If you walked into the FedExForum on New Year’s Eve, you saw it. It wasn't just another conference opener. It was a gritty, low-scoring mess that felt more like a street fight than a basketball game. Memphis eventually outlasted North Texas 57-48, but the score doesn't tell the whole story. The North Texas vs Memphis rivalry has moved past being a "new kid on the block" situation and turned into a genuine headache for the Tigers.
Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating. You have Memphis, a program with a massive legacy and Penny Hardaway at the helm, constantly being pushed to the brink by a North Texas team that basically refuses to go away. Whether it’s football or basketball, these two programs keep finding ways to make each other miserable.
The Football Shootouts Nobody Saw Coming
Look at the football history. Historically, Memphis has owned this. They lead the all-time series 19-3. But if you only look at the win-loss record, you're missing the point. The last few years have been absolute chaos.
In October 2024, they played a 52-44 game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. It was ridiculous. North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris threw for 445 yards. DT Sheffield was doing backflips in the endzone. Memphis won, sure, but they had to sweat through 60 minutes of offensive fireworks to do it. Mario Anderson Jr. had to put the team on his back with four rushing touchdowns just to keep the Mean Green from pulling the upset.
The 2023 game was even tighter—a 45-42 heartbreaker in Denton.
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North Texas has this weird ability to play up to the competition. They don't have the same blue-blood recruiting rankings as the Tigers, but they play a style of ball that forces Memphis into high-stakes mistakes. You've got Eric Morris running that "Air Raid" variation in Denton, and it’s basically designed to give defensive coordinators nightmares.
Recent Football Results
- 2024: Memphis 52, North Texas 44 (Memphis, TN)
- 2023: Memphis 45, North Texas 42 (Denton, TX)
- 2022: Memphis 44, North Texas 34 (Memphis, TN)
Notice a pattern? The gap is closing. Memphis keeps winning, but the margins are razor-thin. It’s no longer a "check the box" win for the Tigers. It's a "survive and advance" scenario.
The Hardaway vs. Hodge Chess Match
Now, let's talk hoops. This is where the North Texas vs Memphis dynamic gets really salty. North Texas brings that "Junk Yard Dog" mentality. They want the game to be slow. They want it to be ugly. They want to hold you to 50 points and win by two.
Memphis wants to run. They want Dug McDaniel and Zach Davis out in transition, catching lobs and hitting transition threes.
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On December 31, 2025, North Texas almost pulled off the heist. They forced 20 Memphis turnovers. Think about that. Memphis is at home, in front of nearly 10,000 people, and they’re throwing the ball into the stands because the Mean Green defense is so suffocating.
Je'Shawn Stevenson for North Texas is a problem. He put up 20 points in that loss and basically kept them in it single-handedly. But Memphis has more depth. When the game got tight, Zach Davis came off the bench and hit two massive threes to stretch the lead. That’s the difference right now—Memphis has the "luxury" players, while North Texas has the "grinders."
The 2025-2026 Basketball Snapshot
- December 31, 2025: Memphis wins 57-48. A defensive slugfest where nobody could hit a three (combined 6-of-33 from deep).
- January 11, 2026: A different story for the Memphis season, but the North Texas game remains the benchmark for their toughness.
- The Women's Side: Interestingly, the North Texas women's team has actually flipped the script. On January 13, 2026, the Mean Green women beat Memphis 75-64 in Denton. Megan Nestor was a beast on the boards with 11 rebounds.
Why This Matters for the AAC
The American Athletic Conference is in a weird spot. With big names like Houston and UCF gone, there’s a power vacuum. Memphis thinks they own the crown. North Texas thinks they’re the rightful heirs.
What makes this rivalry work is the geographical proximity and the recruiting overlap. Both schools are fighting for the same three-star and four-star athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the Tennessee corridor. When a kid from Dallas chooses North Texas over a bigger offer from Memphis, it adds a layer of "I'll show you" to every matchup.
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Key Players to Watch in 2026
- Dug McDaniel (Memphis): The engine. If he's under control, Memphis wins. If North Texas flusters him, things get sideways.
- Chandler Morris (North Texas Football): If he stays healthy, he’s one of the most productive QBs in the country.
- Zach Davis (Memphis): The X-factor. He’s the guy who usually breaks the North Texas zone.
- Je'Shawn Stevenson (North Texas): A pure scorer who doesn't care about the name on the front of the opponent's jersey.
Misconceptions About the Matchup
Most people think Memphis is just "better." On paper, they usually are. They have the bigger NIL budget and the flashy NBA-affiliated coach.
But you've gotta realize that North Texas has become a "system" school. They don't rely on one superstar; they rely on a defensive identity that travels. That’s why the betting lines on North Texas vs Memphis games are usually much closer than the casual fan expects.
If you're betting on these games, or even just watching for fun, never trust a Memphis double-digit lead. North Texas is built to claw back. They’re like that one guy at the gym who isn't the best shooter but somehow ends up winning every game because he outworks everyone.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are following this rivalry into the 2026 season, here is how you should look at it:
- Watch the Turnovers: In basketball, Memphis is prone to high-turnover games. If North Texas is plus-5 in turnover margin by halftime, the Tigers are in deep trouble.
- Home Court is Real: North Texas plays exceptionally well at the Super Pit in Denton. The atmosphere is cramped and loud. Memphis tends to struggle there more than they do at the neutral sites.
- Football Over/Under: When these two meet on the gridiron, take the "Over." Both teams have high-octane offenses and defenses that occasionally forget to get off the bus.
- Follow the Women's Teams: As mentioned, the Mean Green women's program is currently on a four-game win streak against Memphis. They’ve figured something out that the men’s side is still chasing.
The North Texas vs Memphis story is still being written. It’s a battle of styles, a battle of resources, and increasingly, a battle of genuine dislike. Whether you’re a fan of the Tigers or the Mean Green, you can’t deny that whenever these two programs meet, something weird, wild, or high-scoring is bound to happen.