2021 Frisco Football Classic Preview: Miami-Ohio vs. North Texas

The bowl season contains a lot of unique elements, but this might be the most unique element of them all. This is not a regular occurrence within the workings of the bowl system, but it’s true: A new bowl game not originally on the 2021 bowl schedule at the start of the college football regular season was created on the fly by ESPN so that all bowl-eligible teams would be able to play in a bowl game. The first-ever Frisco Football Classic was not planned well in advance. It is an immediate creation and an instant response to a developing situation on the ground. Let’s see how Miami and North Texas handle it all.  

Miami-Ohio Redhawks vs. North Texas Mean Green
Date: Thursday, December 23rd, 3:30 PM ET

Location: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX

CFB Odds: Miami -2.5

Miami-Ohio Redhawks

The Redhawks got better as the season moved along. This team scored consecutive 27-point wins late in the season before losing by one point in its regular-season finale to Kent State. Had Miami won that game, it would have captured the Mid-American Conference East Division championship. As it was, Miami still had a solid year. Three of the team’s six losses were to Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Army – a playoff team, a Big Ten team, and an eight-win service academy team. You will see a number of 6-6 teams playing in bowl games and think they didn’t do anything. Miami might not have a great win on its resume, but there isn’t a truly bad loss on this team’s portfolio, and that is worth noting in the midst of everything else. The MAC was a wild, volatile, parity-filled conference this season. Miami didn’t rise above it, but it also didn’t get subdued by it, and it won enough close games – including a win over 2020 MAC champion Ball State – to qualify for a bowl game.

North Texas Mean Green

The Mean Green lost six games in a row in the first half of the season but then won five in a row to get to 6-6 and gain bowl eligibility. The toughest of those five wins were an overtime victory over Rice which started the five-game streak, and a win over Texas-San Antonio which completed the streak. The win over UTSA gave the Roadrunners their only loss of the season in 13 games. UTSA’s bid for a perfect season was spoiled after the Roadrunners had started the year 11-0. That was a very special triumph no one on the North Texas roster or coaching staff will ever forget. It was a terrific achievement for a team which looked completely lost during that six-game losing streak. Being able to turn things around is a testament to this team’s resilience.

Outlook

Both teams have learned and grown from early-season struggles and defeats. They’re on similar tracks here, but North Texas beat a 12-win UTSA team and is playing in its home state. The Mean Green have some small but real advantages they should be able to translate into a win.

Redhawks vs. Mean Green Prediction:

Mean Green 31, Redhawks 27