North Texas has officially appointed Tayven Jackson as their starting quarterback for the upcoming 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 role over sophomores Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr., along with freshman Ziondre Williams. New head coach Neal Brown, who joined the Mean Green after six seasons at West Virginia, noted that Jackson's experience would be advantageous for the tough away game against Indiana.
In his last season at UCF, Jackson completed 63.5% of his passes, totaling 2,151 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. During his time at Indiana, he played 13 games, throwing for 1,263 yards with a completion rate of 61.2%, achieving six touchdowns and six interceptions. His 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 competing in the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Indiana, coming off a flawless 16-0 season and their inaugural national championship, will be directed by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, following the exit of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to the NFL.
Details regarding the game and team preparations are still pending.
