BCSNN — If there were any lingering doubts about North Texas’ ceiling in the American Athletic Conference, Thursday night went a long way toward erasing them. Behind Tayven Jackson’s five total touchdowns and Jahiem White’s 219‑yard rushing performance, the Mean Green outlasted Tulsa 45-44 in overtime - the kind of gritty, high‑pressure road win that contenders find a way to secure.

Jackson threw a season‑high four touchdown passes, added the game‑winning 1‑yard rushing score in overtime, and finished with 332 passing yards on 24‑of‑39 attempts. His two interceptions were costly, but when the game tightened, Jackson delivered every throw North Texas needed.

White was equally dominant, rushing for 219 yards and a touchdown, including a 14‑yard score that pushed UNT ahead by two touchdowns late in the third quarter. His 10 total touchdowns this season - eight rushing, two receiving - rank second nationally behind Florida’s Jadan Baugh. When North Texas needed a drive‑setter, a spark, or a hammer, White provided it.

Tulsa matched North Texas punch for punch behind quarterback Baylor Hayes, who threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more. Hayes’ 1‑yard rushing score with 31 seconds left forced overtime, capping a furious Golden Hurricane rally that erased a 14‑point deficit.

But overtime belonged to the Mean Green. On the first play of the extra period, Jackson hit Grayson O’Bara for a 22‑yard strike, immediately putting UNT in scoring position. Three plays later, Jackson powered in from a yard out, giving North Texas a 45-38 lead.

Tulsa answered with a 2‑yard touchdown run by Damari Alston, but the Golden Hurricane’s two‑point conversion attempt came up short - sealing a North Texas victory that felt like more than just a conference opener. It felt like a statement.

North Texas (3-2) showcased depth and explosiveness across its receiving corps. Max Reese posted 101 yards and a touchdown on five catches, while Justin Stevenson hauled in two scores, including a 14‑yard strike that briefly put UNT ahead late in regulation. Jackson’s ability to spread the ball and attack vertically kept Tulsa off balance throughout.

The Mean Green also showed resilience. After Hayes hit David Wells Jr. for touchdown passes late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to tie the game at 31, North Texas responded with a composed, methodical scoring drive capped by Stevenson’s touchdown. Even after Tulsa forced overtime, UNT never blinked.

This is the profile of a contender: a team that can win shootouts, lean on star power, and execute under pressure. North Texas has now won three of its last four and continues to demonstrate the offensive firepower and late‑game toughness required to compete for the AAC crown.

Tulsa (3-2) showed plenty of fight, but the night belonged to a Mean Green program that is beginning to look like one of the conference’s most dangerous teams.

North Texas returns home to host Charlotte on Oct. 10, carrying momentum - and growing belief - into the heart of its conference schedule.