ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — No. 25 North Texas survived a frantic finish and edged San Diego State 49-47 on Dec. 27 in the 2025 New Mexico Bowl, sealing the victory when the Aztecs’ final drive stalled inside the final minute at University Stadium.
The Mean Green jumped out early, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions and building a cushion that proved just enough. North Texas led 28-14 at halftime and extended the advantage to 49-34 midway through the fourth quarter before San Diego State mounted a late comeback that fell short.
North Texas (10-4) rolled up big offensive numbers, finishing with more than 550 yards and scoring on seven of its first nine drives. Quarterback Jace Carter threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, repeatedly exploiting mismatches downfield. The Mean Green also controlled the tempo on the ground, converting key third downs to keep San Diego State’s offense on the sideline for much of the night.
“We wanted to be aggressive from the start,” North Texas coach Eric Morris said. “Our guys trusted the game plan, and that fast start gave us something to lean on when things got tight at the end.”
San Diego State (9-4) refused to fade. The Aztecs answered North Texas scores throughout the second half and closed the gap with two late touchdowns, pulling within two points in the final minutes. A potential game-tying or winning drive ended when North Texas’ defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield, allowing the Mean Green to run out the clock.
Aztecs coach Sean Lewis praised his team’s resolve despite the loss. “I’m incredibly proud of how our players competed for 60 minutes,” Lewis said. “We didn’t play our cleanest early, but the fight and belief never went away.”
San Diego State quarterback play fueled the rally, as the Aztecs consistently found success through the air and finished with more than 500 yards of total offense. Still, defensive breakdowns and missed stops early loomed large.
For North Texas, the win capped one of the best seasons in program history and delivered a bowl victory in dramatic fashion. Players celebrated afterward, acknowledging both the offensive explosion and the tense final moments.
“We knew they weren’t going to quit, and neither were we,” Carter said. “That’s what bowl games are about — finishing strong, no matter how crazy it gets.”
The victory gave North Texas momentum heading into the offseason, while San Diego State closed its year with a hard-fought but narrow defeat in one of the most entertaining games of bowl season.