The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers begin their title defense Saturday afternoon with a noon ET kickoff against the North Texas Mean Green at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington as part of the day’s loaded Week 1 college football slate.
No. 6 Indiana is coming off a perfect 16-0 season that was, of course, capped by the first national championship in program history with a 27-21 win over Miami. The Hoosiers will look quite different this season, however, after losing a program-record eight NFL Draft picks, including two first-rounders in wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and No. 1 overall pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Head coach Curt Cignetti will be tasked with overcoming those losses as he looks to lead his team to another successful season, which will notably feature TCU transfer Josh Hoover at quarterback.
North Texas has the pleasure of facing Indiana to open its season as the Mean Green look to hand the Hoosiers their first loss since their College Football Playoff first-round defeat to Notre Dame on Dec. 20, 2024. After a 12-2 season last year, North Texas enters a new era under head coach Neal Brown with transfer Tayven Jackson taking over at quarterback. Jackson played at UCF in 2025 but spent the previous two seasons on Indiana’s roster.
Saturday’s game also provides the first opportunity to see West Virginia transfer running back Jahiem White, who led the Big 12 Conference with 7.7 yards per carry as a freshman in 2023 before rushing for a career-high seven touchdowns in 2024. Unfortunately, White suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 2 loss to Ohio last year.
North Texas vs. Indiana Odds
Indiana is listed as a significant favorite on the spread at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for its Week 1 matchup:
North Texas vs. Indiana Prediction
There will be plenty of eyes on Indiana to see how the team fares coming off a historic season with a new-look roster. There are also countless football betting markets available at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook to get involved in the action and make picks like the one below:
Indiana vs. North Texas Best Bet: Over 56.5 (-110)
It’s hard to predict whether teams will look disjointed or hit the ground running at the start of a new season, especially with major changes to rosters and coaching staffs. However, Indiana has a veteran quarterback in Josh Hoover with a still very talented offense to work with, while North Texas returns some intriguing pieces as well.
Don’t be surprised if you see quite a bit of offense in Bloomington, whether it’s all Indiana or North Texas also gets in on the party.
- Indiana vs. North Texas Total Pick for Sept. 5: Over 56.5 (-110)
North Texas vs. Indiana Game Info
- 📍 Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
- 📅 Date: Saturday, Sept. 5
- ⏰ Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: FOX
Referenced odds are subject to change.
More Ways to Bet
Looking for more ways to stay in the action? Florida players can find Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, available exclusively on Hard Rock Bet, a lineup of fast, engaging real money games you can jump into anytime while you follow your bets.
Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in FL. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC, in all other states. Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, FL, IL, IN, MI, NJ, OH, TN or VA to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling? In FL, call 1-833-PLAYWISE. In IN, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. In AZ, OH, & VA, call 1-800-MY-RESET.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1‑800‑GAMBLER (CO, IL, MI, NJ, TN)
