2024 has been a roller coaster year for many North Texas sports fans.
The Mavs made it to the NBA Finals, but the Stars fell just short of winning the Western Conference title.
For Cowboys fans, the season ended in disappointment as the team was eliminated from the playoffs with only three games remaining.
Let’s take a look at what fans can expect from their sports teams this year.
Big question for the Cowboys
Dallas is 7-9 heading into Sunday’s season finale against Washington.
The Cowboys have already been eliminated from playoff contention and will miss the postseason for the first time since 2020.
The question is whether owner Jerry Jones will part ways with coach Mike McCarthy after a difficult season.
McCarthy led Dallas to a 12-5 record three years in a row and won NFC East titles in 2021 and 2023.
Injuries have played a major role in the Cowboys’ struggles this year. Quarterback Dak Prescott played in just eight games due to a hamstring injury suffered in a game in Atlanta.
The Cowboys are scheduled to pick in the top half of the first round of the upcoming draft, which could allow Dallas to add an important player to its roster.
Texas Rangers aim for comeback
In any professional sport, winning a championship and then repeating it, or even coming close to it, is a tall order.
The Rangers were hoping to perform well and advance to the World Series in 2023, but they missed the playoffs altogether.
Rangers co-owner and managing partner Ray Davis said one of the team’s priorities is staying below the 2025 luxury tax threshold of $241 million to avoid significant penalties. He made it clear that the goal was to suppress it.
The Rangers have already made several moves so far this offseason.
This includes signing designated hitter Joc Pederson and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to a new three-year contract.
Another great run between the Mavs and Stars?
The Mavericks enter the new year with a lot to build on after losing to the Boston Celtics in last season’s NBA Finals.
Dallas is off to a decent start with a 20-14 record, but faces a tough road ahead with Luka Doncic suffering a calf strain that will likely sideline him for a month.
The Stars are in a similar position after losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals last season.
Dallas is seventh in the Western Conference with 45 points, with star center Tyler Seguin on injured reserve with a hip injury.
North Texas college sports landscape
SMU is coming off a landmark season in football that saw the Mustangs advance to the College Football Playoff in their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Although the Mustangs lost to Penn State in the first round, they gained national attention and will aim for even greater success in 2025.
The SMU men’s basketball team is also off to a strong start under new coach Andy Enfield.
The Mustangs have won seven straight heading into Saturday’s home game against Duke.
Meanwhile, TCU ended the football season on a high note by defeating Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl.
They will look to carry the momentum from this win into the new season.
North Texas enters 2025 looking to end the 2024 football season on a high note.
The Mean Green will play Texas State in the First Responder Bowl on Friday.
UNT is the last American Athletic Conference program to have a bowl date. At 6-6, the Mean Green can finish with their first winning record since 2018.
UNT is also looking for its first bowl win since the 2013 season. The Mean Green has lost six consecutive bowl games, one of the longest streaks by any active college football player.
Meanwhile, the UNT basketball team is off to a good start heading into a milestone season.
