The Top 100 Teams in College Football 2017: No. 99 North Texas

Harry · May 19, 2017

No. 99: North Texas

It didn't take long for first-year head coach Seth Littrell to bring optimism and excitement back to North Texas. Just one year after going 1-11, the Mean Green have returned to Conference USA relevance.

2016 Record: 5-8 (3-5, Conference USA)

For just the third time since 2004, North Texas won five games in a season. It was a dramatic turnaround for a program that couldn't move the ball or stop opponents from doing so a year earlier.

While their three conference wins came against teams that won a combined 10 games, and Army was their only victory over a team with a winning record, the Mean Green were much improved.

Head Coach: Seth Littrell (2nd year, 5-8 overall)

North Texas clearly liked what they saw from Littrell in his first season; in February, he received a five-year extension that keeps him under control through 2021.

The former Oklahoma running back and North Carolina assistant head coach began revamping an offense that ranked 115th or worse in total yards per game, passing yards per game, completion percentage and points per game. The offense still struggled, four times scoring 17 or fewer points, but they raised the completion percentage nearly 12 points and averaged 28 more yards and nine points more per game.

His staff was gashed by losses. Three assistants, including co-defensive coordinator Mike Ezelker (to Littrell's former boss Larry Fedora at North Carolina), left for Power Five jobs.

"It's a good sign that people want our coaches," Littrell said this offseason. "We have great coaches who will do a good job."