At a Glance
- Drew Mestemaker leads North Texas to a 49-47 victory over San Diego State in the New Mexico Bowl.
- He sets a new single-season passing yardage record of 4,129 yards and a touchdown record at 35.
- The 17-year-old, former walk-on, finishes his redshirt freshman year with a 27-of-47 passing performance.
- Why it matters: Mestemaker’s historic season and bowl triumph could shape his future in college football and beyond.
In a high-scoring showdown at the Isleta New Mexico Bowl, North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker capped a record-setting season with a 49-47 victory over San Diego State, delivering a performance that cemented his place in school history.
Record-Setting Performance
Mestemaker completed 27 of 47 passes for 250 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, leading the Mean Green to a school-record 12th win. His 4,129 yards for the season surpassed the previous record, and the 35 touchdowns set a new single-season mark.
The game was the most-watchable moment of the season for the Mean Green and highlighted Mestemaker’s resilience after a tough start.
- 27 completions out of 47 attempts
- 250 passing yards
- 3 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Quotes
Interim head coach Drew Svoboda said:
> “He finished what he started, and that tells you what’s inside of him, right here. This guy, this is where it all started. He had everyone in the world telling him not to play, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he was going to play.”
Mestemaker added:
> “Whenever you love football, it’s kind of all you think about. I don’t play football for all the headlines, extra attention. I play for my brothers, and because I love it. When that’s how you feel about it, it’s easy to keep going.”
Potential Futures
With former head coach Eric Morris now at Oklahoma State, there is speculation about Mestemaker’s next move. He could follow Morris to Stillwater, capitalize on his great season and secure a substantial NIL package from another school via the transfer portal, or stay at North Texas under new head coach Neal Brown.
Key Takeaways
- Mestemaker sets new passing yardage (4,129 yards) and touchdown (35) records for North Texas.
- The 49-47 win was the program’s 12th in the season, a school record.
- Future options include staying, transferring, or following coach Morris to Oklahoma State.
In closing, Mestemaker’s final game of the season not only sealed a historic bowl victory but also positioned him at a crossroads that could define his football career.
