DENTON - North Texas head football coach Seth Littrell will get his first taste of the rivalry with cross-metroplex foe SMU when the Mean Green open the 2016 season against the Mustangs at Apogee Stadium on Sept. 3.

Conference USA released its 2016 football schedule Thursday afternoon, setting the slate for Littrell's rookie season at the helm of the Mean Green. North Texas will play six home games and six road contests, will face the same conference opponents as it did a year ago, and, unlike 2015, will have a midseason bye week. This year's non-conference schedule features home dates against SMU and Bethune-Cookman and visits to Florida and Army.

“Myself and my staff are really excited about the chance to come in and see what we can do against the best teams in Conference USA and a top 25 team in Florida,” Littrell said. “Six of our 12 opponents played in bowl games following last season, so we know the level of competition we are faced with. This league is filled with great coaches and great players. We are excited about the challenge.”

This is the second year in a row North Texas will open the season against SMU, and the second time the Mean Green will host the Mustangs at Apogee Stadium. It will be the 36th meeting all time between the two. The following week (Sept. 10), North Texas will face Bethune-Cookman for the first time in program history.

On Sept. 17, the Mean Green travel to Florida for only their second meeting with the Gators. North Texas last played Florida in 1947, when the Mean Green scored a 20-12 win. Non-conference play concludes on Oct. 22 with a trip to West Point, New York, to face Army. The Mean Green last faced the Black Knights in 2010.

Game times have not been determined.

Season tickets for 2016 are currently on sale through the Mean Green athletics ticket office and are available for as little as $60 for general admission to $160 for premium reserved seats. The price per ticket for 2016 is decreased from last season, with premium reserved sideline seating priced under $27 per game as opposed to $28 per game in 2015. Click here to purchase season tickets online. For more information, visit the Football Ticket Information page or call the ticket office at 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366.

2016 North Texas Football Schedule

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