USF vs. North Texas, Wk 7, 10-10-25 | Photo Gallery
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Franklin finished the 2025 season with 474 yards rushing on 80 carries (5.93 YPC) with four touchdowns.
Two AAC teams fighting to stay relevant in the college football playoff hunt faced off on Friday night in Denton, Texas. USF (5-1) came into DATCU Stadium with upset victories over Boise State and Florida on its resume. Outside of a back-and-forth contest versus Army, North Texas (5-1) came in as a largely untested undefeated squad. It did not stop the Mean Green’s first-ever sellout crowd from being enthused.
Both teams featured all-conference caliber quarterbacks. USF’s Byrum Brown continued his dual-threat mastery of the position with a stellar performance. Brown completed 78-percent of his 28 attempts for 245 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. In addition, he rushed 21 times for 82 yards and two more scores.
North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker looked to build on an otherwise improbable story that began in last season’s First Responder Bowl. Through five games in 2025, Mestemaker had accounted for 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. That changed on Friday, as the opportunistic Bulls defense picked him off three times.
Led by linebackers Jhalyn Shuler (8 tackles, TFL, 34-yd FR, 34-yd INT) and Mac Harris, the Bulls dominated much of the third quarter. Prior to the Bulls scoring 21 unanswered points, the game was deadlocked at 21 to begin the second half.
The score to begin the fourth quarter?
South Florida 49 North Texas 28
The Bulls eventually cruised to a 63-36 victory behind an explosive offense and ball-hawking defensive effort.
We break down some of the game’s moments in our photo collage.
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