Tayven Jackson’s latest stop has given him exactly what he was looking for: another shot to run an offense.
The former UCF quarterback has been named North Texas’ starter, giving the Mean Green a veteran option with a winding college résumé and a fresh chance in Denton. Jackson is now preparing for his fourth school in five seasons after a year in Orlando that had its highs, lows and plenty of volatility.
Jackson’s season at UCF was his first extended run as a starter, and the numbers reflected the uneven ride. He threw for 2,151 yards with ten touchdowns and eight interceptions, flashing the arm talent that made him such an intriguing prospect while also running into trouble, especially away from home.
Of his ten passing touchdowns, only three came in opposing stadiums. He also added three rushing scores, all at home.
One of his best outings came against West Virginia, when the 6-foot-4 right-hander threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in UCF’s 45-13 win. The Knights jumped out early on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Chris Domercant, then got another strike to Domercant just minutes later, this one covering 34 yards.
After that up-and-down stretch, Jackson moved on and found his next opportunity at North Texas. The move has already paid off, with head coach Neal Brown confirming this week that Jackson has won the starting job.
“He has a presence to him,” North Texas head coach Neal Brown said in fall camp about Jackson. “The thing too is he’s been through some adversity at Indiana and UCF.
What that does is it gives you some resiliency. He’s felt disappointment before, and he’s worked extremely hard since he’s been here not to repeat that feeling.
He’s also super talented.”
Jackson’s new assignment is a tough one right out of the gate. North Texas opens the season against reigning national champion Indiana, a program Jackson knows from his own past but one that looks very different now than it did during his two seasons there. The Hoosiers’ identity has changed since then, and the Mean Green will be facing a serious test in Week 1.
In Other News...
UCFs Rebuilt Roster Already Faces A Chemistry Test Before Opening Night
Johnny Dawkins got a useful early look at his rebuilt UCF roster with exhibition games against two SEC opponents, LSU and Kentucky, and the results offered a mixed snapshot of where the Knights stand before opening night. Against LSU, UCF showed it can stretch a defense and knock down threes, but the game still slipped away as the Tigers rallied. The performances were part of the point for Dawkins, who said the exhibitions were about evaluating chemistry and sorting through rotations after adding several transfers.
There was also a reminder that preseason progress does not always show up in the final score, and the Knights got that lesson again in the matchup with Kentucky. For a team trying to blend new pieces quickly, those kinds of games can expose how much work remains in closing out tight stretches and settling the lineup. The early read is clear enough: UCF has talent, but the chemistry test is already underway. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Is Counting On Two Breakout Candidates In Crucial Roles
With the 2026 season opener getting closer, UCF is getting a better read on a pair of players who could end up carrying major weight on both sides of the ball. EDGE Isaiah Nixon and wide receiver RicDarious DayDay Farmer have emerged as two of the more intriguing names in the Knights camp conversations, each bringing a different kind of upside as the program looks to settle key roles before the schedule turns real.
Nixon has been in the mix already after seeing action in 11 games last season, but the next step is the one that matters most, since UCF needs its edge group to keep developing. Farmer is a little harder to project because his arrival in 2025 came with immediate bad luck, and the Knights are still waiting to see how much he can add once he is finally back on the field. Coaches have made it clear both players are part of the plan, which only adds to the curiosity around how quickly each one can turn potential into production. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Suddenly Has A Real Shot To Bring Back Two Former Standouts
A Dallas courts temporary restraining order has suddenly reopened a door UCF probably thought was closed on two familiar faces. Phillip Dunnam, a standout safety, and Riley Kugel, the high-scoring guard who both made their mark last season, now have a path back toward college eligibility after being caught up in disputes that had clouded their futures. For a program that knows how hard it is to replace proven production, the possibility of getting back players with that kind of recent value is enough to change the conversation in a hurry.
The timing makes the situation even more intriguing for the Knights. Dunnam is now in the transfer portal, while Kugel has been there since early August, and the ruling gives each a better chance to suit up again at the college level. There is still plenty to work through before anything becomes official, but UCFs outlook looks a lot different today than it did a few days ago, with two former standouts suddenly back in play. [Read more 🡒]