Few afternoons in North Texas football history carry higher stakes than this Black Friday showdown, with the 21st-ranked Mean Green returning to DATCU Stadium chasing a first-ever 11-win season, a berth in the American Championship Game, and a stronger push toward the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Temple arrives still scrapping for bowl eligibility after flashing real upside against No. 24 Tulane behind record-setting quarterback Evan Simon, and looking to upset a Mean Green program set to lose its head coach whenever this fairytale comes to an end.
Our Temple vs. North Texas prediction digs into the advanced PFSN grades that could swing this matchup, offers an in-depth schematic breakdown, revisits the brief head-to-head history, and closes with a projected final score for one of Black Friday’s most intriguing games.
Temple vs. North Texas Details
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: DATCU Stadium, Denton, TX
- Predicted Weather at Kick: 57 degrees
- How to watch: ESPN
Temple vs. North Texas Head-to-Head Record
Saturday will mark just the third-ever clash between North Texas and Temple, a fledgling series that already features two very different Mean Green victories. The debut meeting in Denton was a 45-14 rout punctuated by Ja’Mori Maclin’s 163 yards and two touchdowns, while last year’s rematch in Philadelphia turned into a 24-17 grind that doubled as UNT’s bowl-clinching win.
Temple quarterback Evan Simon threw for 268 yards and added a rushing touchdown in that closer contest, with defender Javier Morton recording a career-high 10 tackles to keep the Owls within reach. Even so, the outcome mirrored the first chapter, leaving North Texas unbeaten in the matchup and Temple still hunting its first breakthrough as the series enters Year 3.
Temple vs. North Texas Grades
Below are the PFSN team and positional grades for the highest-ranked players set to be featured in Temple vs. North Texas.
PFSN College OFFi
- Temple (75.4, C)
- North Texas (84.8, B)
PFSN College DEFi
- Temple (69.7, D+)
- North Texas (74.0, C)
PFSN College OLi
- Temple (68.4, D+)
- North Texas (76.8, C)
PFSN College QBi
- Evan Simon, Temple (84.5, B)
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas (88.4, B)
PFSN College RBi
- Jay Ducker, Temple (75.1, C)
- Caleb Hawkins, North Texas (88.1, B+)
PFSN College WRi
- Jojo Bermudez, Temple (74.5, C)
- Cameron Dorner, North Texas (77.8, C+)
PFSN College TEi
- Peter Clarke, Temple (81.4, B-)
- Tre Williams III, North Texas (76.8, C)
PFSN College EDGEi
- Cam’Ron Stewart, Temple (83.1, B)
- Ethan Day, North Texas (70.6, C-)
PFSN College DTi
- K.J. Miles, Temple (70.0, D+)
- Keviyan Huddleston, North Texas (74.2, C)
PFSN College LBi
- Curly Ordonez, Temple (73.1, C)
- Ethan Wesloski, North Texas (77.1, C+)
PFSN College CBi
- Ben Osueke, Temple (77.3, C+)
- Kollin Lewis, North Texas (80.5, B- )
PFSN College SAFi
- Jamere Jones, Temple (73.7, C)
- Patrick Smith-Young, North Texas (78.1, C+)
Temple vs. North Texas Prediction
When numbers meet narrative, this one sets up like two teams climbing the same hill at very different speeds. North Texas owns the higher team offensive grade. It boasts balance everywhere, from Mestemaker, one of the nation’s most efficient passers, to touchdown machine Hawkins, whose mark sits well above Temple’s rushing grade.
The Mean Green also holds the edge in the trenches and on the back end, with a stronger offensive line and secondary that pair well with a tempo-pushing offense built to stress the Owls’ defense.
Temple’s most straightforward path lies in Simon, who grades nearly level with Mestemaker and has the arm to stretch drives into danger if given time. Stewart off the edge, and Clarke gives the Owls just enough playmaking to turn this into a game. But only if they can keep pace with one of the most explosive scoring engines in the country.
If North Texas dictates tempo, controls red-zone touches, and forces Temple into a chase script, the math favors green. Simon keeps it honest, but Hawkins and Mestemaker tilt the final.
Prediction: North Texas 42, Temple 24