DENTON, Texas — In Jimmy Rogers’ first two games at Washington State, his Cougars had committed their share of mistakes. They lost fumbles. Racked up penalties. Slogged through short drives. Gave up big plays.
What they had not done is faceplanted. En route to two wins in two games, WSU had always stayed in the fight, always kept things interesting, even in the bad moments.
Those trends came to a screeching halt in WSU’s 59-10 road loss to North Texas on Saturday, a blowout of historic proportions for the Cougars, who lost five turnovers and faced a six-score deficit before halftime. They tried three different quarterbacks and had pulled many starters by the third quarter.
WSU, which trailed 14-3 after the first quarter, lost this game because of mistakes. Even outside of their turnovers, the Cougars also botched a punt play, which the Mean Green blocked. They were called for 6 penalties for 59 yards. In the first half, North Texas’ average drive starting point was the WSU 11, underscoring how easily the Mean Green capitalized on turnovers.
North Texas, which turned WSU’s five turnovers into 28 points, didn’t actually win the yardage battle by much. The Mean Green only outgained the Cougars 410-275. But they had few problems pulling away because of mistakes by WSU, which allowed UNT to start drives with the best of field positions.
Here is a list of North Texas’ drive starting points in the first half, not counting the opening kickoff: WSU 12, own 25, own 30, WSU 19, WSU 30, WSU 12, WSU 20. As the Mean Green turned the Cougs over, they cashed in without issue.
WSU’s starting quarterback, third-year sophomore Jaxon Potter, threw three interceptions and didn’t play in the second half. As he struggled, coaches subbed in redshirt freshman Julian Dugger, more of a running threat, but he lost a fumble late in the second quarter. Running back Kirby Vorhees also coughed up a fumble deep in his team’s own territory. Four of those turnovers became North Texas touchdowns.
It was the first barrage of mistakes from Potter, who won a four-way quarterback competition in fall camp in large part because he was so adept at avoiding sacks and interceptions. He had done both to great results in his first two starts. In his third, he looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable, sailing throws that he had made look routine in previous games.
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A first-year starter, Potter didn’t take any sacks, and he completed long throws to young receivers Carter Pabst and Landon Wright. But otherwise, on his way to completing 16 of 23 passes for 139 yards, he endured a forgettable afternoon in the Texas heat.
Potter’s first interception came in the first quarter, when he was picked off by UNT’s Evan Jackson, who returned it 60 yards the other way. One play later, North Texas scored on a 12-yard rush by running back Jayden Becks, good for a 7-0 lead.
On his second, where Potter was targeting tight end Trey Leckner, he put the ball way too high. It sailed into the arms of Kollin Lewis, who made a diving catch.
North Texas couldn’t turn that pick into a touchdown, but it had better luck after Potter’s third interception, which came courtesy of linebacker Shane Whitter, who ran it back 43 yards. Exactly one play later, UNT QB Drew Mestemaker rolled out and lasered a touchdown pass to receiver Landon Sides — pushing the Mean Green’s lead to 35-3.
In between, UNT capitalized on a fumble by running back Kirby Vorhees, who lost control deep in his team’s own territory. The Mean Green needed only three plays to parlay that into six, doing so on a touchdown pass to Brandon Young Jr. from Mestemaker, who completed 24 of 29 passes for 211 yards and four touchdowns.
In the third quarter, the Cougars pulled both Potter and Dugger for fifth-year senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who looked to be the leader in fall camp’s QB battle. Eckhaus piloted each of WSU’s final two drives, completing 7 of 10 passes for 72 yards.
WSU was also playing without starting middle linebacker Anthony Palano, who was not present for warmups and was not seen on the sideline. He made the trip to Denton, a team spokesperson confirmed, but he did not play. He was replaced by second-year walk-on Jack Ellison, who looked promising last week in the Cougars’ win over San Diego State.
But Ellison was no match for North Texas’ offense, nor were many of his teammates. It’s a rotten outing in every respect for the Cougs, but especially this one: WSU’s next game is a home matchup with Washington, the Huskies’ first time visiting Pullman for the Apple Cup in three years.
Can WSU regroup in time for that game? It’s entirely possible, but for the Cougars, it’s a forgettable way to enter a rivalry game of such magnitude — conference game or not.
Washington State Cougars quarterback Jaxon Potter (5) dives in a failed attempt to stop North Texas Mean Green safety Evan Jackson (3) after Jackson intercepted Potter’s pass and returned it for 60 yards during the first half of a college football game on Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025 at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas. Potter threw three interceptions during the first half. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
First quarter
1:27 - NT 14, WSU 3: The Cougars’ drive stalls at the 9 and they settle for a 26-yard field goal by Jack Stevens.
4:03 - NT 14, WSU 0: North Texas calls a timeout as WSU reaches the red zone. The Cougs have made it to the 19 after a solid drive from Potter, highlighted by a 43-yard completion down the sideline to Carter Pabst.
WSU WR Carter Pabst’s second career catch is a 43-yarder on a dot from Jaxon Potter pic.twitter.com/sgRubvH4A8
7:41 - NT 7, WSU 0: Washington State quarterback Jaxon Potter is hit while he throws and is intercepted by Evan Jackson. Jackson is able to return his pick to the 12.
10:33 - NT 7, WSU 0: Makenzie McGill II caps a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown. North Texas converted a fourth and 1 to keep its opening drive going.
North Texas’ opening drive covers 75 yards and ends in a walk-in TD from Makenzie McGill. Cougs’ tackling left a little to be desired on that drive.
0:54 - NT 42, WSU 3: Becks races up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown.
1:35 - NT 35, WSU 3: Quarterback Julian Dugger fumbles and the Mean Green take over at the 20. That is Washington State’s fifth turnover of the first half.
1:39 - NT 35, WSU 3: The Mean Green score another touchdown off a WSU turnover when Mestemaker finds Landon Sides in the end zone for 12 yards.
8:25 - NT 14, WSU 3: Washington State forces a North Texas punt but Kirby Vorhees fumbles on the first play of the ensuing drive. North Texas takes over at the 19.
9:32 - NT 14, WSU 3: After a promising drive into North Texas territory, Potter’s pass is intercepted by Kollin Lewis at the 30.
Halftime
Five first-half turnovers have derailed Washington State against North Texas.
The Cougars have only eight less total yards than the Mean Green but three interceptions by quarterback Jaxon Potter and two fumbles have abruptly ended drives.
Working in plus territory for most of the half, North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker has completed 14 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns.
Jayden Becks has four rushing attempts, two that have ended in touchdowns.
Third quarter
2:32 - NT 52, WSU 3: Mestemaker throws his fourth touchdown to Ethan Day for two yards. Mestemaker is up to 211 yards.
McGill keyed the drive with a 27-yard run down to WSU’s 15.
North Texas figures to be a contender in the American Athletic Conference and features former Cougars offensive coordinator Eric Morris leading an exceptional Mean Green offense through two games.
The Mean Green eked out a 33-30 overtime win against Western Michigan last week while the Cougars showed their defensive strength again, beating San Diego State 36-13.
Absent from WSU warmups: Starting MLB Anthony Palano.
He was on the travel roster, team spokesman confirms. But he’s not out here. If he doesn’t play, expect walk-on Jack Ellison to start. pic.twitter.com/17esuC3OTw
