University of Houston Athletics
Houston Finishes Nationally Ranked In Polls
1/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 10, 2012
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| Sammy Brown led the nation in TFL (30.0) |
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| Patrick Edwards led the nation with 20 TD catches |
Houston, Texas - University of Houston football fans continue to enjoy the most successful season in school history. The Cougars finished the 2011 campaign nationally ranked for the first time since 1990, finishing No. 14 in the final USA Today Coaches' Poll and No. 18 in the Associated Press ledger.
Houston joined national runner-up LSU as the lone 13-win teams this season and the last time UH finished ranked was more than two decades ago when the club finished 10th by the AP and 12th by the Coaches (1990).
UH opened 2012 with the year's first victory, handling No. 22 Penn State, 30-14, at the TicketCity Bowl in Dallas. Case Keenum threw for 532 yards and three scores to lead UH to just its second bowl victory since 1980. The 532 yards passing by Keenum was a bowl and Cotton Bowl Stadium record. Patrick Edwards had 228 yards receiving in the win, breaking the Cotton Bowl Stadium mark, while Justin Johnson made 12 receptions to break the facility mark for receptions as well.
In addition to tying LSU for the national lead in victories, UH claimed a number of statistical national championships in 2011:
| Category | 2011 Total | Finish |
| Passing Yards | 6,301 | 1st |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 450.1 | 1st |
| Total Offense | 8,387 | 1st |
| Total Yards Per Game | 599.1 | 1st |
| Total First Downs | 393 | 1st |
| Fewest INTs Per Pass | .88 | 1st |
| TD Passes | 54 | 1st |
| TD-INT Ratio | 54-to-6 | 1st |
| Scoring Offense | 49.3 | 1st |
| Total Points | 690 | 1st |
| Player | Category | Statistic |
| Case Keenum | Total Offense Per Game | 404.7 |
| Case Keenum | Total Yards | 5,666 |
| Case Keenum | Passing Yards Per Game | 402.2 |
| Case Keenum | Total Passing Yards | 5,631 |
| Case Keenum | Touchdown Passes | 48 |
| Case Keenum | TD-to-INT Ratio | 48-to-5 |
| Case Keenum | Completions | 428 |
| Case Keenum | Attempts | 603 |
| Sammy Brown | Tackles For Loss | 30.0 |
| Patrick Edwards | Receiving TDs | 20 |
| Matt Hogan | Extra Points Made | 91 |
