USF vs. North Texas 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions

The South Florida Bulls didn’t put on their best performance against the Charlotte 49ers in Week 6, but they still found a way to move to 4-1 on the season. They are now 1-0 in conference play, reclaimed a spot in the AP Top-25, and continued on a path toward possible playoff contention. With increasing expectations and plenty of noise surrounding the program, USF is remaining solely focused on its next challenge ahead. Although, as the season progresses, this gauntlet of a schedule is far from over, and it’s only bound to get tougher.

In Week 7, the No. 24 Bulls will travel to Denton, Texas, to take on the undefeated North Texas Mean Green. It will be a battle of some of the best teams in the American Conference. With all of that being said, let’s jump into this Week 7 preview.

USF Bulls vs. North Texas Mean Green: History and Excerpts

This game will mark the third all-time meeting between these two teams, after having consecutive matchups in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. USF is currently undefeated in the series, most recently defeating North Texas in Denton by a score of 24-17. But that was over two decades ago, and the Mean Green are on a historic run, taking the American by storm.

North Texas has undeniable talent and weapons on its team, but the depth of its schedule up until now can raise some cause for concern in terms of how it will size up with USF. In that regard, the Bulls are much more battle-tested at this point of the season, but if they play similarly to their performance against Charlotte last week, it could be difficult to come out on top in Denton.

Going into this matchup, the North Texas Mean Green are currently third in the American, tied with the Bulls. They hold a 5-0 record and are also 1-0 in the conference. In addition to having home-field advantage, the Mean Green are slightly favored in this matchup. However, considering all factors, the polls have been consistently fluctuating.

USF vs. North Texas 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions

Key Players for South Florida

The current leader in rushing yards is none other than quarterback Byrum Brown, who has recorded a career-best 282 rushing yards and nearly 1200 passing yards in 2025. While Brown does have four interceptions on the season, he continues to capitalize on his presence on the field. And, his leadership of this Bulls football team continues to shine through in each and every game. The message has been sent and continues to be emphasized: Byrum Brown is a force to be reckoned with.

Brown has dynamic weapons on offense to turn to as well. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Koger recorded four receptions for 75 yards and his first collegiate touchdown, showcasing his talent against Charlotte. Fellow freshman wide receiver Christian Neptune tallied his best stats against the Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes, and he will look to continue to be a viable option for the Bulls.

Starting running back Cartevious Norton suffered a serious injury in Week 6 and will be out of play for the foreseeable future. The backfield will now likely be split between Sam Franklin, Alvon Isaac, and Nykahi Davenport.

The USF defense will aim to control Drew Mestemaker and the Mean Green offense with defensive tackles Traevon Mitchell and Devin Lee. A very powerful linebacker duo consisting of Jhalyn Shuler and Mac Harris will be counted on to pressure Mestemaker and to stop this offense in its tracks.

Key Players for North Texas

The Mean Green offensive attack is led by multi-faceted, redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker. He’s been quite the playmaker himself, leading with 1,247 yards for 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions for the season. Making his collegiate debut in the 2024 First Responder Bowl, Drew hasn’t lost a game since, and he’s proved that he won’t give up the ball easily by any means.

Mestemaker’s go-to targets are wide receivers Miles Coleman and Wyatt Young. Running back Makenzie McGill II is another reliable playmaker on the team, leading North Texas with 318 rushing yards. Caleb Hawkins also has a consistent presence on the offense and is right behind McGill with 307 rushing yards on the season.

The Mean Green defense will aim to halt Byrum Brown from either running the ball himself or allowing the Bulls’ offense to gain any sort of momentum. At the forefront of this unit are linebackers Shane Whitter and Trey Fields. The North Texas defensive unit is primarily solidified at the line, as Whitter currently leads with 48 tackles and one interception. It can be expected that the Mean Green will aim to prevent any explosive plays from USF that will send them downfield, or perhaps directly into the red zone.

2025 Game Preview: How USF Wins vs. North Texas in Week 7

Don’t give up the ball easily

Fumbles, miscues, penalties, and dropped passes were among the many factors that contributed to the turnovers and sloppy performance USF displayed in Week 6. In order to stay in control of the game, it will be crucial for the Bulls to maintain ball security and keep possessions in their hands for as long as possible.

Defense up to par

The Bulls’ defense has been fairly successful up to this point, and it will be important for them to continue on that trajectory. Whether it’s forcing turnovers, preventing explosive plays, or sending multiple cover zeros on Drew Mestemaker, the unit will need to execute at a very high level.

Block out the noise

Maintaining drive and focus will be key. While this may be a hostile or challenging road environment, the Bulls have already faced two of the toughest places to play in, securing a last-second victory at The Swamp and competing in a very loud Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. There is already expected to be a large, amped-up crowd at DATCU Stadium this Friday night, with the University of North Texas canceling all classes after 12 p.m. on game day in anticipation of this Week 7 matchup against USF.