N. Texas stuffs Rice to set up UTSA rematch in title tilt

DENTON, Texas -- , Austin Aune threw two touchdown passes and North Texas fought off Rice for a 21-17 win Saturday to secure a bid in the Conference USA title game against UTSA in the Alamodome on Dec. 2. The Mean Green (7-5, 6-2) will get a chance to avenge their 31-27 loss to the Roadrunners , also played in the Alamodome , which occurred on Oct. 22. With the win, North Texas denied Rice (5-7, 3-5) a chance at bowl eligibility. North Texas' defense secured the win on Rice's final drive when Kevin Wood sacked AJ Padgett for an eight-yard loss to set up a second-and-18 from Rice's own 43-yard line with 1:20 remaining. On third down, Padgett, lined up in shotgun formation, dropped the ball and kneeled to pick it up but was ruled down as officials believed his knee touched the ground on the recovery attempt.