DENTON — Take a look around Eric Morris’ office at the University of North Texas in Denton, and it’s covered with memorabilia reminding him of the collection of careers he helped launch.
On the wall behind his desk is a Patrick Mahomes jersey from the three-time Super Bowl MVP he helped recruit at Texas Tech at the same time as he was developing future Heisman winner Baker Mayfield.
Then, there’s the shelf that lines the wall to the side, where footballs from Incarnate Word and Washington State are small tokens from where No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward’s career began. His years at Wazzu also overlapped with current Heisman candidate and Oklahoma starter John Mateer.
“We’ve got a good list,” Morris said.
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So, it may come as a surprise that his current project — shaping a walk-on, who hadn’t won a starting job since his freshman year of high school — has Morris on his most realistic path to the College Football Playoff yet.
The third-year North Texas coach has led his program to a 5-0 start, its best since 1959. Led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who ranks top-15 in the nation in passing yards, the Mean Green offense is scoring at a top-10 rate and leads all programs outside the Power 4 with 44.8 points per game.
Through the first six weeks of the 2025 season, the American Conference has established itself as the most competitive outside of the Power 4 with its champion likely to secure an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. North Texas is one of a handful of teams in that mix. A Friday evening clash with No. 24 South Florida at DATCU Stadium on ESPN gives the Mean Green the chance to get one step closer to that conference title game and a national ranking in the AP poll.
That national attention is unusual for North Texas, whose football program can easily be overshadowed by the power conference teams in its state or even the high school football programs that also call Denton home.
But as expectations rise and Morris continues to prove he has a sixth sense in recruiting quarterback talent, the Mean Green are hoping to become college football’s next great Cinderella story.
“We are much improved on both sides of the ball, and we’ve got a real chance at this,” Mestemaker said. “It’s just been taking it week-by-week and not overlooking an opponent. You can’t go 12-0 if you don’t go 1-0 every week.”
Texas State quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) scores a touchdown during the second half of the First Responder Bowl NCAA college football game against Texas State Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero / AP
An unlikely rise
UNT’s story has been one of proving it belongs in a state full of football giants, and Mestemaker understands that journey on a deeper level.
Just like his university had been left out of realignment cycles and only reached the American in 2023, Mestemaker had to wait his turn.
Before this season, his last full-time starting job was as a freshman in high school on the B team at Austin Vandegrift. While he led that team to a perfect 10-0 record, he waited his turn from there behind Brayden Buchanan, who now plays baseball at Baylor, before Louisville commit Deuce Adams transferred in and pushed him further down the depth chart.
Mestemaker wasn’t recruited because there was no tape to show what he could do. While he made UNT as a walk-on last year, he still wasn’t convinced he was ready for college football.
“Whenever I got here in the summer, it kind of took me about a month or so to kind of realize I belong here, and I could really play at this level,” he said. “A month in, I kind of realized this is where I meant to be, and I’ve really got a shot at it.”
Mestemaker climbed the depth chart from sixth to second last season, passing multiple scholarship players. When starter Chandler Morris transferred to Virginia before the First Responder Bowl against Texas State, his number was called.
Even then, Mestemaker still hadn’t secured the job for this season, as UNT planned to bring in Miami transfer Reese Poffenbarger.
“Getting that starting job for the bowl game, after that, I didn’t want to give it up again,” Mestemaker said. “They told me Reese was coming in before the bowl game, and I understood it. They had never seen me play a football game before. But that wasn’t gonna stop how I was going to compete and go at it every day.”
As a redshirt freshman, Mestemaker won the job this season and has proven he’s college football-ready. In five games, he’s completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,247 yards, 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
“Everyone wants to see a Cinderella team beat a big-name team, and I think he fits right in that storyline,” Morris said. “For me to watch him continue to get better and continue to lead the offense the way he is right now, it’s kind of hard for me to believe at times that he’s only played six games now really in the last 15 years or so.”
Mestemaker has ensured there’s been no drop-off after losing Morris, who threw for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns last year. But a solid quarterback wasn’t all UNT needed.
The Mean Green lost more one-score games than anyone in the nation in Morris’ first two years as head coach, he said. Their defense also allowed 34.2 points and 460.5 yards per game.
A new defensive staff led by defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity from Sam Houston has made noticeable strides, shutting out Lamar in Week 1 and holding Washington State to 10 points in a blowout win. The Mean Green have also continued to play close games but come out on the right side this time, including twice in overtime.
“Every game’s been a little bit different for us, and the cool thing as a coach is I think we’ve found different ways to win games, and I think that builds character within your team,” Morris said.
North Texas linebacker Trey Fields (6) celebrates the interception by North Texas cornerback Kollin Lewis (25) in the second quarter during an NCAA football game against Washington State on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Denton, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Richard W. Rodriguez / AP
Stepping into the spotlight
North Texas faces its biggest test yet Friday against USF. The Bulls were ranked for the first time in the AP poll earlier this season after beating two teams ranked at the time: No. 25 Boise State and No. 13 Florida. They dropped out of the poll after suffering their only loss thus far to No. 5 Miami. But USF is now back in the top-25 ahead of the matchup with UNT.
Friday’s game and a Nov. 1 clash with Navy remain the toughest games on North Texas’ schedule, but both are winnable. The path to 12-0 is in front of them.
That potential paired with the underdog storyline has brought national attention to UNT for the first time in a while. The Mean Green expect a good turnout for Friday’s game with those traveling to town for Saturday’s Red River matchup between Texas and Oklahoma making the short drive up to Denton for an opening act.
UNT President Harrison Keller also announced classes will be canceled for students Friday afternoon, so they can attend the game.
“It’s no secret. We’re trying to really get our fans engaged and our students engaged and rally behind this team that’s having a ton of success on the field right now,” Morris said. “National exposure for our brand, for our university right now is something that I think we can take to an all-time high if we can continue to win some games.”
Those at the Group of Five level that earn that exposure often get the opportunity to make a jump to something bigger. UNT’s starting quarterback left for the ACC. Morris could leave for the SEC or Big 12 with his name being linked to head coach openings at Arkansas and Oklahoma State.
“It’s a compliment and means, hey, we’re doing something right around here,” Morris said. “But for me, I have such a good relationship with [athletic director] Jared Mosley here, and then I just love the people I work with every day, so I stay as far away from that stuff. I’m so committed to what’s going on right here, right now.”
Mestemaker and the players are equally focused on living in the now. They’re not allowing their minds to wander to what could be in December or January. Instead, they’re hoping their hot start can continue for another week.
“It’s awesome. It’s what you dream of as a college football player to be talked about with the big teams and get the national attention,” Mestemaker said. “That’s part of what you play for: to play in big games. You’ve got to appreciate the moment, appreciate the privilege, but also take a step back and just do your job. Do what you do every day.”
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