San Diego State challenges No. 25 North Texas' historic season in New Mexico Bowl

No. 25 North Texas Mean Green looks to cap the best season in program history by breaking a baffling bowl jinx when it squares off with dangerous San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday afternoon in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, N.M.

The game will be a clash of strengths, with the Mean Green (11-2) boasting one of the nation's most explosive teams and the Aztecs (9-3) ranked among FBS' best defenses.

North Texas set a school record for wins with coach Eric Morris at the helm, but he left to be the head man at Oklahoma State following the Mean Green's 34-21 loss to Tulane in the American championship game on Dec. 5.

That loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Mean Green and kept them from earning a spot -- taken by Tulane -- in the College Football Playoff.

"These guys are locked in," North Texas interim coach Drew Svoboda said. "Initially, obviously, coming off a loss in the American Conference championship game, there was a lot of disappointment in that locker room.

"When we brought everybody back and had a chance to get all these guys together and talk about the goal and what's still in front of this football team, we realized they're excited to play."

North Texas' most recent win in a bowl game was the Heart of Dallas Bowl that ended the 2013 season. In the 12 seasons since, the Mean Green have lost seven consecutive bowl games.

The Mean Green are led by second-year quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who has said he will evaluate his future after the season. It's all but written in stone that Mestemaker -- who at this time last year was preparing to make his first start since his freshman year of high school -- will be heading to the transfer portal, as soon as right after Saturday's game.

Mestemaker threw for a national-best 4,129 yards and his 31 touchdown passes rank second to Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. Mestemaker earned AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

"I just go at it every day and give it my best shot," Mestemaker said. "That was my mentality when I first got here, showing up as quarterback five or six. I had to grind my way up every day."

The Mean Green rank first in the FBS in scoring offense (44.8 points per game) and total offense (504.3 yards per game) as well as second in passing (323.2 ypg) and third in passing efficiency (174.3 rating).

The Aztecs head into Saturday's game after a 23-17 double-overtime loss on Nov. 28 at New Mexico that cost San Diego State a berth in the Mountain West championship game. The Aztecs tied with Boise State, New Mexico and UNLV atop the league standings, but was left out of the title game because computer rankings determined the participants.

"In the history of this proud program, there are not very many teams that got to 10 (wins)," San Diego State coach Sean Lewis said. "(If you get) six to seven wins, you are a good team. Eight to nine (wins), you are a great team. You get to double digits, that is an elite level that not many teams will get to year in and year out."

The Aztecs rank fifth in the nation in scoring defense (12.6 PPG), third in pass efficiency defense (99.1 rating), fourth in pass defense (157.0 ypg) and sixth in total defense (266.7 ypg). San Diego State has allowed just 151 points, including 38 on Nov 8 at Hawaii and 36 on Sept. 6 at Washington State. In the other 10 games, the Aztecs surrendered just 77 points.

San Diego State will play without starting quarterback Jayden Denegal, who underwent surgery on Dec. 17 to repair an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Denegal suffered the injury against Stony Brook on Aug. 28 during the team's first game. He played the rest of the year while wearing a protective harness.

The Aztecs are 10-10 in their 20 bowl appearances, with their most recent bowl game a 25-23 loss to Middle Tennessee in the 2022 Hawaii Bowl. San Diego State's last bowl win was a 38-24 decision over UTSA in the 2021 Frisco Bowl.

--Field Level Media