HOUSTON — Drew Mestemaker threw for 469 yards and three touchdowns, Wyatt Young set an American Conference record with 295 yards receiving and two scores, and No. 22 North Texas rallied from an early deficit to beat Rice 56-24 on Saturday night.
Mestemaker went 19 of 23 and completed touchdown passes of 74 and 84 yards to Young and 56 yards to Tre Williams III in the first half. The quarterback also rushed for a 1-yard score in the third quarter as the Mean Green (10-1, 6-1 American) scored 42 straight points after Rice jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Young had the most receiving yards in a Division I game this season, surpassing TCU’s Eric McAlister, who had 254 yards against SMU on Sept. 20.
Caleb Hawkins rushed for 97 yards and three touchdowns, and Tre Williams III had 62 yards receiving and a touchdown for North Texas, which is ranked for the first time since 1959. North Texas outgained Rice 640 yards to 397 in winning its fifth straight game.
The Mean Green scored at least 50 points for the sixth time this season.
Chase Jenkins was 14 of 21 for 101 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 75 yards and a score for Rice (5-6, 2-5). Aaron Turner rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown and had 58 yards receiving and a score.
The takeaway
North Texas: The Mean Green stayed in the hunt for the American championship game. North Texas is in a three-way tie with Navy and Tulane.
North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young, center, celebrates with teammates in the end zone after his touchdown against Rice during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. Credit: AP/Michael Wyke
Rice: The Owls missed a chance to become bowl eligible. Rice fell to 0-2 this season against ranked opponents and last defeated a ranked opponent when it won at No. 20 Marshall in 2020.
Up next
North Texas: Hosts Temple on Friday.
Rice: At South Florida next Saturday.