Jackson Set to Face Former Team Indiana in Season Opener

North Texas confirmed Wednesday that fifth-year senior Tayven Jackson will start at quarterback for the Mean Green's Sept. 5 road opener against Indiana, the program he played for in 2023 and 2024. Jackson won the job over sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr. and freshman Ziondre Williams.

Jackson arrives at North Texas after one season at UCF, where he passed for 2,151 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 63.5% completion, adding three rushing scores. North Texas is his fourth college stop; he began his career at Tennessee in 2022 before transferring to Indiana, where he made six starts across two seasons. He is the younger brother of former Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, now with the Toronto Raptors. bkfc betting

North Texas enters the season off a program-best 12-2 finish but under new leadership, with Neal Brown - previously head coach at West Virginia and Troy and an assistant at Texas - replacing Eric Morris, who left to take over at Oklahoma State. Indiana, fresh off its first national championship and a combined 27-2 record under Curt Cignetti, will counter with transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, formerly of TCU. Hoover marks the third straight year Indiana has opened a season with a transfer-portal quarterback, following Kurtis Rourke and Fernando Mendoza. Over his final two collegiate seasons, Hoover averaged 3,710.5 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions per year, completing 66.2% of his throws.

The matchup will be held in Bloomington, with FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" broadcasting on site to open the 2025 season.