2021 North Texas Mean Green football team explained
The 2021 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mean Green played their home games at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA).
The Mean Green started the season 1–6 before winning five games in a row, including upset victories over UTEP and then-undefeated #22 UTSA, to finish the regular season at 6–6, 5–3 in C-USA play. The team was invited to the inaugural Frisco Football Classic, losing 14–27 to the Miami RedHawks.
Preseason
C-USA media days
The Mean Green were predicted to finish in sixth place in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.[1]
| Media poll (West Division) |
| 1 | UAB |
| 2 | UTSA |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech |
| 4 | Southern Miss |
| 5 | Rice |
| 6 | North Texas |
| 7 | UTEP | |
Schedule
[2]
Game summaries
Northwestern State
See also: 2021 Northwestern State Demons football team.
| Statistics | NWST | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 418 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 345 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 182 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:49 | 27:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Northwestern State | Passing | Kaleb Fletcher | 13/22, 134 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Scooter Adams | 12 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Kendrick Price | 1 reception, 65 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Rudder | 10/21, 131 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | | 25 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 6 receptions, 114 yards, TD | |
At SMU
See also: 2021 SMU Mustangs football team and Safeway Bowl.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| SMU –22.5 | 75[3] | |
| Statistics | UNT | SMU |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 506 | 536 |
| Rushing yards | 122 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 384 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 36:06 | 23:54 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Rudder | 32/51, 366 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 16 rushes, 71 yards |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 12 receptions, 141 yards |
| SMU | Passing | | 21/33, 311 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 10 rushes, 141 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 99 yards, TD | |
UAB
See also: 2021 UAB Blazers football team.
| Statistics | UAB | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 407 | 220 |
| Rushing yards | 173 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 99 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:06 | 27:54 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UAB | Passing | | 6/7, 202 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Jermaine Brown Jr. | 16 rushes, 58 yards |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | | 8/21, 65 yards |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 24 rushes, 82 yards |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 2 receptions, 21 yards | |
At Louisiana Tech
See also: 2021 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.
| Statistics | UNT | LT |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 333 | 286 |
| Rushing yards | 241 | 79 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 207 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:25 | 30:35 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 12/27, 79 yards, TD |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 26 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jason Pirtle | 4 receptions, 26 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Aaron Allen | 14/18, 137 yards |
| Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 17 rushes, 73 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 69 yards, TD | |
At Missouri
See also: 2021 Missouri Tigers football team.
| Statistics | UNT | MIZ |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 493 | 474 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 306 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 168 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:12 | 31:48 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/26, 305 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 24 rushes, 85 yards |
| Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 2 receptions, 81 yards, TD |
| Missouri | Passing | | 22/33, 168 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 17 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | J. J. Hester | 1 reception, 41 yards, TD | |
Marshall
See also: 2021 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
| Statistics | MRSH | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 18 |
| Total yards | 477 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 277 |
| Passing yards | 323 | 134 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:14 | 27:46 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Marshall | Passing | | 24/32, 323 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 20 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Xavier Gaines | 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/31, 121 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 20 rushes, 179 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Jason Pirtle | 5 receptions, 35 yards | |
Liberty
See also: 2021 Liberty Flames football team.
| Statistics | LIB | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 350 | 454 |
| Rushing yards | 45 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 212 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:10 | 35:50 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | | 12/18, 217 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | T. J. Green | 5 rushes, 25 yards |
| Receiving | C. J. Daniels | 7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 22/35, 212 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ayo Adeyi | 16 rushes, 99 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 57 yards | |
At Rice
See also: 2021 Rice Owls football team.
| Statistics | UNT | RICE |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 314 | 368 |
| Rushing yards | 193 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 121 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 21:21 | 38:39 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 11/22, 121 yards |
| Rushing | Austin Aune | 6 rushes, 65 yards |
| Receiving | Bryson Jackson | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
| Rice | Passing | Jake Constantin | 16/30, 242 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 14 rushes, 47 yards |
| Receiving | Jake Bailey | 10 receptions, 143 yards, TD | |
At Southern Miss
See also: 2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team.
| Statistics | UNT | USM |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 11 |
| Total yards | 537 | 229 |
| Rushing yards | 321 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:14 | 25:46 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/30, 216 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Isaiah Johnson | 17 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Detraveon Brown | 4 receptions, 85 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 17/25, 116 yards, TD |
| Rushing | | 12 rushes, 82 yards |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD | |
UTEP
See also: 2021 UTEP Miners football team.
| Statistics | UTEP | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 382 | 423 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 240 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:45 | 30:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UTEP | Passing | | 15/29, 273 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 17 rushes, 85 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 174 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 15/33, 240 yards, TD |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 18 rushes, 81 yards |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD | |
At FIU
See also: 2021 FIU Panthers football team.
| Statistics | UNT | FIU |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 12 |
| Total yards | 611 | 245 |
| Rushing yards | 378 | 58 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:11 | 28:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 6/12, 219 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 18 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 3 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 15/32, 167 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Shaun Peterson Jr. | 5 rushes, 30 yards |
| Receiving | Tyrese Chambers | 3 receptions, 79 yards, TD | |
No. 22 UTSA
See also: 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team.
| Statistics | UTSA | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 27 |
| Total yards | 366 | 456 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 340 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UTSA | Passing | Eddie Lee Marburger | 2/4, 74 yards, TD |
| Rushing | | 10 rushes, 97 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Tre'Von Bradley | 1 reception, 67 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 10/17, 116 yards |
| Rushing | Ikaika Ragsdale | 20 rushes, 146 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Khatib Lyles | 3 receptions, 50 yards | |
Vs. Miami (OH) (Frisco Football Classic)
See main article: 2021 Frisco Football Classic.
See also: 2021 Miami RedHawks football team.
| Statistics | UNT | MIA |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 26 |
| Total yards | 317 | 431 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 21:39 | 38:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 15/32, 228 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Austin Aune | 9 rushes, 28 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Roderic Burns | 4 receptions, 87 yards |
| Miami | Passing | | 22/31, 228 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Kenny Tracy | 14 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jack Sorenson | 7 receptions, 116 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Conference USA. C-USA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish For 2021. July 19, 2021. October 31, 2021.
- Web site: 2021 North Texas Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . January 31, 2021.
- Web site: North Texas Mean Green vs SMU Mustangs. Odds Shark. September 17, 2021. en.
