North Texas has confirmed that Tayven Jackson will take the field as the starting quarterback for their first game of the season against Indiana, the reigning national champions. This announcement, initially reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, is particularly noteworthy as Jackson previously played for Indiana before making the transfer to North Texas.
In the competition for the starting role, Jackson outperformed sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr., as well as freshman Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who joined the Mean Green after a six-year tenure at West Virginia, expressed confidence in Jackson's experience, which will be crucial for the tough away game against Indiana.
During his last season at UCF, Jackson recorded impressive numbers, completing 63.5% of his passes for a total of 2,151 yards, along with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His time at Indiana saw him play in 13 games, where he accumulated 1,263 passing yards, completing 61.2% of his attempts with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Jackson's college journey began at Tennessee in 2022.
The season opener is set for noon ET on September 5, marking Jackson's entry into the American Conference after stints in the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Indiana, coming off a flawless season and their inaugural national title, will be under the leadership of former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, following the NFL departure of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
Details regarding the game and team preparations remain forthcoming.
