North Texas has confirmed that Tayven Jackson will be the starting quarterback for the team's season opener against defending national champion Indiana. This announcement, initially reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, adds excitement to the game since Jackson played at Indiana before his transfer to North Texas.
Jackson, who has also played for UCF, secured the starting position over sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr., as well as freshman Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who joined the Mean Green after six seasons at West Virginia, emphasized that Jackson's experience would be advantageous for the difficult away game against Indiana.
During his last season at UCF, Jackson completed 63.5% of his passes, totaling 2,151 yards, with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His time at Indiana saw him participate in 13 games, where he amassed 1,263 passing yards, completing 61.2% of his attempts 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 perfect 16-0 season and their first national championship, will be directed by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, following the departure of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to the NFL.
Further information regarding the game and team preparations remains unclear.
