No. 17 Houston gets Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon in a Big 12 matchup that has both teams trying to shake off losses to No. 3 Utah.
Houston comes in at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in league play after its bye week followed a 21-13 loss in Salt Lake City. Cincinnati is 5-3 and 2-3 after getting buried early at home last week and falling 49-25.
The Cougars have been one of the most productive offenses in the country. They rank 12th nationally in total offense at 470.5 yards per game and average 36.0 points.
Conner Weigman has driven the attack, piling up 2,053 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and only two interceptions, which puts him eighth nationally in passing yards. Houston also leads all of college football with a 60% third-down conversion rate.
That efficiency will be a problem for a Cincinnati defense that has struggled to get off the field. The Bearcats allow 442.5 yards per game, which ranks 132nd in FBS, and they give up 29.3 points per contest. Opponents are converting 43.9% of their third downs against them.
Houston’s defense has been sturdier against the run than through the air. The Cougars are giving up just 100.5 rushing yards per game, but they have allowed 257.4 passing yards per contest. That sets up an interesting test against Cincinnati’s ground game, which ranks seventh nationally at 229.4 yards per game.
The Bearcats have plenty of punch on offense, too. They rank 18th nationally at 455.4 total yards per game.
J.C. French IV has thrown 13 touchdown passes, while Cole Tabb has emerged as a major weapon with 752 rushing yards and 10 scores.
Tabb leads the nation in yards per carry at 9.52 and has posted four 100-yard games. Over his last three games against Utah, Texas Tech and West Virginia, he averaged 140.7 yards.
Cincinnati has also been sharp in the red zone, turning 81.3% of its trips into touchdowns, which leads the Big 12.
The Bearcats are trying to navigate a tough stretch against ranked opponents. They beat then-No.
8 Texas Tech, 37-24, on Oct. 24 before losing to then-No. 6 Utah last week, and this will be their third straight game against a Top 25 team.
Houston coach Willie Fritz pointed to the week-to-week grind of the league.
"It's one of the things about the Big 12; everybody's pretty good. There's a lot of good teams in this league.
You don't come to play; you're going to get beat," Cougars coach Willie Fritz said. "One of our slogans is 1-0 and our guys will never catch me looking ahead or looking back behind."
Scott Satterfield made the same point from Cincinnati’s side.
"I feel like each game is a new season for every team. For us next week, you turn the page," he said.
"Everything is all about Houston (now), you know? And so you learn from the things that you've done in the past, but, man, you've got to focus everything you can on Houston to try to put together a plan for our guys to execute."
In Other News...
Kelvin Sampson Already Sees One Big Test For This Houston Team
The No. 10 Cougars opened the season with a 94-55 win over La Salle at Fertitta Center, and Kelvin Sampson had plenty to like afterward, especially the way Houston defended and controlled the glass. The opener also offered an early look at some of the adjustments this group is making, including senior forward Joseph Tuglers move into a different spot in the frontcourt as the staff continues to sort out roles.
What stood out most was how Houston wanted to play offensively, with a clear emphasis on getting downhill and creating easier looks around the rim while also earning trips to the line. Sampson has already pointed to one major test ahead for this team, and it will be a useful measuring stick for a roster that looked sharp in its first outing but is still working through the details that matter once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Has No Room For Another Slip Against Cincinnati
Houston heads into its matchup with Cincinnati looking to steady itself after a loss to Utah exposed some of the issues that can surface when the offense gets out of rhythm. The Cougars were held back in part by an injury to tight end Patrick Overmyer, and his absence was one of the factors that made the previous game harder to manage on that side of the ball.
Cincinnati brings its own uncertainty into the meeting, which only adds to the pressure on Houston to respond cleanly on both sides of the line. The Cougars need a sharper offensive showing and a more consistent defensive effort if they want to avoid letting another winnable game slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Stunned No 5 Georgia In A Program Defining Moment
Homecoming in 1967 became a turning point for Houston when the Cougars welcomed No. 5 Georgia into the Astrodome and played in front of the largest crowd the building had seen to that point. Houston dug itself out of a 14-0 hole and leaned on Paul Gipson, who powered the offense in a way that gave the game its edge and kept the home crowd believing the upset was still there to be had.
The finish only added to the sense that this was more than just another win, because Houston had already shown it could knock off elite opposition and this one carried the kind of weight that changes how a program is viewed. The victory sent the Cougars back into the AP Poll at No. 10 and gave that afternoon a place in school history, even before the final margin was settled in the most dramatic way possible. [Read more 🡒]