North Texas will provide Utah State with a stiff challenge at the New Mexico Bowl

The North Texas Mean Green: a team that many Utah State Aggies fans may not know very well. Who can blame them? The Aggies and Mean Green have faced off only seven times in the last 22 years.

But on Saturday, the teams will meet in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque. It will be Utah State’s second-ever trip to that bowl game and North Texas’ first.

The Mean Green play in the West Division of Conference USA, where they finished tied for second with a 5-3 record. They were 9-3 overall in 2018.

Like the Aggies, the Mean Green boast several players who rank among the nation’s best. Their quarterback, junior Mason Fine, ranks eighth in both passing yards per game (311.2) and total passing yards (3,734). He’s also fifth in completions per game (24.58) and 10th in total offense.

Sophomore running back DeAndre Torrey is sixth in the nation with 17 total touchdowns, and junior wide receiver Rico Bussey, Jr., ranks seventh in receiving touchdowns with 12. Defensively, senior E.J. Ejiya sits fourth in tackles for a loss (23.0) and senior Kemon Hall is third in passes defended per game (1.7).

Those may seem like just a bunch of fancy numbers that fly against the notion that football is won on the field. But the Aggies are preparing for North Texas with both the eye test and what’s on paper. They know the challenge that lies ahead.

“The kids truly understand that this is probably going to be one of the best teams they’ve seen all season long and they’re ready for it,” interim coach Frank Maile said Monday. “They understand what’s at stake here with the team we’re about to face. We’re excited about the challenge and it’s going to be a good one.”

In studying the Mean Green, several of the Aggies see bits of themselves in the game film. Like Utah State, North Texas has an explosive offense, and it also has similar principles on defense. The Aggies have practiced defending themselves, in a way, to get a feel for how North Texas might attack.

“Their offense is made on key, big plays, the same as our offense,” Aggies senior safety Jontrell Rocquemore said. “In preparation, it’s kind of cool to go against our offense and get a similar look to what we’re going to see in the bowl game.”

Due to Utah State’s 10-2 season and its own dynamic players, North Texas head coach Seth Littrell knows how difficult it will be to get a win Saturday.

“They are the most complete team we’ve played, they’re well-coached and they’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Littrell said Tuesday. “We know the challenge, but I do believe our guys are excited and I feel like we’re kind of peaking at the right time.”

The Mean Green have a two-game winning streak heading into the bowl game, but have lost their last two bowl games. Utah State leads the all-time series against North Texas 4-3, its last win being in 2000.

After losing to Boise State in the last game of the regular season, the Aggies have a chip on their shoulder. But the team feels confident about its chances.

“When we’re technique-sound and gap-sound and things like that, and we play to the best of our ability,” Aggies junior running back Darwin Thompson said last week. “I don’t really think the other team’s game plan will really play out the way they want it to go.”