North Texas NCAA head football coach Neal Brown, center, is introduced as the 21st coach by director of athletics Jared Mosley, right, and university president Harrison Keller Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Denton, Texas.
LM Otero/AP
DENTON — For Neal Brown and the North Texas football team, the 2026 season will revolve around a key concept: connection.
What makes chemistry-building so important this year? UNT is looking to maintain a high level of play with a new coaching staff in place and a massively overhauled roster.
Less than a year ago, UNT made its mark as one of the sport’s biggest surprises. The program was in the College Football Playoff conversation for much of 2025, soaring past more highly regarded teams in the American Conference with its high-powered offense. Now, the Mean Green are taking on a different set of challenges.
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“We’re on a relentless pursuit of better,” Brown said after the team’s first practice of fall camp. “That’s what we talk about from a culture standpoint.”
Since November 2025, UNT has undergone a litany of changes. The first domino to fall during the Mean Green’s 12-2 campaign was the departure of Eric Morris, who left the program to take the head coaching gig at Oklahoma State. Next were the exits of star players like quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and linebacker Ethan Wesloski, who followed Morris to Stillwater.
When Brown was hired at UNT in December, the new head coach and his staff quickly worked to put together a revamped roster. By the time spring came around, the program had added 52 players to its ranks through the transfer portal.
UNT added experienced names in the portal, including former SMU linebacker Zakye Barker. The linebacker appeared in 11 games at SMU in 2025 during a season limited by a hamstring injury. When asked why he chose UNT to close out his collegiate career, Barker said he was drawn by the idea of working with Brown, defensive coordinator Matt Powledge and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto.
Barker researched all three coaches when he visited UNT. He was impressed with the positive feedback he received when he reached out to players who have suited up for Brown, Powledge and Peveto in the past.
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“To have that from all three is kind of what you want. You want a very transparent coaching staff. If you come to North Texas, that’s what you get,” said Barker, who played at East Carolina in 2023 and 2024. “A transparent coaching staff that’s going to shoot you straight and tell you what it is and what it isn’t.”
Rice running back Quinton Jackson (10) slips the tackle attempt by North Texas’ Baron Tipton (80) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Michael Wyke/AP
UNT also has several holdovers from its 2025 roster. Players like wide receiver Baron Tipton are hoping to carve out a more prominent role in Brown’s offensive scheme. The Coppell product appeared in 14 games for the Mean Green last year, seeing most of his playing time on special teams.
Tipton said Brown has emphasized establishing chemistry since the new-look UNT group first came together over the winter.
“That’s one of Coach Brown’s main things for us every single team meeting. He says, ‘Connection, connection,’ ” Tipton said. “When we go eat meals and dinner with each other, [we] put our phones down, connect and build those relationships because the closer teams are the winning teams.”
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As a new era in Denton begins, Brown wants this UNT squad to add to the program’s legacy of high-octane offenses. UNT previously fielded some of the nation’s most explosive teams under head coaches like Morris and Seth Littrell.
Brown has spent time educating his players on UNT’s previous offensive success. He said the group’s goal is to have “the most entertaining offense in the country.”
“If you’re entertaining, that means you’re scoring points. You’re creative,” Brown said. “We talked about scoring from far, that’s the explosive plays. But if we’re doing that, then we’ve got a chance.”
Before UNT’s offense can take the field, Brown and his staff have a few position battles to sort out. The most intriguing battle is taking place at quarterback, where Tayven Jackson, Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr. are looking to secure the top spot. Jackson came to UNT from UCF, while Ditta transferred from East Carolina. Jimerson enters his second year at UNT after leading North Crowley to a Class 6A Division I state title in 2024.
Brown said the quarterback battle will ultimately come down to “who scores touchdowns,” meaning production in the offensive system will determine a starter this fall.
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UNT will encounter a tough slate as it looks to maintain its place among American Conference title contenders. The team opens its schedule against defending national champion Indiana on Sept. 5 in Bloomington, Ind. Brown and his group seem ready to welcome those challenges with open arms.
“I think the common theme for all of us in this organization is everybody is hungry to prove themselves,” Brown said. “They’ve got a chip on their shoulder, and I’m excited to see how it all comes together.”