text: The 1976 season saw marked signs of improvement, with the Mean Green falling in close contests to all their major conference opponents (a 7–0 loss to Mississippi State was later forfeited to North Texas after it was revealed the Bulldogs used ineligible players). The Mean Green lost 17–14 against No. 19 Texas, 38–31 against SMU, 16–10 to the Big Eight Conference's Oklahoma State in Stillwater, and a memorable close 21–20 loss to Florida State in a rare Denton blizzard at Fouts Field.
  1977 proved to be the high mark in the history of North Texas football. The Mean Green finished the season 10-1-0 while rolling off a seven-game winning streak, their only loss coming to No. 20 Florida State on the road late in the season. The program made the AP Rankings for the second time in school history, reaching the No. 16 spot prior to their loss to the Seminoles. Despite the double-digit wins, North Texas was passed over by every bowl committee. The most notable pass came from the officials of the Independence Bowl, who invited 8-1-2 Louisiana Tech just one week after the Mean Green pummeled them 41–14 at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana. The Independence Bowl was contractually obligated to take Louisiana Tech as the Southland Conference champion received an automatic invite to the bowl game.