PHILADELPHIA — On Saturday, Makenzie McGill II showcased an impressive performance, rushing for 155 yards and scoring two touchdowns, leading North Texas to a 24-17 victory over Temple. This triumph marked the end of a five-game losing streak for North Texas in their final regular-season game.

With this win, North Texas improved their season record to 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference, achieving bowl eligibility. The Mean Green had not tasted victory since October 12, when they defeated Florida Atlantic with a close score of 41-37.

The outcome of this contest was largely determined by halftime. The game kicked off with Chandler Morris connecting with DT Sheffield for a 14-yard touchdown, giving North Texas an early 7-0 advantage. Shortly after, Kali Nguma extended the lead with a 36-yard field goal just 19 seconds following a turnover by Temple.

Temple responded when Maddux Trujillo drilled a 44-yard field goal to put points on the board. However, McGill quickly answered by executing a 39-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 17-3. Just eight seconds into the second quarter, McGill made his mark again, sprinting 51 yards for another touchdown, increasing the lead to 24-3.

In a closing effort before halftime, Temple managed to score twice. Players Joquez Smith and Evan Simon each ran the ball in from the one-yard line, narrowing the score to 24-17 by the time the whistle blew for halftime.

This victory secured North Texas a spot in a bowl game for the 15th time in the history of the program and the eighth time since 2013. Remarkably, this is also the first bowl qualification under head coach Eric Morris.

On the other hand, Temple has struggled to achieve a winning season since 2019, when they finished 8-5 and concluded their season with a significant 55-13 defeat against North Carolina in the Northrop Grumman Military Bowl. The Owls have faced a tough stretch, finishing each of the last four seasons with a record of 3-9.