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North Texas at Tulsa preview: Thursday night on ESPN

Dustin Judge
WKU at New Mexico State, North Texas

North Texas visits Tulsa on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET with the Golden Hurricane’s quarterback health as the biggest storyline. Tulsa is 3-1 and coming off a 34-6 loss at Arkansas, while North Texas enters at 2-2 having alternated wins and losses all season.

North Texas at Tulsa game information

  • Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Venue: H. A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, OK
  • TV: ESPN
  • Weather: 72 degrees, 51% chance of precipitation

Is Baylor Hayes healthy enough to start?

The biggest question mark is at quarterback. Baylor Hayes missed the Golden Hurricane’s 42-0 win over East Texas A&M on Sept. 20 with a knee injury and was listed as doubtful for Arkansas, according to CBS Sports. His status for Thursday has not been confirmed. Hayes has completed 33 of 53 passes for 353 yards, one touchdown and one interception on the season.

Backup Dexter Williams II threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the East Texas A&M game.

How has North Texas performed on the road this season?

North Texas has been a team of extremes in 2026, alternating blowout wins and lopsided losses through four games. The Mean Green opened with a 52-16 loss at Indiana, bounced back with a 44-6 win over UNLV, fell 49-35 at Texas State, then routed Houston Christian 63-14 last week.

Quarterback Tayven Jackson has been productive, completing 95 of 128 passes for 1,187 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Jahiem White has provided a physical complement, rushing for 363 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 carries, and receiver Justin Stevenson leads the passing game with 19 catches for 281 yards.

What does Tulsa’s offense look like without a consistent starter under center?

The ground game has carried the offense through the uncertainty at quarterback. Damari Alston has rushed for 213 yards and four touchdowns on 45 carries, giving the Golden Hurricane a reliable option regardless of who lines up behind center. Oran Singleton Jr. leads the receiving corps with 15 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

Their 3-0 start included a 24-10 win over Oklahoma State in the season opener before the Arkansas loss snapped that momentum. The Golden Hurricane were outgained badly in that game, a sign of how much a banged-up quarterback situation can affect an offense built around balance.

What to watch

North Texas’ defense has been erratic, surrendering 52 points to Indiana and 49 to Texas State while shutting down UNLV and Houston Christian. That inconsistency makes the Golden Hurricane’s ground attack, led by Alston, a matchup to watch regardless of who starts at quarterback for the home team.

Reporting from FOX Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN and Sports Illustrated contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.