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UH looks to buck recent trend in conference openers

Welcome to another edition of the Cougar Confidential.

With Friday's Big 12 opener against Colorado, the University of Houston will attempt to reverse a recent trend. The Cougars have dropped three straight conference openers since 2022, their final year in the American Athletic Conference and have lost two Big 12 openers by an average of 28.5 points.

How the Cougars have fared in the past 10 conference openers:

2024: Cincinnati 34, Houston 0

Coach Willie Fritz made a change at quarterback in the second half, going from Donovan Smith to Zeon Chriss, but it wasn't enough to provide a spark. "We've got to go back to the drawing board," Fritz said. Unfortunately, it would be a sign to come as the Cougars fired offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay before the final game and finished next-to-last nationally in scoring.

2023: TCU 36, Houston 13

The Horned Frogs spoiled the Cougars' Big 12 debut. Or was it Rice in a double-overtime loss a week earlier? "Not acceptable," coach Dana Holgorsen said after the Cougars failed to produce an offensive touchdown and the defense gave up nearly 600 yards.

2022: Tulane 27, Houston 24 (OT)

UH couldn't hold a lead in the final minutes of regulation and lost in overtime as Tyjae Spears caught a 10-yard pass from Green Wave third-string quarterback Kai Horton in overtime.

2021: Houston 28, Navy 20

Marcus Jones returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown and added a 47-yard TD catch as the Cougars rallied to beat the Midshipmen.

2020: Houston 49, Tulane 31

After the season kept getting pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Cougars finally began the season Oct. 8 — the latest start in school history — in front of a mostly empty TDECU Stadium. UH staged a 17-point comeback behind Marquez Stevenson's 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown and a defense that snapped the Green Wave's 56-game streak of at least 100 rushing yards. Payton Turner had a breakout game with two sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss.

2019: Tulane 38, Houston 31

UH coughed up a 21-point lead, going scoreless for most of the second half to fall to 1-3, the Cougars' worst start since 2012. Justin McMillan provided the game-winner for the Green Wave, hitting Jalen McClesky for a 53-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left.

2018: Houston 41, Tulsa 26

UH traded a passing offense that entered No. 1 nationally for a ball-control running game that produced 312 yards. UH turned a two-point deficit into a 15-point lead in the span of six minutes to seize control in the fourth quarter.

2017: Houston 20, Temple 13

UH forced three turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Garrett Davis, and held on after nearly blowing a 20-point lead. Backup quarterback Kyle Postma started in place of struggling Kyle Allen and threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

2016: Houston 40, Cincinnati 16

Down 16-12, the sixth-ranked Cougars scored the game's final 28 points, including a pair of interceptions for touchdowns by Steven Taylor and Howard Wilson. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. ran for two touchdowns in the span of 5 ½ minutes in the fourth quarter.

2015: Houston 38, Tulsa 24

Greg Ward Jr. had a monster game, throwing for 273 yards and broke the school rushing record by a quarterback with 182 and three touchdowns. Kenneth Farrow added 159 rushing and two touchdowns. UH had 364 of its 638 total yards on the ground. It would be the start of a magical run as the Cougars won the AAC title and beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl.

Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat reporter

joseph.duarte@houstonchronicle.com

Looking Ahead

Deion Sanders, entrenador de la Universidad de Colorado, durante el día de prensa de la Conferencia Big 12, el 9 de julio de 2025, en Frisco, Texas. (AP Foto/LM Otero)

Photo by: LM Otero, AP

Off to its best start since 2018, UH (2-0) opens Big 12 play with a nationally televised game against Colorado on Friday night at TDECU Stadium.

Big 12 Stock Report

Image of two arrows, one points up, the other points down. Text reads: Who's up, who's down.

