North Texas will open its football season on Saturday against Indiana, marking the beginning of head coach Neal Brown’s tenure with the Mean Green. The opponent is the defending national champion, setting a high bar for UNT’s first year under new leadership.
Brown described the program’s current state as a "great chemistry experiment," noting that he is building a team largely from scratch. His staff is entirely new, and the roster features more than 50 transfers and approximately 70 new players.
Only two athletes who started games last season remain: defensive tackle Terrell Washington and wide receiver Baron Tipton, both of whom have only one start between them.
Key personnel changes include quarterback Tayven Jackson and defensive coordinator Matt Powledge, both in their first seasons with the program. Running back Jahiem White is viewed as a potential standout, though he is recovering from a season-ending knee injury sustained last fall at West Virginia. White rushed for 1,879 yards during his three years there.
Jackson started 10 games last year at Central Florida and threw for 2,151 yards in the Big 12. UNT has recruited him alongside other transfers such as center Chandler Strong and safety Brandon Jones, who are expected to contribute significantly. The program lost substantial talent after Eric Morris departed for Oklahoma State, including quarterbacks Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, and wide receiver Wyatt Young.
