Football is conflated with warfare too often, but I understand why. The earliest days of the game were played by men and boys who were expected to prepare themselves for battle, to lead and be led in the types of collective endeavors that are war-like, and football lent itself to this easily.
There is much to be said about football-coaches-as-generals and the rest, but I’m thinking of the idea of not taking on an enemy head-on. Being clever, and avoiding the losses that could come with a direct confrontation. This is good and smart on the battlefield, but again football is not battle and the nature of the sport is to compete.
I am confused by the people who bemoan a tough schedule. I understand that the likelihood of winning against a tough schedule is lower than if you played a bunch of HCUs all year, but a competition is about testing oneself.
We cannot concern ourselves with any playoff in this moment. We must focus on the winnable contests in front of us. That being Tulsa, on the road, in front of a large television crowd
October 1, 2026 - 8:00 p.m. CT - TV: ESPN • Radio: Mean Green Sports Network - Sirius XM 261 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Chapman Stadium (30,000)
Tulsa is coming off a mediocre season, but one in which they upset a bad Oklahoma State team that would get Mike Gundy fired. The team faltered in the regular season down the stretch, couldn’t find the offense and struggled to stop teams.
This year? Well they started the season with an upset over a good Oklahoma State team, and have showed signs of a good defense and can’t really find a lot of offense.
You might have seen the Golden Hurricane lose to Arkansas, but that was without their dynamic QB. He hasn’t done much statistically, but he played very well against Oklahoma State when it mattered.
The rest of their offense is pretty standard stuff. They run inside zone, counter, all the rest. They will throw it deep with their speedy wideouts. They played bold football, but rely on their defense and running game. Basically taking smart shots.
WR 2 Oran Singleton, Jr is an experienced guy but is 5’8” 165. They will throw it to him on some ‘go’ routes, but mostly try to find ways to get him the ball anyway they can. He’s quick, and agile.
Tulsa will go heavy with two or three tight ends and run at you, run around you with some attempted reverses, and definitely like to move the QB to find new launch points. There was a lot to like from their offense against Oklahoma State, but they were limited by some drops and mistakes.
For example, after a play-action deep shot to get them to the one, they committed a holding, then dropped a TD, then tried a QB read option that went nowhere. They were bailed out by a roughing call, and then it took two plays to score.
The offense is just not efficient (talent issue likely) but has some really clever stuff. They run some wildcat adjacent things that will require North Texas to stay on their toes defensively. The offensive line is solid, but nothing like Texas States. The backs are similarly talented, but not as explosive as the Bobcats.
Best Case Scenario: NT forces some third and longs and can keep Baylor Hayes’ scrambles to ineffective 5-yard gains on 3rd-and-10.
Worst Case Scenario: We let Tulsa find a rhythm like they did vs OSU, getting some veer action going and finding the edge.
Tulsa held UNT-Stillwater to just 10 points, and the film tells me they were getting gashed by the run game, and the pass game until Mestemaker started throwing some passes on the ground, over guys’ heads, etc.
Best Case Scenario: Tayven Jackson is able to pick apart the Tulsa defense easily. Jaheim White is able to run to daylight.
Worst Case Scenario: Tulsa is able to get push along the line, force NT into third and longs (with help from our penalty-prone line) and cause punts and turnovers.
Stray Thoughts And Predictions
Vegas doesn’t like this North Texas team. I think they are down on the defense, and don’t really believe in the offense beyond Jaheim White. I think that is fair to a point. The defense has faired well in portions of games, but showed they can be gashed (vs Indiana late, Texas State throughout) and probably need a better resumé before anyone makes NT the favorite.
The advanced numbers are also similarly anti-NT. My own eye test tells me that I like the NT offense. Neal Brown has them doing some smart things, getting some good actions that blend together and put pressure on defenses. There were issues vs Indiana and UNLV, but I think those were in the mode of Growing Pains than anything else. Tayven Jackson hasn’t had a bad game yet. Jaheim White is being used cleverly, while also protecting him. The backup backs have shown some things. The line is getting more consistent.
The WR corps has been showing some good things, as well.
A football team is about developing talent both on the starting line, and behind them. Football isn’t war, but it is not completely dissimilar. You will have attrition. Thus far NT has shown they have a solid two-deep — at least for the American. Tulsa is a quality team that is coached well, but probably a half-a-letter-grade or more less talented than NT from 1-105.
This will be a test for Powledge in game-planning and in-game reaction. It will be another opportunity for Neal Brown to win his first road game as an NT coach. That has proved difficult for Mean Green coaches past.
Vegas says -1.5 for Tulsa
MGN Prediction: NT 34 Tulsa 24