North Texas: 2026 Week 12 recap

North Texas sits at 7–2 and has vaulted into AAC contention after a dominant 52–23 win over Rice in Week 10. GIE's rating jumped 5.3 points to 4.7, landing the Mean Green at 52nd nationally—a sharp reversal from last week's below-water standing. The offense looks capable: a 49.4% fourth-down aggression rate and 5.76 late-game leverage performance suggest North Texas will take calculated risks and finish close games. Red-zone efficiency at 23.3% remains a soft spot worth monitoring, but the overall trajectory points upward. Next up is a road trip to UTSA in Week 11, with the Mean Green still sitting on the outside of the playoff picture but well-positioned to control their AAC fate.