The North Texas Mean Green were ransacked by the transfer portal harder than almost any other college football program. After losing head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, North Texas lost nearly the entirety of its production from a 12-2 team, including the nation’s leading passer Drew Mestemaker and rushing touchdowns leader Caleb Hawkins.
Head coach Neal Brown, formerly of Troy and West Virginia, was tasked with reassembling a roster in Denton, TX. North Texas was one of two FBS teams returning zero starters, and instead, it brought 70 newcomers in attempt to recapture the magic of 2025.
However, the newcomer laden roster faced the ultimate test out of the gate. North Texas’ first challenge was a road matchup at Indiana, immediately after the Hoosiers their 2025 National Championship banner. Indiana hadn’t lost a game since 2024, and the Hoosiers’ FBS-best 16-game win streak extended to 17 against the Mean Green. The reigning champions left no question in a 52-16 domination in Bloomington, IN.
Indiana made efficient work of North Texas, scoring seven touchdowns and notching one field goal on nine total possessions. TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, called upon to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, collected more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3) in a 13-of-16, 231-yard passing performance. Wide receiver Charlie Becker recorded a team-high 64 receiving yards and two touchowns in the Hoosiers’ third-straight season opener win under Curt Cignetti.
North Texas also debuted a transfer quarterback, bringing UCF transfer Tayven Jackson to campus this offseason. But before spending 2025 as UCF’s primary starter, Jackson played two seasons at Indiana and logged six starts. Saturday marked a homecoming for the Greenwood, IN native, who registered 192 passing yards on a 22-of-28 showing. Jackson briefly exited the game with a lower-body injury, causing East Carolina transfer Chaston Ditta to take over, but he ultimately returned and finished the day for the Mean Green.
The Mean Green also debuted running back Jahiem White, who reunited with Coach Brown this offseason. White rushed for over 800 yards in consecutive years at West Virginia prior to suffering a season-ending injury two games into the 2025 season. White’s first action in 364 days was promising, as he led the team in rushing yards (61) and receptions (7) while scoring the Mean Green’s lone touchdown in the second quarter.
North Texas moved the ball well and actually out-gained Indiana, 367-365, and didn’t commit a turnover until roughly two minutes remaining in the contest. The Mean Green only suffered one three-and-out and sustained 6+ play, 38+ yard drives on each of their first seven series. However, many drives stalled upon reaching field goal range. Appalachian State transfer kicker Dominic De Freitas had a busy opener, finishing 3-of-4 as the Mean Green’s primary source of points.
Despite North Texas’ three field goals, Indiana won the special teams battle. The Hoosiers recorded kickoff returns of 67 and 41 yards and a punt return of 36 yards, regularly setting Hoover and the offense up in scoring position. Indiana’s average starting field position was its own 47-yard line in the 36-point victory.
Indiana (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) continues its 17-game win streak. The Hoosiers have become accustomed to blowing out opponents in the Cignetti era, and Saturday represented the team’s 10th win by 34 points or greater during the streak. North Texas (0-1, 0-0 American) dropped its first non-conference game since the 2024 First Responder Bowl. The Mean Green are one defeat away from matching last season’s loss total, and they’ll have a challenging slate ahead with non-conference matchups against UNLV and Texas State looming.
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