North Texas confirms Tayven Jackson as Week 1 starter against Indiana
The Mean Green have named the fifth-year senior to lead their attack in a season opener against the defending national champions, marking the first game for new head coach Neal Brown.
North Texas has confirmed fifth-year senior Tayven Jackson as the starting quarterback for their Week 1 road opener against the Indiana Hoosiers on 5 September. The announcement, made on Wednesday morning, sees Jackson secure the role over sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr, along with freshman Ziondre Williams.
The matchup carries significant institutional weight for both programs, as it marks the debut for new North Texas head coach Neal Brown. Brown, who previously coached at West Virginia and Troy and served as an assistant at Texas, replaces Eric Morris, who departed after one season to take the head coaching position at Oklahoma State.
For Jackson, the return to Bloomington offers a familiar dynamic. The quarterback played for Indiana from 2023 to 2024, making six starts for the Hoosiers before transferring to UCF for the 2025 season. During his time with the Knights, Jackson recorded 2,151 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 126.2 passer rating, while also rushing for three scores.
North Texas enters the season following a program-best 12-2 campaign. The team will face Indiana, who are coming off winning their first-ever national championship under head coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers are a combined 27-2 over the last two seasons and will field former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover at the centre.
Hoover’s appointment continues a recent trend for Indiana, which has found its Week 1 quarterback through the transfer portal for three consecutive seasons. Over the last two years, Hoover has averaged 3,710.5 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 152.2 passer rating per season.
The contest will also highlight a familial connection, as Jackson is the younger brother of Trayce Jackson-Davis, a former Indiana star and four-time All-Big Ten honoree who now plays for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. The game is scheduled to be covered by Fox Sports’ "Big Noon Kickoff" from Bloomington.
