UNT Football Stuns Rival with Last-Second Touchdown—Highlights, Score & What It Means for the Season

DENTON, Texas — The buzz around UNT football has reached a fever pitch. North Texas Mean Green fans snapped up every seat in DATCU Stadium for tonight’s prime-time showdown with No. 22 South Florida, marking the first official sell-out since the facility opened in 2011. The historic ticket rush underscores a meteoric rise for head coach Eric Morris’ squad, which sits at 5-0 for the first time since 1959 and sits atop the American Athletic Conference standings. A national spotlight on Denton Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2, giving UNT football a rare nationally televised window and a golden opportunity to further amplify the Mean Green brand. For Morris, the sell-out is about more than a raucous environment. “This atmosphere shows recruits exactly what UNT football can be,” the second-year coach said earlier this week. Playoff chatter gains steam With early October victories over Washington State and South Alabama already on the résumé, analysts have started to float the prospect of UNT sneaking into the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff if the wins keep coming. Tonight’s clash against an AAC heavyweight provides the first true litmus test. A win would give North Texas a 6-0 record, a perfect 3-0 mark in league play, and real leverage in the playoff committee’s strength-of-schedule metrics. Key match-ups to watch • Chandler Rogers vs. Aggressive Bulls front: The junior quarterback has 14 TDs to just one interception, but USF tops the conference in sacks. • UNT secondary vs. tempo: Morris’ offense plays fast, yet the defense has thrived on turnovers (plus-8 margin). Cornerback Ridge Texada’s ball-hawking skills could decide momentum swings. • Special teams: Place-kicker Noah Rauschenberg drilled the game-winning 48-yarder against Washington State; field position looms large in what Vegas oddsmakers list as a 2.5-point spread. Community impact beyond the gridiron UNT officials cancelled Friday classes after noon to free student traffic, while Denton businesses report record pre-game reservations. Tailgating on “The Hill” begins at 1:30 p.m., and fans are urged to wear black for a coordinated blackout that promises electric visuals under the stadium lights. Why the Mean Green are suddenly must-see 1. Transfer portal wins: Rogers (Louisiana) and running back Ayo Adeyi (back from injury) give UNT explosive balance. 2. Defensive turnaround: Coordinator Matt Caponi’s 3-3-5 scheme has shaved 92 yards per game off last year’s totals. 3. Brand-new buzz: The program’s NIL collective, “Green Light Denton,” has funded creative social-media campaigns that boosted national recognition. Path forward After USF, North Texas heads to Charlotte before closing October with a marquee home tilt against UTSA. Win out and the Mean Green could host the AAC title game in early December, positioning themselves as the Group of Five’s leading New Year’s Six bowl candidate—and perhaps something even bigger. How to watch and listen • TV: ESPN2 (national) • Radio: Mean Green Sports Network (88.1 FM) • Streaming: ESPN app Final thought A packed DATCU Stadium, a national audience and genuine playoff stakes—everything UNT football envisioned when it climbed to the FBS ranks two decades ago is suddenly tangible. Tonight, the Mean Green can turn Denton’s biggest party into a statement heard across college football.