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, as Jackson previously played for Indiana before transferring to North Texas.
Jackson, who has also played at UCF, secured the starting position after outperforming sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr. and freshman Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who joined North Texas after six years at West Virginia, stated that Jackson's prior experience will be advantageous for the tough away game against Indiana.
In his final season at UCF, Jackson completed 63.5% of his passes for 2,151 yards, achieving 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His time at Indiana featured 13 games, where he amassed 1,263 passing yards and completed 61.2% of his throws, resulting in 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 appearance in the American Conference, having previously competed in the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Indiana, fresh off a perfect 16-0 season and their inaugural national championship, will be directed by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover after the departure of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to the NFL.
Further information regarding the game and team preparations remains pending.
