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Keep the other team from scoring a gajillion points. North Texas can score. The offense might take a wee step back, but it’ll still be great. Now the defense has to avoid the games when it doesn’t have anything working. The Mean Green went 7-0 when keeping teams to 28 points or fewer, and 0-7 when it allowed more. Even with the D allowed just over 30 the games were close, but all five games when allowing 41 or more were double-digit defeats. BTW, North Texas was 6-1 in 2021 when allowing 24 points or fewer, and 0-6 when giving up more. North Texas Mean Green Top Transfer, Biggest Loss QB Chandler Rogers in from ULM, LB Larry Nixon gone to Auburn. The Mean Green didn’t land a ton of sure-thing starters from the transfer portal, but it got a veteran quarterback in Rogers. In a tough situation at ULM he did what he could hitting 66% of his passes for just over 3,700 yards with 24 touchdowns and ten picks, and he can run. There were a slew of big losses, but for a defense that needs as many playmakers as possible, not having Nixon hurts. He left for Auburn after making 245 tackles with 5.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in his four seasons. Read more: https://collegefootballnews.com/.amp/cfn/north-texas-mean-green-college-football-preview-2023-top-players-keys-what-will-happen

SMU Mustangs Preview 2022: Offense It’s a Rhett Lashlee-coached team. It’s going to throw the ball – he’s a former SMU offensive coordinator under Sonny Dykes – and it’s going to crank up the production. The offense is loaded with experienced parts, good skill guys, and the line to make it all work from the No. 1 AAC attack last year. It led the league with 466 yards and 38 points per game, but it couldn’t rise up and come through down the stretch of a rough second half of the season. Lashlee and offensive coordinator Casey Woods have their veteran quarterback to make it all go. Former Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai threw for over 3,600 yards and 39 touchdowns with 12 picks in an All-AAC season, and Preston Stone is a rising talent who’ll get every shot at the gig. The receivers are there to make it all rock, even with Danny Gray, Reggie Roberson, and TE Grant Calcaterra – three of the team’s top four targets – done. Leading receiver Rashee Rice – 64 catches with nine scores – is back – he’s the No. 1 guy – and the corps landed a few great parts with All-Conference USA target Jake Bailey from Rice, Beau Corrales from North Carolina, and Kelvontay Dixon from Texas. The running game should be like it was last year. It might not blast away for a gazillion yards per game, but as long as it’s averaging around 4.6 yards per carry again, it’ll be doing its job. Longtime all-around factor Ulysses Bentley is off to Ole Miss, but former North Texas transfer Tre Siggers is back after averaging five yards per pop with nine scores, and with a team-high 727 yards. TJ McDaniel is back after suffering an injury, and ready to roll is Alabama transfer Camar Wheaton. The talent is there from Wheaton and the rest of the backs to do the job. The SMU line will play around with the veteran parts – four starters are expected back from the end of last year – but Alan Ali is off to TCU and the depth will have to come from the transfer portal. Overall, the group that was the best in the AAC in pass protection should be fine once the staff comes up with the right starting five. Read more: https://collegefootballnews.com/2022/06/smu-mustangs-preview-2022-season-prediction-breakdown-key-games-players

Dana Dimel and the UTEP football program have been on a multi-year rebuild that is now at a really interesting place entering year four. The former Kansas State offensive coordinator has been extremely cautious when throwing out any guarantees for his team in the past, and since he was hired back in 2018 to help turn the squad into a winner, he's maintained a five-year plan. However, the talent across the roster has started to fill out a little faster than expected and the Miners proved in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season that they can be competitive. Year four brings a lot to the table for the Miners. Dimel is in the fourth season of his five-year contract. The team returns 11 starters on offense and about nine defensively. The schedule favors the Miners early on. They have made lots of coaching shifts over the offseason. JUCO recruits are still signing to the program. And their opener against NM State (Aug. 28) is less than 60 days away. “I think we’re right on queue where I thought we would be," Dimel told 600 ESPN El Paso. "You’re not going into a place thinking that you’re going to change it in a year. You try to build a big picture concept and we feel we’re right on track to do that. We feel like we were really close last year, but that was last year. We need to continue to get better, continue to tweak our roster; and take guys that came onto the scene from last year and push them to a whole other level." Read More: It's Time to Talk UTEP Football: 2021 Season Preview | https://krod.com/its-time-to-talk-utep-football-2021-season-preview/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

SMU is 17-6 over the last two years, but if coach Sonny Dykes’ team wants to take the next step and contend for the conference title, there’s one glaring question mark to address this offseason. The Mustangs aren’t lacking for skill talent at running back or receiver, but uncertainty remains under center after the departure of Shane Buechele. Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai and freshman Preston Stone are set to compete for the job and are crucial to the overall success of SMU’s 2021 season. The Mustangs gave up 30.9 points a contest last year, but seven returning starters under new play-caller Jim Leavitt should be enough to generate improvement on defense. read more: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/smu-football-mustangs-prediction-preview-2021

Looks like a toss-up for Thurs - GMG

North Texas is another team new to C-USA this season. The Mean Green will look to bounce back from the 4-8 record it posted in its final season in the Sun Belt Conference. With the exception of an early-season game against Georgia, North Texas non-conference schedule makes it somewhat plausible for them to build from last year. If anything, the conference schedule might pose a problem. The Mean Green will face both Tulsa and Louisiana Tech. On the other hand, UTEP might end up being challenged more by its non-conference schedule. The Miners only managed three wins last season so theyre in need of similar upward momentum. With road games at Colorado, New Mexico and the mighty Texas A&M, nothing will come easy for the Miners. On top of all that, this season is New Mexico States turn to host their annual rivalry game. UTEP will not play ECU this season. The Pirates beat the Miners 28-18 in 2012. In their first season in C-USA, the University of Texas at San Antonio, it will be very tough for the schools young football program to have success under former Miami (Fla.) head coach Larry Coker. Read more: http://eastcarolina.scout.com/2/1307482.html