Behind Enemy Lines: IU-UNT Q&A With Brett Vito of the Denton Record-Chronical

Hoosier Huddle spoke with Brett Vito of the Denton Record-Chronicle about Indiana’s matchup with North Texas in the 2026 season opener. Thank you, Brett for taking the time to answer some questions.

1. Neal Brown is coming in after basically a whole program turnover. How has he put his early stamp on the program?

Brown brought in 54 transfers and a new staff. It’s basically his team.

He put a big emphasis on building team chemistry in the offseason and also put his stamp on what UNT will do offensively. I expect the Mean Green to lean more on the running game than they have in the past, but it’s hard to say exactly what the team will look like until we see a game.

2. IU fans are familiar with Tayven Jackson, but what led him to win the quarterback battle?

Brown said that Jackson was UNT’s most consistent quarterback through the offseason. He also won over the team with his leadership ability.

Jackson starting this season looked like the plan from the start.

UNT has two promising young quarterbacks in Chaston Ditta and Chris Jimerson Jr. Jackson seemed like the bridge to one or the other ever since his arrival.

The Mean Green were fortunate to land a player of Jackson’s caliber on the transfer market.

3. What is the identity of this offense going to be?

UNT has been a team that threw the ball around quite a bit at times over the last few years. Brown likes to include a healthy dose of the running game. 

I expect UNT to be a more balanced team this year.

4. Who are some offensive players who will need to step up that are not named Jahiem White?

UNT has a couple of receivers it is excited about. Tight end Max Reese had a great fall camp and will be a key weapon for the Mean Green. He’s Garrett Reese’s older brother.

Garrett, of course, is a safety for Indiana.

The brothers will have a huge contingent of family members at the game.

UNT also has high hopes for Baron Tipton, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who they believe is ready to come into his own this fall. Tipton was a project signee who has developed as his career has progressed.

5. Defensively, UNT has been bitten by the injury bug. Who will step up in the defensive backfield?

That’s the big question. UNT lost cornerback Caden Jenkins, who was a lock to start, as well as Zach Johnson.

The Mean Green will turn to Peyton Taylor, Keshawn Davila and Chase Canada to fill the void.

6. Who are three players on defense that will make the most impact on the game?

UNT has a lot of faith in senior linebacker Aaron Alexander, who spent last season at Arkansas State. Defensive end David Onuoha and safety Brandon Jones also had good camps. All three could end up playing key roles.

7. What does North Texas have to be successful at to put IU on upset alert?

It’s the same list that you always cite when it comes to what it will take for a team to pull an upset.

UNT can’t give up big plays or make key mistakes. And that’s just for starters.

The Mean Green also need their key players to come through and make a few game-changing plays. White and Jackson are the players UNT needs to swing the game in its favor.

8. What is your prediction for the game?

I posted my prediction column late this week and picked Indiana to win and UNT to cover the spread. My guess is Indiana wins 49-14.