With potential College Football Playoff implications, the American Conference will crown a champion. For a conference in the Group of Five, the American can influence the final College Football Playoff rankings and games. As a result, millions of eyes will likely tune in to watch.
North Texas and Tulane to Battle in American Conference Championship Game
This Friday, the North Texas Mean Green and Tulane Green Wave will play for the conference title and a presumed chance at a College Football Playoff berth. The berth, as stipulated in the contract, is awarded to one Group of Five champion; the highest-ranked team, in the eyes of the committee, will earn that slot.
Not done yet.#GMG🦅 pic.twitter.com/zGCm0fmn4H
— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) November 30, 2025
Tulane’s home field, Yulman Stadium, will host the 11th annual game, which the University of Houston first won. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
A year ago, the team capped its season with a loss in the First Responder Bowl. Picked to finish in the middle of the pack, this year’s Mean Green jumped out to a 3-0 record with 143 points scored and led FBS with a 46.8 points-per-game average.
Freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker, an unheralded recruit, totaled 3,835 passing yards at a 10-yard average per attempt and emerged as a breakout NIL star. Mestemaker will compete without his head coach, as Eric Morris left for Oklahoma State. Despite this, North Texas’ offense was ranked 19th in FBS by PFSN’s Offense Impact Rankings.
The Mean Greens not only want to score, but they also attempt to put pressure on opponents by using pace, spacing, and attacking at all three levels. Freshman running back Caleb Hawkins balanced the attack with 1,216 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the FBS in scores.
Although head coach Jon Sumrall is leaving to coach Florida, Tulane granted his request to finish the season. BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff leads with 2,717 passing and 561 rushing yards, accounting for 14 touchdowns. Shazz Preston is his favorite receiver, catching 36 passes.
The Green Wave aims to accelerate the pace on offense but grind opposing offenses to a halt with a punishing defense. Harvey Dyson III and Jordan Norman lead a defense that can get to the quarterback but also struggles to consistently stop the pass.
The two coaches who started the season at their respective schools will ply their trade in Power Four environments next fall. The winner of this game will more than likely gain a ticket to the College Football Playoff. The stakes cannot be higher.
