ranks 12th nationally with only 14 sacks allowed this season and has not allowed a sack in the last three games and has given up only two in the last six games.
• UNT has run for over 300 yards in each of its last two games and in three of its last four.
• The Mean Green ran for six touchdowns and 340 yards in its 45-23 win over UTSA in its most recent game.
CLOSE TO THE NEST
• As the crow flies, the Toyota Stadium is just 19.11 miles from the Mean Green’s Apogee Stadium.
• The Mean Green have twice played a bowl game at the Cotton Bowl in South Dallas but that’s 37.4 miles from Apogee thus making this the closest to home bowl game UNT has ever played.
• The Mean Green are playing in their fifth bowl all-time in the state of Texas after trips to the 1946 Optimist Bowl (Houston), 1959 Sun Bowl (El Paso) and visits to the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2014 and 2016.
Miami-Ohio Redhawks Notes
FIRST AND TEN
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (706), conference wins (306), MAC Championships (16) and bowl wins (7). The RedHawks also captured the 2019 MAC Championship with a 26-21 win over Central Michigan.
• Although Miami was 4-26 in Coach Martin’s first 30 Mid-American Conference games, the RedHawks are 30-12 in the last 42 games versus schools from the MAC, the best record in the conference during that span.
• The RedHawks clinched the MAC East Division Championship with a 6-2 record in 2019 and went 2-1 in 2020. Miami has now had a winning conference record in five of the past six years.
• Martin, in his eighth year leading the RedHawks, has had many of the same coordinators in the previous six seasons. Offensive Coordinator Eric Koehler has been with Martin all eight years on the offensive side of the ball. Spence Nowinsky (fourth year) and John Hauser (eighth year) manage the defense.
• Miami is 9-4 in one-score games, dating back to the 2018 campaign. The RedHawks were 5-0 in one-score games in 2019, including a 26-21 victory over Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. Miami’s 31-26 loss to Minnesota earlier this year ended Miami’s consecutive one-score win streak at eight.
• In its last 37 contests, Miami has had a lead at some point in 32 of those games. The only five setbacks were a 42-10 loss at Buffalo in 2020 and four different losses in 2021.
• Miami competed in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl and the RedHawks have now been bowl eligible five of the last six seasons. From 2006-15, Miami was bowl eligible just twice.
ABOUT CHUCK MARTIN
• Head coach Chuck Martin, who earned that title on Dec. 3, 2013, brings an impressive
resume to Oxford, Ohio.
• Not only was he 74-7 in six years at Grand Valley State (2004-09), he has coached in
seven national championship games in the past 19 seasons. Martin has an all-time
head coaching record of 112-59.
• He has twice been named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National
Coach of the Year and has been a coordinator on both sides of the ball.
• Martin was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Grand Valley State University on Oct. 23,
2015.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS
North Texas, a member of Conference USA, is 6-6 on the year. The Mean Green have won \each of their last five contests, including a 45-23 victory over No. 15, and previously \undefeated, Texas San Antonio on Nov. 27. North Texas features a strong rushing attack that averages nearly 250 yards per game on the ground, while quarterback Austin Aune has thrown for 1,763 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
SERIES VS. MEAN GREEN
This is the first meeting between the two schools.
GRASS STAINS
Toyota Stadium features a grass field, something the RedHawks have not played on since Sept. 4, 2010, at Florida.
A RECAP OF THE 2021 SEASON
• After beginning the season 1-3, the RedHawks went 5-3 in MAC play and were a twopoint overtime conversion away in a 48-47 loss at Kent State from advancing to its second MAC Championship Game in the past three years.
• Miami lost its three MAC games by a combined four points this year.
• The RedHawks are averaging 29.1 points per game in 2021, the highest single-season scoring average since the 2004 RedHawks averaged 31.3 points/game.
• Defensively, Miami allows a MAC-best 22.9 points per game. The last time the RedHawks had a defense that strong was back in 2011 when the RedHawks allowed 22.9 points per contest.
BOWL BOUND
The RedHawks are competing in their 13th bowl game in school history and are 7-5 all-time in bowl games.
1948 Sun Bowl (Won 13-12 vs. Texas Tech)
1950 Salad Bowl (Won 34-21 vs. Arizona State)
1962 Tangerine Bowl (Lost, 49-21 vs. Houston)
1973 Tangerine Bowl (Won, 16-7 vs. Florida)
1974 Tangerine Bowl (Won, 21-10 vs. Georgia)
1975 Tangerine Bowl (Won, 20-7 vs. South Carolina)
1986 California Bowl (Lost, 37-7 vs. San Jose State)
2003 GMAC Bowl (Won, 49-28 vs. Louisville)
2004 Independence Bowl (Lost, 17-13 vs. Iowa State)
2010 GoDaddy Bowl (Won, 35-21 vs. Middle Tennessee State)
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl (Lost, 17-16 vs. Mississippi State)
2020 LendingTree Bowl (Lost, 27-17 vs. Louisiana)
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Over the last four games Miami’s offense has found its rhythm, led mainly by the passing attack. A few highlights:
• Averaging 39.8 points the past four games.
• Brett Gabbert has thrown for 1,475 (368.8/game) yards and 15 touchdowns. Over onethird of those yards have gone to Jack Sorenson (27-587-5).
• As a team, Miami is averaging 500.0 yards of offense the last four contests.
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
While Miami’s 2019 MAC Championship victory was two seasons ago, Miami still has 13 starters returning in 2021 that started in that championship game. On offense: Andrew Homer, Rusty Feth, Jaylon Bester, Tyre Shelton, Brett Gabbert, Pete Nank, Caleb Shaffer and Jack Sorenson all started in the 26-21 win over CMU. Defensively, Mike Brown, Sterling Weatherford, Ryan McWood, Kameron Butler and Ben Kimpler return in 2021. In all, Miami has 26 players on the 2021 roster that participated in the 2019 MAC Championship Game.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NO. 5 BRETT GABBERT
• Younger brother of NFL quarterback, Blaine Gabbert.
• Gabbert was named the 2019 MAC Freshman of the Year, joining Ben Roethlisberger (2001) and Deland McCullough (1992) as the only other RedHawks to capture this award.
• When Miami opened the 2019 season at Iowa, Gabbert became the first true freshman quarterback to open the season as the starter in Miami football history.
• Is responsible for 43 touchdowns (39 passing, 4 rushing) in his Miami career.
• In his last four games, Gabbert has thrown for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Jack Sorenson is in the middle of his sixth year with the RedHawks and is starting to find himself all over the Miami record books. The 2019 MAC Championship Offensive Player of the Game and Biletnikoff Award Watch List member has many career highlights:
• Has caught a pass in 38 straight games.
• His 184 career catches rank sixth all time and the senior is fourth at Miami with 2,955 receiving yards.
• Ranks fifth with 20 career touchdowns.
• His 14 catches at Ohio were one shy of a school record and he blew past the old school record (229 yards) with 283 receiving yards against the Bobcats. The 283 yards are the third-most in MAC history.
• Sorenson currently leads the MAC with 1,290 receiving yards (sixth in the nation) this season, becoming just the sixth different RedHawk to record a 1,000 yard receiving season in program history. The all-time school record for receiving yards in a season is held by Martin Nance (1,498) in 2003.
