Former Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson made just one start in his final season as a Hoosier in 2024 — in a 14-point victory over Washington on Oct. 26 en route to the College Football Playoff.
Jackson entered the transfer portal after the CFP and committed to the University of Central Florida. The redshirt junior lost the battle for the starting job but will now start the Knights’ second contest of the season Saturday, UCF head coach Scott Frost announced during a radio interview Thursday.
Redshirt senior Cam Fancher, who started the season opener, suffered a back injury that forced him out of the contest. He has “some back issues” that Frost said he thinks will go away soon.
“Cam’s going to be out this week,” Frost said on College Sports on SiriusXM on Thursday. “...Tayven did a great job coming in and replacing him last week, and he’s getting another shot this week.”
In relief of Fancher against Jacksonville State University on Aug. 28, Jackson went 17 for 24 for 282 yards passing and two touchdowns. UCF offensive coordinator Steve Cooper said Jackson made some “really nice throws,” getting the ball to the Knights’ pass catchers and protecting the ball.
Since Fancher was named the starter and Jackson the backup, Frost said he noticed a difference in Jackson.
“Tayven’s mentality, to be honest, after he got the news that Cam was starting, I saw an uptick in him,” Frost said in a press conference Monday. “If it takes something to get him angry to play the way he played, then I’m going to keep him angry all the time.”
UCF will look to improve to 2-0 at 7 p.m. Saturday against North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
