North Texas Mean Green returns home this weekend looking to put last week’s disappointing loss behind them as they welcome in-state FCS opponent Houston Christian Huskies to Denton.

North Texas enters the matchup coming off a 49-35 loss to in-state rival Texas State. The Mean Green offense continued to show plenty of firepower, but the defense struggled to slow down the Bobcats, who racked up 605 yards of total offense.

That performance was a significant step backward from what North Texas showed in Week 2 against UNLV. Against the Rebels, Coach Powledge’s defense surrendered just 301 total yards and forced four turnovers. Recreating that defensive performance will be a major focus Saturday night.

Can the Defense Bounce Back?

The matchup with Houston Christian presents North Texas with an opportunity to regain some confidence before conference play begins.

The Huskies enter Denton with a 2-2 record after suffering an overtime loss to UIW last week. HCU has shown flashes of being dangerous this season, including a victory over then-ranked Southeastern Louisiana and a narrow loss to FCS power UIW.

At the same time, Houston Christian has struggled to consistently generate offense against stronger competition. The Huskies were held to just three points against Rice earlier this season.

HCU has also shown it can put points on the board, scoring 88 points against Arkansas Baptist. However, this year's Houston Christian offense doesn't have the same proven firepower as the team North Texas faced several years ago.

A Look Back at 2020

North Texas currently holds a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series, with the lone meeting coming in 2020.

That game featured an intriguing quarterback matchup between North Texas' Jason Bean and Houston Christian's Bailey Zappe. The Mean Green ultimately came away with a 57-31 victory.

That Houston Baptist team—before the school became Houston Christian—featured an explosive offense coordinated by Zach Kittley, who has since become the head coach at Florida Atlantic. Zappe, meanwhile, went on to become one of the most prolific passers in college football history before reaching the NFL.

This year's HCU team doesn't appear to have the same level of offensive firepower, but the Mean Green can't afford to overlook the Huskies.

Jackson and White Leading the Way

While the defense looks to bounce back, North Texas' offense has been led by a pair of transfers who have quickly made their presence felt.

Quarterback Tayven Jackson has been better than advertised through the first three games. Jackson has thrown for 917 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding a rushing touchdown.

Running back Jahiem White has provided another major weapon in the backfield. White has accounted for 350 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in three games and has been heavily utilized by the Mean Green.

With conference play beginning next weekend against Tulsa, North Texas could have an opportunity to build an early lead Saturday and potentially reduce White's workload as the game progresses.

A Chance to Regain Momentum

For North Texas, this game is about more than simply adding another win to the record. After giving up 49 points and 605 yards to Texas State, the Mean Green need to see improvement on the defensive side of the football.

A strong performance against HCU could provide some much-needed confidence heading into conference play.

I expect North Texas to come out with plenty of energy and establish control early. If the Mean Green can get ahead and allow the defense to settle in, this could be a chance for the team to get younger players some valuable reps while keeping key contributors fresh for the start of conference play.

Prediction: North Texas gets back on track

I expect the Mean Green to bounce back Saturday night and take care of business against Houston Christian, giving North Texas a much-needed victory and sending the team into conference play with a 2-2 record.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Denton.

It's also Family Weekend, and with the Mean Green playing their first night game of the season, I expect a solid crowd to pack the stands in the Denton desert.

After last week's setback, North Texas has an opportunity to respond—and Saturday night provides the perfect stage to do it.