The secret to success in 2022 for North Texas is to bottle the momentum gained during a five-game winning streak to close the 2021 season and carry that over to a new campaign. The Mean Green were 1-6 more than halfway through last season, but a loss at home to Liberty was the spark that became a wildfire. North Texas wouldn’t lose again until the bowl game, knocking off future Conference USA champion UTSA along the way.
The turnaround was a result, at least in part, to a change in philosophy. North Texas abandoned its normally pass-happy offensive style that allowed former quarterback Mason Fine to set records for a tough, rugged style that placed two tight ends on the field on most plays. Some of that was dictated by a rash of injuries at wide receiver. Some of it was because the strengths of the offense were along the offensive line and at running back.