G6 Daily Roundup: North Texas names Tayven Jackson starter for return to Indiana

North Texas opens the week by naming Tayven Jackson — a former four-star recruit on his fourth college stop — the starting quarterback for Saturday’s trip to Indiana, where he started five games as a Hoosier in 2023. Across the Group of 6, North Dakota State swept all four Mountain West weekly awards after its 33-7 FBS debut, New Mexico State earned four CUSA honors after hanging tough at Florida State, and a Louisiana judge’s eligibility ruling has conferences scrambling. Here’s what happened.

The American

The American Conference unanimously adopted a policy barring athletes who have signed professional contracts, declared for a pro draft without timely withdrawal or appeared on a professional roster from competing in conference sports. The policy does not apply to athletes who only participated in pro tryouts. — American Athletic Conference

Memphis coach Charles Huff won the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Week award after rallying the Tigers from a 14-7 halftime deficit to beat UNLV 27-21 in his debut. Memphis sacked UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold six times — Huff is the first coach in program history to win his opener on the road. — Memphis Athletics

North Texas named Tayven Jackson the starting quarterback for Saturday’s opener at Indiana — his second of four college stops. Jackson, a former four-star recruit whose brother Trayce Jackson-Davis plays for the Toronto Raptors, started five games for the Hoosiers in 2023 before stops at UCF and now UNT. He threw for 2,151 yards at UCF last season. — Brett Vito

Before Saturday’s Darrien Starling previews USF’s season opener against FIU as a litmus test for the Bulls’ power conference ambitions. After averaging more than 45 points per game last season, first-year head coach Brian Hartline faces his first real sideline test in USF’s final year at Raymond James Stadium. — Before Saturday

CUSA

Liberty disclosed it is finalizing resolution of Level II NCAA violations involving three football staff members who made impermissible contact with two recruits, neither of whom enrolled. AD Ian McCaw said the school self-imposed staff suspensions and cooperated with NCAA enforcement through the negotiated resolution process. — Bryson Gordon

New Mexico State earned four CUSA weekly awards after its Week 0 game at Florida State. Quarterback Trey Hedden earned offensive honors after throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns — the most passing yards by an Aggie in a season opener since 2017. Defensive end Gabe Peterson took defensive honors with seven tackles and a shared red zone sack that forced a field goal. Offensive lineman Ma’Kyi Lee posted the highest PFF grade among NM State linemen in his return from injury. — NM State Athletics

Western Kentucky named sophomore Rodney Tisdale Jr. the starting quarterback over Florida State transfer Brock Glenn, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Tisdale started WKU’s final six games last season and won CUSA Freshman of the Year. The Hilltoppers open at Nevada before trips to Georgia and Indiana. — Pete Thamel, ESPN

Sun Belt

Coastal Carolina opens the Ryan Beard era with more than 50 newcomers and a road trip to West Virginia on Saturday. Beard went 15-9 in his final two seasons at Missouri State, including the Bears’ FBS transition year, and brought quarterback Deuce Bailey and wide receiver Tristian Gardner with him. Bailey is the projected starter after Tad Hudson transferred to N.C. State. The Chanticleers went 20-18 in three seasons under Tim Beck. — The Post and Courier

Louisiana will honor the upcoming 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 with a pregame ceremony before its Sept. 5 opener against Lamar at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. A USA-shaped flag will stretch across more than half the field during the national anthem. UL Athletics is inviting veterans and first responders to volunteer to hold the flag by emailing Sean Flannery. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. — 99.9 KTDY

MAC

Bowling Green named Assumption College transfer Jay Kastantin the starting quarterback ahead of the opener against Tarleton State, coach Eddie George told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Kastantin threw for 3,658 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career at Assumption and beat out Oregon transfer Austin Novosad for the job. — Pete Thamel, ESPN

Toledo unveiled a “Gameday Upgrades” fan experience program for 2026, offering custom video board messages, pregame on-field photos and VIP access at Glass Bowl Stadium. The Rockets’ home opener against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12 has been branded “The Biggest Party in Toledo.” Season tickets and limited Stadium Club seats remain available. — Toledo Athletics

Mountain West

NDSU opened its FBS era with a 33-7 blowout of Jacksonville State in front of a sold-out Fargodome. The Bison funded their move to the Mountain West with $25M raised from four initial donor meetings. “Our fan base, they feel as if we have something to prove, like we belong here and we’re a good football program,” AD Matt Larsen told SI. — Sports Illustrated

North Dakota State swept all four Mountain West Player of the Week awards after the 33-7 win over Jacksonville State. QB Nathan Hayes threw two touchdowns in his first collegiate start, LB Donovan Woolen had 10 tackles as the Bison held Jax State’s No. 5 rushing offense to 85 yards, and kicker Drew Klein went 4-for-4 on field goals including a 48-yarder. — NDSU Athletics

Nevada AD Stephanie Rempe said the university is asking the state legislature for $10M in additional funding — half to close a longstanding gap with UNLV and half for non-revenue sport scholarships tied to the House settlement. The Wolf Pack will also unveil a full university and athletics rebrand alongside the opening of a new indoor fieldhouse on Oct. 20. — Nevada Athletics

Pac-12

Fresno State named fourth-year quarterback Jayden Mandal the starter ahead of Friday’s opener at No. 14 USC, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Mandal beat out Maryland transfer Khristian Martin after missing last season with an injury. He has just nine career pass attempts across six appearances in 2024. — Pete Thamel, ESPN

Fresno State locked AD Garrett Klassy into a five-year, $2.9M contract with performance bonuses tied to fundraising and multimedia revenue targets. The Fresno Bee reported the Bulldogs’ $61.8M operating budget sat well below the conference average last year. — The Fresno Bee

The Pac-12 opens its rebuilt eight-team era with a seven-game round-robin schedule and a new “flex” game in the final week of the regular season designed to strengthen its CFP case. Boise State enters as the favorite after three straight Mountain West titles. San Diego State, Fresno State and Texas State are expected to contend. Three new head coaches debut: Kirby Moore at Washington State, Jim Mora at Colorado State (after back-to-back nine-win seasons at UConn) and JaMarcus Shephard at Oregon State. Every game will air on linear TV. — AP via MyNorthwest

Washington State is keeping its depth chart under wraps ahead of Sunday’s season-opening Apple Cup in Seattle. Coach Kirby Moore said the Cougars will release two-deeps for the rest of the season but not for the opener. The only confirmed starter is quarterback Caden Pinnick, a redshirt sophomore. Tight ends Trey Leckner (out the first half of the season) and Hudson Cedarland (extended absence) are the only players expected to miss the game. — The Spokesman-Review

NCAA

A Louisiana judge’s temporary ruling allowing a group of NFL players to return to college eligibility has triggered a legal and policy scramble across college football. The case began as a challenge from 2022 freshmen who exhausted four years of eligibility before the NCAA’s new five-year rule — but because some plaintiffs had signed NFL contracts, the ruling opened the door for professional players to come back. LSU added two plaintiffs, undrafted free agents Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. All four power conferences responded with policies barring players who signed NFL contracts or appeared on NFL rosters. The SEC’s policy is now being challenged in court, with the Louisiana judge expanding the restraining order to enjoin the conference alongside the NCAA. A separate lawsuit filed in Dallas also named the SEC. The NFL said players who leave preseason for college cannot return to their team during the same season. Multiple hearings on preliminary injunctions are expected this week. — Front Office Sports