Spring football is ongoing across the state of Texas now that spring break is over. The 13 FBS programs in the Lone Star State are allowed to participate in 15 on-field practice sessions, including 12 involving contact. Spring games are littered throughout April with most taking place on April 15 or April 22. Houston goes first when the Cougars play their spring game on April 7. 

The 2023 season is one of change. Sam Houston is moving up to Conference USA from the FCS ranks. Houston is now in the Big 12. UTSA, North Texas, and Rice are preparing for their first season in the American Athletic Conference. 

But what is the best and worst case that can happen for each team in 2023? Here’s where we stand on the North Texas Mean Green. 

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN 

2022 record: 7-7

2023 schedule
Sept. 2 Cal 
Sept. 9 at FIU
Sept. 16 at Louisiana Tech
Sept. 23 IDLE
Sept. 30 Abilene Christian
Oct. 7 at Navy
Oct. 14 Temple
Oct. 21 at Tulane
Oct. 28 Memphis
Nov. 4 UTSA
Nov. 11 SMU 
Nov. 18 at Tulsa 
Nov. 25 UAB

Best case: Hope springs eternal in Denton, America with the arrival of new head football coach Eric Morris. The former Texas Tech Red Raider wide receiver brings a high-powered offensive attack to the Mean Green after successful stints as the head coach at Incarnate Word and the offensive coordinator at Washington State. North Texas begins the season with winnable games capable of building real momentum early in the year. If the Mean Green can get past Cal in Week 1, a 4-0 mark in the non-conference schedule is likely. 

The AAC schedule is tough, especially once the team hits the halfway mark of the season. Game 7 is against defending AAC champion Tulane. Matchups against Memphis, UTSA, and SMU follow. The Mean Green close the season against former C-USA foe UAB. The first goal is to reach bowl eligibility. The best-case scenario, however, is an eight-win season that shows real progress and promise in year one for Morris & Co. The roster is talented enough to accomplish those goals. 

Worst case: Transition is never easy, and North Texas is undergoing major transitions on and off the field. Morris is coaching at the FBS level for the first time. Former starting quarterback Austin Aune is gone. As are stalwarts such as linebacker KD Davis and offensive lineman Manase Mose. And that’s before we mention the increased level of competition in a new conference. North Texas reached bowl games in six of the seven years of the Seth Littrell era. The worst-case scenario for Morris and the Mean Green is to not reach six wins a year after playing for a conference title. 

PREVIOUS EDITIONS 

Texas Longhorns 
Texas A&M Aggies
TCU Horned Frogs
Baylor Bears 
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Houston Cougars
SMU Mustangs
UTSA Roadrunners