It took Curt Cignetti just two seasons to transform Indiana into a national championship program, as the Hoosiers dominated college football from Week 1 through the title game last season behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a star-studded defense.
The next challenge is an even tougher one: Can Indiana become just the 15th FBS program to repeat as national champion?
The first step begins at noon ET on Saturday, Sept. 5, when Josh Hoover and the sixth-ranked Hoosiers open their 2026 season against North Texas at Memorial Stadium.
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The Hoosiers — despite being the reigning national champions and returning key weapons like wide receiver Charlie Becker, defensive lineman
Tyrique Tucker and linebacker Rolijah Hardy — are not expected to repeat as Big Ten champions based on the conference's preseason poll. Both Ohio State and Oregon were picked to finish ahead of Indiana. But if the last two seasons have shown anything, Cignetti and Indiana have shown how to win as underdogs — Google Him.
North Texas is ushering in a new era in Denton, Texas with former West Virginia coach Neil Brown taking over the reins of the program while former Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson earns the keys to the offense. The Mean Green are coming off a near College Football Playoff berth, falling to Tulane in the American Conference Championship last season.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live coverage of Saturday's Week 1 contest between Indiana and North Texas. Follow below for live updates, scores and highlights:
Indiana vs North Texas live score
This section will be updated throughout the game
Indiana vs North Texas live updates
Who is North Texas' quarterback?
09:01 AM ET, September 5 2026, John LeuzziNorth Texas will start former Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson under center this season.
Jackson started his collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to Indiana, where he and Brendan Sorsby went back and forth for the starting job over the first half of the season before Sorsby eventually won the job. In 2024, Jackson relieved an injured Kurtis Rourke. He then transferred to UCF last year, where he earned the starting job, and completed 200 of 315 passes (63.5%) for 2,151 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He transferred to North Texas this past offseason, where he'll try to help usher in a new era for the Mean Green with first-year coach Neal Brown.
North Texas football schedule 2026
08:45 AM ET, September 5 2026, John LeuzziBelow is a look at North Texas' full 2026 schedule, including available start times and TV channel information:
- Saturday, Sept. 5: at No. 6 Indiana | Noon ET on Fox (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 12: vs. UNLV | 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPNU (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 19: at Texas State | Noon ET on USA Network
- Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Houston Christian | 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- Thursday, Oct. 1: at Tulsa | 9 p.m. ET on ESPN (Fubo) *
- Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Charlotte *
- Saturday, Oct. 17: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 24: at Navy | 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network (Fubo)*
- Thursday, Oct. 29: vs. Florida Atlantic | 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN or ESPN2 (Fubo) *
- Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. Rice *
- Saturday, Nov. 14: at UTSA *
- Saturday, Nov. 21: at Tulane *
- Saturday, Nov. 28: vs. UAB *
* Denotes American Conference Game
Who is Indiana football's QB?
08:30 AM ET, September 5 2026, John LeuzziIt worked for Indiana last offseason with Fernando Mendoza, so why not try it again?
Whether that was Curt Cignetti's thinking when the Hoosiers landed TCU transfer Josh Hoover remains unclear, but Indiana is counting on a similar payoff as it pursues back-to-back national championships.
Hoover, a veteran quarterback, started 31 straight games at TCU before entering the transfer portal, where he finished with 9,629 career passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns. Last season for the Horned Frogs, Hoover completed 65.9% of his passes for 3,472 yards and a career-high 29 touchdowns.
Indiana football schedule 2026
08:00 AM ET, September 5 2026, John LeuzziBelow is a look at Indiana's full 2026 schedule, including available start times and TV channel information:
- Saturday, Sept. 5: vs. North Texas | Noon ET on Fox (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 12: vs. Howard | Noon ET on Big Ten Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Western Kentucky | 4 p.m. ET on Peacock
- Friday, Sept. 25: vs. Northwestern | 8 p.m. ET on Fox (Fubo) *
- Saturday, Oct. 3: at Rutgers | 8 p.m. *
- Saturday, Oct. 10: at Nebraska *
- Saturday, Oct. 17: vs. No. 1 Ohio State *
- Saturday, Oct. 24: at No. 16 Michigan *
- Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Minnesota *
- Saturday, Nov. 7: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. No. 14 USC *
- Saturday, Nov. 21: at No. 19 Washington *
- Saturday, Nov. 28: vs. Purdue *
* Denotes Big Ten game
What TV channel is Indiana vs North Texas football on today?
07:01 AM ET, September 5 2026, John Leuzzi- TV channel: Fox
- Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)
Fox will broadcast Saturday's Week 1 matchup between Indiana and North Texas. Streaming options include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream Indiana vs. North Texas football live with Fubo (free trial)
Indiana vs North Texas football start time today
07:00 AM ET, September 5 2026, John Leuzzi- Date: Saturday, Sept. 5
- Time: Noon ET
- Location: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)
The Hoosiers and the Mean Green are set for a noon ET kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana vs North Texas live updates: Predictions, TV channel for Week 1 matchup
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