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# Three Things We Learned in Denton after USF 63, North Texas 36
- URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/three-things-we-learned-in-denton/
- Published: 2025-10-11T03:31:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T15:46:26.000Z
- Description: After an, ahem, lively first half, the Bulls settled in and played like the more talented team they were.
- Author: Collin Sherwin
- Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44

Some quick thoughts as we head down from the press box to talk to Coach Golesh and the Bulls postgame:  
  
1\. **UNT isn’t ready for primetime**. The Mean Green literally shut down the campus to help generate excitement for what was billed as the biggest game ever in Denton. [They called it a sellout, and it was the best attendance in school history](https://x.com/CollinSherwin/status/1976825330125226158?ref=bayareaexaminer.com). But the actual Mean Green themselves were far more of a fraud than a fear.  
  
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has some skills, and his top target in Cameron Dorner looks to be a player as well. But up front North Texas was getting mauled on both sides of the ball all night. While most people will point to the turnovers as the shortcoming for both sides, there was a clear and noticeable talent gap between the sides.  
  
USF is good at football. And besides the Miami Hurricanes, there’s not a team on their schedule who can hurt them more than themselves.  
  
2\. **The way to win the turnover battle is to stop turning the ball over. Also win the middle eight**. Both teams had three turnovers at halftime in what was a fun-but-inexcusable level of execution. But USF got an interception late in second half at midfield, then got a score to tie with two seconds remaining on a nice TD pass from Byrum Brown to Jonathan Echols.  
  
They then scored after receiving the opening kickoff, forced an interception, scored again, forced a fumble for the [weirdest scoop-and-score you’ll ever see from Jhalyn Shuler](https://x.com/RLastellaReport/status/1976830250589077567?ref=bayareaexaminer.com), and scored again.  
  
The only thing that was stopping USF tonight was USF. And once they got it under control, it was just over.  
  
3\. **As Byrum Brown goes, so goes the USF offense.** This stat line is absurd:  
  
22-28, 245 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. 21 carries, 82 yards, 2 rushing TD, 2 fumbles lost.  
  
The Russell Westbrook of the American Athletic Conference does so much that helps USF to win, but also makes some mistakes that can put his team far behind the eight ball. Without the defense, USF was going to go into halftime down a score thanks only to three turnovers which fall on him.

Just like with an overmatched Charlotte last Friday, the Bulls did more than enough to win. And you can argue this is by far the best offense in the Group of Six when it’s clicking (i.e. just not giving the ball away freely).

But at some point, USF is going to need to protect the rock to put away a good opponent. And the last two games have given some reasons for concern, despite the eye-popping numbers.

**BONUS: This is the best USF defense in a long time**. They’ve got plenty of bodies, veteran experience, and they play with a level of physicality that you don’t normally see in the Group of Six. Mac Harris, Tavin Ward, Jhalyn Shuler, Jarvis Lee, Jacob Merrifield… take a bow. You guys put on a show even when the other side of the ball made it much more challenging early.