No. 24 USF, North Texas clash in high-stakes Friday night matchup

The No. 24 South Florida Bulls (4-1) head to Denton, Texas, to face the North Texas Mean Green (5-0) in a crucial Friday night showdown at 7:30pm on ESPN2.

Both teams have taken drastically different paths leading up to Friday’s clash.

North Texas has played the 132nd-hardest schedule in the country through five games and has yet to face a Power Four opponent. USF, meanwhile, has played the nation’s 33rd-hardest schedule, opening the season with three straight ranked opponents and earning wins over Florida in The Swamp [Ed. Note: What, like it’s hard, Sark?] and Boise State.

North Texas is 5-0 for the first time since 1959. In the program’s 112-year history, the Mean Green have never started a season 6-0.

The stakes are high, and the North Texas administration is doing its part to create an atmosphere to match. University President Harrison Keller announced last week that all classes at noon on game day would be canceled to encourage students and staff to attend the game.

North Texas and USF have the third- and fourth-best odds to win the American Conference championship, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. PFSN gives the Mean Green a 13.1% chance to reach the College Football Playoff, while giving USF a 10.9% chance — the third- and fourth-highest percentages, respectively.

A raucous environment will be nothing new for the Bulls, who have already played on the road in sold-out stadiums against Florida and Miami. USF is 6-8 on the road under head coach Alex Golesh.

USF is 25-14 all time in games when ranked, while North Texas is 2-44 against AP-ranked teams.

The Bulls is coming off a 28-point win over Charlotte, though the Bulls were anything but satisfied. The Bulls committed four turnovers and allowed 19 second-half points in the game.

“Every win I’ve been a part of here, you go in the locker room and everyone’s excited,” Golesh said. “This one I walked in the locker room and it was a sight of disappointment, a sight of letdown, and I thought it was a pivotal moment in our program.”

The Bulls’ offense has been paced by senior quarterback Byrum Brown, who’s averaging 238.8 passing yards and 56.4 rushing yards per game. Brown ran for a career-high 162 yards against Charlotte last week.

USF has rushed for 659 yards combined in its last two games after averaging just 95 yards per game on the ground through its first three. Establishing the run will be key against a Mean Green defense allowing 180.4 rushing yards per game.

Senior UT Martin transfer running back Sam Franklin has led that turnaround, rushing for 167 yards over the past two games after totaling just 19 in the first three. USF will likely be without senior running back Cartevious Norton, who sustained a neck injury against Charlotte and was transported to TGH as a precaution. Norton has 166 yards on the season.

The Mean Green defense is anchored by linebacker duo junior Ethan Wesloski and senior Shane Whitter. Wesloski holds a 90.3 Pro Football Focus grade — the fourth-highest among defenders in the American — and leads the team with six tackles for loss. Whitter leads North Texas with 48 tackles, 18th most in the FBS.

North Texas’ pass defense has been stifling, allowing just 135.8 yards per game through the air, eighth fewest in the nation. Opponents are averaging only 5.43 yards per completion, while the Bulls average 12.61 yards per catch.

Senior receiver Chas Nimrod has been the catalyst for many of the Bulls’ explosive passing plays. Nimrod leads USF with 421 receiving yards, three touchdown catches and an average of 22.2 yards per reception.

North Texas’ offense has put up big numbers all season, averaging 44.8 points per game — eighth best in the country. The Mean Green feature a balanced attack, averaging 256.6 passing yards and 180.4 rushing yards per game.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has impressed in his first year as a starter, throwing for 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 68% completion rate and no turnovers. It’s not just Mestemaker’s first year starting for the Mean Green — it’s his first time starting since his freshman year of high school.

Mestemaker walked on at North Texas in 2024 after spending most of his prep career playing safety and punter. He began the 2024 season as the team’s fifth-string quarterback and eventually rose to the backup spot behind Chandler Morris, now the starter at Virginia. Mestemaker made his first start in the First Responder Bowl after Morris transferred and has held the job since.

Freshman running back Caleb Hawkins has been the team’s most explosive weapon, posting 307 rushing yards on 7.3 yards per carry and 120 receiving yards. His seven rushing touchdowns are the most among FBS freshmen this season.

Sophomore running back Mackenzie McGill II leads the Mean Green with 331 rushing yards, averaging five yards per carry. Sophomore receiver Miles Coleman leads the team with 219 receiving yards.

USF’s opponents are averaging minus-0.12 expected points added per play, putting the Bulls in the 21st percentile among FBS defenses.

Senior linebackers Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler lead the Bulls defense. Shuler paces the team with 46 tackles. Harris owns the second-highest Pro Football Focus defensive grade in the American at 90.7 and leads USF in tackles for loss, sacks and forced turnovers.

Takeaways have been a calling card for the Bulls. USF has recorded at least one turnover in 13 straight games. The Bulls and Mean Green are tied for seventh nationally with 11 takeaways this season.

Generating pressure on the quarterback will be key for USF, which has only four sacks in its four games against FBS opponents. Senior defensive lineman Traevon Mitchell leads the team with 11 quarterback hurries. Mestemaker has been sacked just five times this year.

Friday’s matchup is one of the most highly anticipated games in the Group of Five in 2025.

“We learned a really good lesson three weeks ago when it was incredibly hyped up — we were in the spotlight — and we went down to Miami and it didn’t look like what you’d want it to look like,” Golesh said. “If we didn’t learn anything, shame on us. I told them the only thing you have to worry about is us right now and straight business leading up to the game.”