University of Houston
Navy
Game Primer: Houston at Navy
10/22/2020 9:24:00 AM | Football
Game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network and KPRC 950-AM
GAME 3
Houston at Navy
Oct. 24, 2020 | 2:30 p.m. CT | Navy-Marine Corps Stadium | Annapolis, Md.
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KPRC 950-AM | TuneIn
Game Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston hits the road for the first time this season as the Cougars travel to Annapolis to face Navy on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will air on CBS Sports Network with John Sadak (pxp), Randy Cross (analyst) and Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline) on the call. Radio coverage on KPRC 950-AM begins at 1:30 p.m. CT.
« Houston leads the all-time series 4-2 against the Midshipmen. The Cougars won the last matchup inside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with a 49-36 victory on Oct. 20, 2018.
« In last week's matchup against No. 14/13 BYU, Houston rallied from an early deficit to jump out to a 26-14 lead in the third quarter against the Cougars. BYU answered with 29 unanswered points to knock off Houston.
« The Cougars are 6-1 in conference road openers since joining The American. Houston has won eight out of its last nine conference road openers since 2011.
« As Houston prepares to face Navy's option attack, Houston's run defense has been a point of strength through the first two games of the 2020 season. The Cougars rank fourth in the FBS in rushing yards allowed per game (74.0)
« Dating back to the 2019 season, Houston has held its opponent to under 100 yards rushing three times in its last four games. UH opened the season by limiting Tulane to 70 yards on the ground, before holding BYU to just 78 yards rushing a week ago.
« During his tenure as a head coach, Dana Holgorsen is 0-1 against Navy, with the lone matchup coming during the 2019 season.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Among active FBS players, Houston's Marcus Jones and Marquez Stevenson rank first and second, respectively in career kickoff return touchdowns. Jones ranks first among active FBS players with four career kickoff return touchdowns (all four kickoff return touchdowns came during his time at Troy), while Stevenson picked up his third career kickoff return touchdown against Tulane (97 yards) on Oct. 8.
« Since 2018, Stevenson has recorded 13 receptions of 40 yards or more. His total is tied for third among active FBS receivers. The senior has also been explosive on kickoff returns during his career. In Stevenson has three career kickoff return touchdowns, all of which have came in the last seven games dating back to last season.
« Houston's defense ranks in the top 10 in the FBS in five statistical categories: rushing defense (74.0/fourth), team sacks per game (4.0/fourth), first down defense (39/fifth), third down conversion defense (26.9/sixth) and tackles for loss per game (9.00/ninth).
« Senior defensive lineman Payton Turner leads Houston with 3.0 sacks through two games this season. The Cougars' pass rush has increased their production early in the season, recording eight team sacks (ranks first in The American).
« Houston is a perfect 8-for-8 (100%) in red zone scoring attempts this season, which is tied for third in the FBS and leads The American.
GAME 2 RECAP: BYU
« Zach Wilson threw four touchdowns and finished 25 of 35 for 400 yards as No. 14 BYU rallied for a 43-26 win over Houston inside TDECU Stadium.
« Trailing by 11 to start the second quarter, Houston scored 23 straight points to take a 26-14 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter.
« Clayton Tune finished 21-of-31 for 310 yards and two passing touchdowns to lead Houston. Kyle Porter had 20 carries for 94 yards. Christian Trahan caught three passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Keith Corbin caught four passes for 58 yards.
« Houston finished with 438 total yards of offense, the most BYU has allowed this season. The Cougars' 26 points were the most BYU had permitted in its last nine regular season games.
« For the second straight game, Houston limited an opponent to fewer than 100 yards rushing. BYU was held to a season-low 78 rushing yards.
NOTABLES // NAVY
« Friday marks the seventh all-time meeting between Houston and Navy. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 4-2, and are 1-1 in Annapolis, Maryland.
« The Cougars have scored 40-plus points in four of their last five games against Navy and 35-plus points in five of their six all-time games in the series.
« In its last visit to Annapolis, Houston scored 35 unanswered points, posting a 49-36 win against Navy inside Memorial Stadium on Oct. 20, 2018.
« Houston captured the American West Division and advanced to its first league title game with a 52-31 win against Navy on Nov. 27, 2015, at TDECU Stadium.
« Houston senior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson is looking for his third straight 100-yard receiving game against Navy. The Shreveport, La., native, finished with 141 yards in 2018, while recording 133 receiving yards and two touchdowns a season ago against the Midshipmen.
« Houston quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 393 yard and a career-high four touchdowns against Navy last season.
SCOUTING NAVY
« Navy is off to a 3-0 start in American Athletic Conference play, its best since matching the feat in 2017. The Midshipmen are 30-15 in conference games since joining the league in 2015.
« Navy has started three different quarterbacks in its first four games of the season: Dalen Morris (BYU and ECU), Xavier Arline (Tulane) and Tyger Goslin (Air Force). Morris, who leads the group with two starts, was knocked out of Saturday's game against ECU on a late hit with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Goslin took over following the injury.
« Navy's roster represents student-athletes from 27 different states. The Midshipmen boast 15 student-athletes from Texas, tied with Alabama for the second-most on the team, while trailing only California and Maryland (16 each).
« Head coach Ken Niumatalolo has been on the Mids' sideline as either an assistant (1995-98, 2002-07) or head coach (2008-current) for 23 of the last 26 years. Over those 23 years, Navy has compiled a 170-112 record (.602), won 11 Commander-In-Chief's Trophies, gone to 16 bowl games, won nine bowl games and either shared or won outright the American Athletic Conference West Division in three of its five years in the league.
« Navy leads the nation in pass yards per completion (16.88) and is seventh in fewest penalties per game (4.00). Fullback Nelson Smith, who rushed for two scores and 157 yards last time out against ECU, is eighth nationally with six rushing touchdowns.
LAST TIME AGAINST NAVY
« Houston quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 393 yards and four touchdowns with two of those scores to wide receiver Marquez Stevenson, but it would not be enough in a 56-41 loss to No. 24/24 Navy inside TDECU Stadium on Nov. 30, 2019.
« The Cougars compiled more than 500 yards of offense and moved to within 35-34 late in the third quarter but five turnovers leading to 21 Navy points proved to be too much to overcome.
« Tune recorded the second 300-yard passing game of his career and fell just 14 yards shy of tying his career high. Stevenson finished with his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the eighth of his career, tying for 11th in Houston history with the latter total.
AMONG THE BEST
« Houston ranks second among the the FBS programs in Texas since 2015 with 42 wins. Texas A&M ranks first with 43 victories for the most wins by an FBS team in the state. UH is one win ahead of TCU and five wins ahead of Baylor and Texas.
« Since 2013, Houston ranks second in the state of Texas with 58 wins, trailing only Baylor (59). The Cougars are six wins ahead of Texas in that span. Houston also leads the state of Texas FBS schools with 10 seasons of at least eight wins since 2006. TCU is second in that span with nine.
« The Cougars also rank second among American Athletic Conference Teams with 36 victories in league history. UH remains the last FBS school in the state of Texas to win a league championship (2015 American Athletic Champions).
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
« Improve Houston's program win-loss record to 447-375-15 all-time since 1946 and give Houston its 59th win since 2013, matching Baylor for the most among FBS programs in Texas during that time.
« Give Houston a 5-2 edge all-time against Navy and avoid the program's first two-game losing streak to the Midshipmen.
« Provide Houston its fifth victory in its last six road openers, moving to 24-47-3 all-time in the category.
« Up Houston's record in October to 33-13 since the 2009 season.
