North Texas has confirmed that Tayven Jackson will start as quarterback in their season opener against defending national champion Indiana. This announcement, initially reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, adds an interesting dynamic to the game since Jackson previously played at Indiana before his transfer to North Texas.
Jackson, who has also played for UCF, secured the starting role over sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr. and freshman Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who joined the Mean Green after a six-year tenure at West Virginia, noted that Jackson's experience would be advantageous for the tough away game against Indiana.
In his last season at UCF, Jackson achieved a completion rate of 63.5%, throwing for 2,151 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His time at Indiana featured 13 games, during which he passed for 1,263 yards, completing 61.2% of his attempts with six touchdowns and six interceptions. His college football journey began 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 previously competing in the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Indiana, fresh off a perfect 16-0 season and their inaugural national championship, will be led by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, following the exit of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to the NFL.
Details regarding the game and the teams' preparations remain unclear.