Photo by: Susan Barber

Trending Up

UH defense: Through two games against Stephen F. Austin and Rice, the Cougars have allowed 12 total points, a 4.5 points-per-game average that is tied for fourth nationally. The point total is the fewest to begin a season since UH allowed seven in the first two games of the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

Sawyer Robertson: Baylor's quarterback tossed two of his four touchdowns in the final 5 ½ minutes of regulation as the Bears stormed back to upset No. 17 SMU 48-45 in double overtime. In two games to begin the season, Roberts has thrown for 859 yards and seven TDs with no interceptions.

Trending Down

Mike Gundy: Could this be the beginning of the end for the Big 12's longest-tenured football coach? In his 20th season — second nationally behind Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (26) — Gundy is coming off a 3-9 season and was whipped 69-3 by No. 6 Oregon on Saturday. It was the program's worst loss since 1907.

Kansas State: Too soon to panic in the Little Apple? All three of the Wildcats' games this season have been decided by three points, including Saturday's 24-21 loss to Army. K-State paid Army $1.175 million to come to Manhattan, Kan., and hand the Wildcats just their 10th home non-conference loss since 1990.

Quote of the Day

“

The city of Houston isn't named the city of Rice. To have that bucket reside where it should is a blessing.

– UH cornerback Latrell McCutchin Sr. after the 35-9 win over crosstown rival Rice in the Bayou Bucket

”

The List

UH has allowed 12 points in the first two games this season. A look at the fewest points allowed through two games in program history:

3 — 1962
7 — 1988, '89
12 — 2025
14 — 1957
17 — 1961
19 — 1959
20 — 1947, '49, '66, '67

🏀 Cougar Mailbag

Send me your questions: Follow me on X, formerly Twitter, hit reply to this email or share your questions here to be a part of this week's mailbag. Ask me anything!

Q: What, if anything, has surprised you about this UH football team? — @MrEd315 via X

JD: Much of the attention this offseason was how the Cougars would look on offense after being one of the nation's worst. Despite losing several key starters and hiring a new coordinator (Austin Armstrong), UH has quietly put together a strong start. It will be interesting to watch how the unit responds to an upgrade in competition the rest of the way.

Q: Can we wrap all our running backs in bubble wrap to prevent any more injuries? — @RevCHS via X

JD: It's been a painful start in the backfield, with the loss of Re'Shaun Sanford II to a knee injury the week before the season opener and now J'Marion Burnette. Burnette's status is uncertain after he missed the Rice game with a hand injury.

Q: Looks like coach Alan Bishop is working out the tennis team. I thought he was basketball only. Details? — @BradFromHouston

JD: Coach Alan Bishop is assisting with the tennis program during the transition from the football team moving out of the old weight room inside the Athletics/Alumni Center. I'm told it's a temporary arrangement just for this year.

The Big 12 could be headed back to 12 teams with potential expansion on the horizon.

Photo by: Ron Jenkins, Stringer / TNS

Cougar Trivia

After Friday, UH will have played every Big 12 team except one since joining the league in 2023. Which is the remaining school?

A. West Virginia
B. Kansas State
C. Arizona State
D. Utah

(Scroll down for the answer)

By the Numbers

22: Goals for the UH women's soccer team in six matches this season. The Cougars had 11 goals in 17 matches last season.

186: Average yards allowed by UH in two football games this season, fourth nationally in FBS behind Minnesota (96.5), BYU (106.0) and Wisconsin (179.0).

Coogs in the NFL

With the start of the NFL season, 10 former University of Houston players are on 53-man rosters, three on practice squads and two on injured lists.

Active rosters: Kyle Allen (Packers), Art Green (Giants), Logan Hall (Buccaneers), Josh Jones (Seahawks), Marcus Jones (Patriots), Case Keenum (Bears), Ed Oliver (Bills), Patrick Paul (Dolphins), Elandon Roberts (Raiders), Grant Stuard (Lions).

Practice squad: Keith Cooper (Lions), Gervarrius Owens (Bears), Clayton Tune (Packers).

Injured reserve: Tank Dell (Texans), Payton Turner (Cowboys).

TRIVIA ANSWER

C. Arizona State. Not to worry, the wait won't be long. UH travels to Tempe, Ariz., to face the defending Big 12 champions on Oct. 25.