​College Football: CFP National Championship: Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti victorious with the Championship trophy following game vs Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami, FL 1/19/2026 CREDIT: Simon Bruty (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164822 TK1) Game notesTime and date: Saturday, September 5 at 12:00 p.m. ETNetwork: FOXLocation: Memorial Stadium — Bloomington, INSpread: Indiana (-40.5)Over/under: 55.5All-time series: Series tied, 1-1Last meeting: Indiana 49, North Texas 24 — October 4, 2014Current streak: Indiana, 1 (2014)Setting the scenePerhaps the most stunning development in the modern college football landscape is Indiana football. The longtime doormat program transformed into a national powerhouse overnight the instant Curt Cignetti arrived on campus. Cignetti finished his first season at 11-2 with a College Football Playoff appearance and then took the next step, clearing a 16-0 schedule with relative ease and winning the National Championship Game.Indiana now belongs in conversations its fanbase never imagined it would be apart of. The Hoosiers defend their crown in the first Big Noon Kickoff game of the year, hosting an opponent that finished last season ranked No. 24.However, almost everything North Texas accomplished in 2025 is irrelevant for the 2026 team. The Mean Green are one of two programs, along with Iowa State, to return zero primary starters. Also, former Troy and West Virginia head coach Neal Brown leads a completely revamped coaching staff. Together, their first test is the reigning national champions on the road.This matchup would have been especially intriguing in the pre-transfer portal era, but can 2026 North Texas assemble a product quality enough to compete with the defending national champions in Week 1?North Texas Mean Green outlookEverything you knew about North Texas in 2025 is gone. The No. 1 offense which exceeded 45 points and 512 yards per game — gone. The FBS leading passer Drew Mestemaker, rushing touchdowns leader Caleb Hawkins, and third-leading receiver Wyatt Young — all gone. The offensive line which finished top 20 in fewest sacks allowed and the defense that produced the fifth-most takeaways in the country — no longer present.Neal Brown has a difficult rebuilding effort on his hands, assembling a transfer-laden roster with minimal returning talent. But the head coach has engineered surprising results before. When West Virginia was picked to finish last in the Big 12 in 2023, he produced a 9-4 record.Brown will bring some Big 12 influence to Denton. His starting quarterback, Tayven Jackson, started 10 games for UCF last season, accounting for 2,151 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. But Jackson’s starting experience extends beyond Orlando. He started six games at Indiana from 2023-24, including one for Cignetti, and this will be a familiar environment for the Greenwood, IN native.Another former Big 12 starter in North Texa