| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Team: | North Texas Mean Green |
| Conference: | Conference USA |
| Division: | West Division |
| Short Conf: | C-USA |
| Record: | 5–8 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Seth Littrell |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Graham Harrell |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Mike Ekeler |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Apogee Stadium |
| Bowl: | Heart of Dallas Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 31–38 OT vs. Army |
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.
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).
Schedule Source:[2]
See also: 2016 SMU Mustangs football team and Safeway Bowl.
See also: 2016 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team.
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.
See also: 2016 Florida Gators football team.
See also: 2016 Rice Owls football team.
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.
See also: 2016 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team.
See also: 2016 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
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.[3] This is North Texas's first ever win over Marshall.
See also: 2016 Army Black Knights football team.
See also: 2016 UTSA Roadrunners football team.
See also: 2016 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2016 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team.
See also: 2016 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team.
See also: 2016 UTEP Miners football team.
See also: 2016 Army Black Knights football team and 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl.