Houston’s comeback against UCF was loud, dramatic and good enough to keep the Cougars in the AP Poll, but not good enough to help them climb.
The Cougars erased a 17-0 deficit in the third quarter and finished off a 27-17 win over UCF after scoring 27 unanswered points in the second half. Houston also leaned into the moment with space-themed helmets for the “Space Game,” and the victory pushed the team to 4-1 on the season while giving it a Big 12 home opener win over its biggest “Space Game” opponent.
Still, the AP voters were unmoved in a harsh way. Houston slipped two spots to No. 22 in the Week 5 AP Poll after entering last week at No. 20, its highest ranking since 2021. The Cougars have now stayed ranked through the first six weeks of the season for the first time since 2016.
A few other moves around the poll helped explain the drop. UCLA climbed from No. 23 to No. 21 after staying undefeated, while Iowa moved into Houston’s old No. 20 spot.
Missouri’s huge performance against Florida also mattered, as the Tigers jumped from No. 25 to No. 14.
On the other side, Mississippi State was beaten by 33 points by Alabama and only fell one spot.
Houston’s place in the top 25 still keeps it firmly in the Big 12 mix. The Cougars are the conference’s fifth-ranked team in the AP Poll, behind BYU at No.
8, Texas Tech at No. 11 and Utah at No. 12.
There’s another ranking wrinkle ahead, too. Oklahoma State is No. 19 after its bye week, putting the Cowboys three spots ahead of Houston and setting up a possible ranked matchup in Week 7 at TDECU Stadium.
That game could carry real weight for Houston’s Big 12 standing. The Cougars did get a small boost in the US LBM Coaches Poll, moving up one spot to No. 19, and they sit one spot ahead of Mississippi State there.
Houston is also one of four Texas teams still ranked in the AP Poll this week. Texas is No.
1, Texas Tech follows, and SMU is sitting at No. 24.
In Other News...
Houston Fans Had Plenty To Say After This TDECU Stadium Win
Houston had plenty to feel good about Saturday night after erasing a 17-point halftime deficit to beat UCF 27-17 at TDECU Stadium, a comeback that delivered the Cougars their first conference win of the season and pushed them to 4-1 overall. The setting helped make it memorable, too, with the teams special Gridiron Galaxy helmets drawing strong reactions from both fans and players as the planet-themed look added a little extra shine to a needed conference breakthrough.
Still, the atmosphere came with its own challenges. A crowd of 25,593 packed into a stadium that holds around 40,000, and plenty of those in attendance noted how hot it felt while the game unfolded. Even with the heat, the night ended with Houston giving its supporters a reason to stay engaged, and the response online made it clear the win and the uniforms both landed well with a fan base that has been waiting for a moment like this. [Read more 🡒]
Houstons 2027 Class Just Added Another Intriguing Texas Athlete
Houstons 2027 recruiting class picked up another Texas target with the commitment of Jason Wooden, a three-star athlete from Frisco Emerson High School. Wooden brings versatility to the table as both a wide receiver and cornerback, and his pledge adds to a class that has leaned heavily on three-star prospects from across the state.
Wooden had been committed to Iowa State before changing course and choosing the Cougars, giving Houston another in-state name to build around as its class keeps growing. His addition makes him the 15th commitment in the group, a steady sign that the staff continues to do well on the Texas trail as it shapes the future roster. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Heads To Oklahoma State With One Huge Availability Question
UCF heads into its trip to Oklahoma State carrying the kind of injury uncertainty that can change a game plan in a hurry. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III and starting center Jacob Maiava have both been dealing with issues, and coach Scott Frost has been left to sort through a lineup that may look different from one week to the next as the Knights try to bounce back from their loss to Houston.
Frost has sounded optimistic about the depth behind those spots, but the timing is not ideal for a road game that already figures to be demanding. Oklahoma State will have its own reasons to test UCF early, and the Knights will need to manage the uncertainty up front while waiting to see just how much availability they can count on when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]