Houston’s spot in the College Football Playoff rankings is a reminder that the Cougars are close, but not close enough for this year’s 12-team field.
At No. 14, Houston sits outside the current format. But that picture changes fast with the playoff set to grow to 24 teams beginning in the 2027 season.
That expansion, backed by a five-year deal between the CFP and ESPN worth nearly $1.7 billion on Nov. 9, would put Houston in the bracket instead of on the outside looking in. Under the new setup, the Cougars would have a real path to a national championship conversation.
For now, this season stays at 12 teams. But the new format gives Houston a much different outlook for the future, especially with the Cougars still working through a crowded Big 12 race.
Utah, Texas Tech and BYU all have better records and a higher spot in the AP top 25, which puts them ahead of Houston in the projected title-game picture. That makes the road to the conference championship game a steep one.
Next year, though, the math changes. A 24-team playoff would open the door for teams in Houston’s range to get in without needing a conference title. The top eight seeds would receive first-round byes and home-field advantage in the second round, while seeds 9-16 would host first-round games against seeds 17-24.
That kind of structure removes some of the pressure that comes with needing a conference championship to stay alive. Houston already showed what it can do with a win over Cincinnati on Nov. 7, a 31-24 result that pushed the Cougars to 7-2 and helped land them at No. 14 in the AP poll.
The program has seen this movie before. In 2015, Houston won the American Athletic Conference and finished No. 18 in the final ranking on Selection Day, when the playoff was still only four teams. The Cougars then beat Florida State 38-24 in the Peach Bowl and ended at 13-1, but they still never made the Playoff.
That’s why the expansion matters for a team like Houston. Under this year’s rules, the climb remains steep. Under next year’s rules, Willie Fritz and the Cougars would have a far better shot at turning a strong season into a playoff berth in 2027.
In Other News...
Houston Lands An Early Guard Commitment Fans Will Want To Track
Houston added an early piece to its future backcourt when Darrell Davis signed a scholarship agreement to join the mens basketball program beginning in the 2027-28 season. The highly ranked point guard from SPIRE Academy in Ohio becomes the first student-athlete in the Class of 2027 to sign with the Cougars, giving Kelvin Sampson and his staff a head start on a player they clearly view as more than just a long-range project.
Sampsons praise for Davis centered on both his skills and his leadership qualities, the kind of combination that tends to matter in Houstons system. It is still early in the process, but landing a guard this far out gives the Cougars an intriguing name to monitor as the class develops and the program continues shaping its future roster. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Just Strengthened Kelvin Sampsons Future Backcourt Again
Houstons backcourt pipeline got another boost with the addition of Oneal Delancy, a guard from Montverde Academy who has signed a scholarship agreement to join the program starting in the 2027-28 season. The Cougars have made a habit of stacking talent well ahead of time, and Delancy fits the profile of the kind of recruit Kelvin Sampson and his staff like to identify early: skilled, highly regarded, and already carrying a strong reputation in both AAU and high school basketball.
What stands out with Delancy is that this is not just about rankings. The Houston staff and others around the game have praised both his ability and his character, which matters in a program that has built its identity on toughness, discipline and continuity. With this latest commitment, the Cougars have added another piece to a future backcourt that already looks like it could stay deep and dangerous for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Injury Report Suddenly Raises A New Lineup Question
Colorados injury report brought a little more clarity heading into Week 11, and for a Houston team keeping an eye on every detail, the biggest note was the status of linebacker Tyler Martinez. He was listed as questionable, which at least opens the door to a return after he has missed time with a foot injury and has not played since Week 4. The Buffaloes also had Braylon Edwards and Elliot Arnold tagged as questionable, adding to a report that still carries plenty of uncertainty.
For Houston, the larger concern is how Colorados front seven might look if Martinez is able to suit up after showing progress in his recovery. The Buffaloes still have several injuries that remain worrisome, including Mitchell, Welch, Scudero and Taufatofua, so the final availability picture could shape how they deploy personnel on both sides of the ball. Even with the encouraging update, this is still the kind of late-week report that can change the feel of a matchup. [Read more 🡒]