No. 25 Houston heads into Saturday’s road trip to Georgia Southern with a clear chance to answer last week’s loss to Texas Tech the right way. The Cougars finish their non-conference slate in Statesboro, Georgia, and this matchup gives them a shot to lean on what has worked best early in the season: the ground game.
Houston has already shown it can control games on the ground, and that formula should show up again against the Eagles. Senior running back Makhi Hughes is projected to clear 100 rushing yards, with redshirt junior Re’Shaun Sanford II adding his own burst plays.
The Cougars don’t need to force the issue through the air here, especially if the run game is rolling the way it did in the first two games of the year and in stretches against Texas Tech. If Houston stays committed to the backs, the offense should be able to push past 200 total yards on the ground.
That kind of balance would also take pressure off junior quarterback Conner Weigman, who can operate efficiently without having to carry the entire load. Junior DJ Butler is also expected to help spark the offense, and Houston should still find enough scoring to put up a solid number.
On the other side, Georgia Southern’s passing approach opens the door for Houston’s secondary to make a play. The Eagles like to throw it around with seventh-year quarterback Max Johnson, and that could be a problem against a Cougars cornerback group that is highly rated.
Redshirt junior corner Will James is expected to come away with multiple interceptions, while junior defensive back Javion White is also projected to grab one. After giving up too many explosive plays last week, Houston should be much tighter in coverage this time.
The passing game should still have its moments too, even if the run game drives the day. Houston is projected to have at least three different receivers with four or more catches.
Senior wide receiver Amare Thomas remains the top target, but senior wideout Trent Walker is in line for his best outing as a Cougar and could find the end zone. Redshirt sophomore Koby Young is expected to work the middle of the field, while redshirt junior tight end Patrick Overmyer continues to be a dependable option for Weigman.
If the script holds, this is the kind of game where Houston’s offense can look efficient, its defense can force turnovers, and the Cougars can leave Statesboro with a stronger-looking performance.
In Other News...
Houston Defense Facing Early Pressure For A Reason Fans Can See
Houstons defense has already been put under the microscope, and for good reason. Through the early part of the season, the Cougars have looked a step slow in too many key moments, with missed tackles, poor angles and a pass rush that has not consistently forced offenses to play on their heels. For a unit that has long been part of the programs identity, the strain has been easy to spot.
Replacing key players was never going to be simple, and the first stretch has shown how much communication and execution still need to sharpen. The defensive philosophy remains intact, but the pressure to clean up the details is growing with each game, especially as Houston looks for the front line to do more and the entire group to settle in before the schedule gets any tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Must Clean Up Two Worrying Problems To Avoid An Upset
Houston heads into Week 4 with two issues that can turn a manageable matchup into a dangerous one: giveaways and a shaky pass defense. Against Georgia Southern, the Cougars will be looking to settle things down by leaning on the run game, because controlling the ground attack can help dictate tempo, protect the football and keep an opponent from turning the game into a track meet.
Georgia Southern arrives with the kind of profile that can punish hesitation if Houston is loose with the ball or soft in coverage. The lesson from recent games is clear enough for the Cougars: the team that owns time of possession and avoids self-inflicted mistakes usually puts itself in position to win, while the one that lets those areas slip leaves the door open for an upset. [Read more 🡒]