As LSU preps for another postseason run, the Houston Cougars are arriving with something just as valuable: momentum.
That’s the backdrop for this year’s Texas Bowl, where two programs meet at very different points in their journey. LSU, a team that’s no stranger to December football, comes in with the weight of expectation. Houston, on the other hand, is riding the wave of a dramatic turnaround season and a head coach who knows a thing or two about flipping the script.
Let’s start with the Cougars. A year ago, this team was stumbling to the finish line, dropping its final three games by a combined 77-31 and watching bowl season from home.
Fast forward to now, and they’re back in NRG Stadium with a chance to turn it into the “Coogs House.” It’s not just a feel-good story - it’s a real transformation, and it’s happening fast.
At the center of it all is head coach Willie Fritz, a name that doesn’t always get the national spotlight but probably should. Fritz has built a reputation for getting his teams ready when it matters most. His postseason track record includes one of the biggest upsets in recent memory - a one-point win over USC in the Cotton Bowl - and once again, his team enters bowl season with structure, belief, and a clear sense of identity.
Fritz’s formula is simple but effective: time, discipline, and a team-first mentality. That’s showing up in Houston’s play, and it’s why this team is dangerous heading into December.
Meanwhile, LSU is walking a more familiar path. The Tigers are back in the Texas Bowl for the third time in five years and come in as the defending champions.
This is a program built on tradition, talent, and high expectations. They’ve been here before - and that experience matters.
But so does urgency, and that’s where Houston has the edge.
While LSU waits to see what the future holds - with Lane Kiffin’s name swirling in the background - Houston is focused squarely on the now. They’ve already taken flight.
ESPN’s Tom Hart, who will be on the call for the game, summed it up well: “Fritz is the best kept secret in college football. To borrow a phrase from the great American philosopher DJ Khaled - all he does is win. It doesn’t matter the level or the league.”
Hart also noted how quickly things have come together in Houston. “The concrete dried quickly in this Cougar foundation,” he said. “Getting recruits to stay home is a sure-fire pathway to continued success.”
That foundation is holding strong. Houston’s players are buying in, the energy around the program is real, and the opportunity in front of them is massive. They’re not just happy to be here - they’re here to prove something.
On paper, LSU still has the edge in pedigree and recent bowl success. But games aren’t played on paper. They’re played under the lights, where confidence, preparation, and urgency often matter more than history.
This Texas Bowl is more than just another postseason matchup - it’s a clash between a program trying to maintain its standard and one that’s hungry to set a new one. Expect a battle of urgency versus expectation, and don’t be surprised if the Cougars make things interesting when the lights come on in Houston.