Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker orchestrated a historic performance for North Texas, passing for a school-record 608 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant 54-20 win over Charlotte on Friday night, setting a new American Conference single-game passing record.
Mestemaker, a redshirt freshman from Austin, Texas, completed 37 of 49 passes (75.5%) with one interception, leading the Mean Green to their seventh victory of the season. The game took place at Charlotte’s stadium, where North Texas improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the American Conference, keeping their hopes alive for a conference championship and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
The contest started with North Texas taking an early 7-0 lead after Mestemaker connected with Cameron Dorner on a 41-yard touchdown pass. However, Charlotte responded with a field goal and a 33-yard touchdown pass from Grayson Loftis to Javen Nicholas, taking a 10-7 lead into the second quarter. The 49ers extended their advantage to 17-7 with another long touchdown pass, but North Texas fought back to tie the game at 17-17 by halftime, thanks to a field goal and a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mestemaker to Caleb Hawkins.
In the third quarter, Charlotte briefly regained the lead with a field goal, but it was all North Texas from there. The Mean Green scored 37 unanswered points, starting with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Kiefer Sibley set up by a 30-yard pass from Mestemaker. Field goals and additional touchdown passes, including a 70-yard strike to Wyatt Young, sealed the rout, with Sibley and Ashton Gray adding rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Mestemaker’s 608 passing yards broke the previous North Texas record of 601 yards set by Daniel Meager in 2007 and set a new American Conference single-game record. This performance places him 17th all-time in FBS history for single-game passing yards, joining elite company such as Connor Halliday and Patrick Mahomes, who hold the record with 734 yards each.
The victory bolstered North Texas’s position in the American Conference race and improved their chances for a Group of Five bid in the expanded College Football Playoff. Entering the game, ESPN’s CFP predictor gave the Mean Green a 14% chance of making the 12-team field, and this win likely enhances their resume. Mestemaker, who was added to the Manning Award Watch List just before the game, has emerged as a key player in the team’s successful season.
Looking ahead, North Texas will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their conference schedule. The record-setting performance by Mestemaker not only highlights his individual talent but also underscores the team’s offensive prowess, making them a formidable opponent in the weeks to come.