North Texas has confirmed that Tayven Jackson will be the starting quarterback for their season opener against Indiana, the defending national champions. This announcement adds an interesting dynamic to the game, as Jackson previously played for Indiana before transferring to North Texas.
Jackson, who has also played at UCF, secured the starting role over competitors Chaston Ditta, Chris Jimerson Jr., and Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who recently joined the Mean Green after six years at West Virginia, noted that Jackson's prior experience would be advantageous for the tough away game against Indiana.
In his final season at UCF, Jackson recorded impressive stats, completing 63.5% of his passes for 2,151 yards, along with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. During his time at Indiana, he participated in 13 games, throwing for 1,263 yards and achieving a completion rate of 61.2% with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Jackson began his college career at Tennessee in 2022.
The season opener is set for noon ET on September 5, marking Jackson's first game in the American Conference after competing in the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Indiana, coming off a flawless 16-0 season and their inaugural national championship, will be directed by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, following the NFL departure of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
Further details regarding the game and team preparations remain unclear.
