University of Houston
UCF
Game Primer: Houston vs. UCF
10/29/2020 11:19:00 AM | Football
GAME 4
(--/RV) Houston vs. (--/RV) UCF
Oct. 31 2020 | 1 p.m. CT | TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: KPRC 950-AM | TuneIn
Game Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston returns home on Saturday to take on UCF for a Halloween matchup inside TDECU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN+ with David Saltzman (pxp) and Stan Routt (analyst) on the call. Radio coverage on KPRC 950-AM begins at noon CT.
« UCF leads the all-time series, 6-3, against Houston. The Cougars led at the half against UCF a year ago in Orlando, but the Knights rallied with a strong second half to down Houston, 44-29, inside the Bounce House.
« The Cougars are 33-13 in October since the start of the 2009 season and 152-134-6 during the month all-time.
« In last week's matchup at Navy, Clayton Tune threw for 316 yards and three passing touchdowns, including two scores to Marquez Stevenson through the air to down the Midshipmen, 37-21.
« Saturday's contest features a matchup of the American's top-two quarterbacks in passing efficiency. UCF sophomore quarterback Dillon Gabriel ranks first in the league with a passing efficiency of 170.9. Gabriel leads the nation in passing yards per game (435.6) and passing touchdowns (19). Tune is second in the league with 166.8 passing efficiency clip. The junior has thrown for 300-plus yards in four straight games, the first UH quarterback to accomplish that feat since Case Keenum in 2011.
« Houston has held its opponent to under 100 yards rushing three times in its last six games. The Cougars lead the American and rank 18th in the FBS, holding opponents to 104.7 rushing yards per game in 2020.
« During his tenure as a head coach, Dana Holgorsen is 0-1 against UCF, with the lone matchup coming during the 2019 season.
FOR FANS
« Limited face masks will be distributed at Schroeder Gate 1 and Icon Gate 2.
« The Houston Seflie Station sponsored by TDECU will be located inside ICON Gate 2.
« Houston's soccer team will be recognized during the game.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« In his first full season as a starting quarterback, Clayton Tune ranks among the best statistically in the FBS through three games. The junior is 11th in the FBS in total offense per game (340.0), 11th in passing yards per game (315.0), 16th in passing efficiency (166.8) and 18th in points responsible for per game (18.0)
« Since 2018, Marquez Stevenson has recorded 14 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 eight games dating back to last season.
« Stevenson ranks second in The American and 18th in the FBS this season with 137.7 all-purpose yards per game.
« Senior defensive lineman Payton Turner leads Houston with 3.0 sacks through three games this season. The senior also leads the conference and ranks eighth in the FBS with 2.8 tackles per loss per game. The Cougars' pass rush has increased their production early in the season, recording 3.33 team sacks per game (ranks first in The American).
« Houston is a perfect 10-for-10 (100%) in red zone scoring attempts this season, which is tied for third in the FBS and leads The American.
GAME 3 RECAP: NAVY
« Junior quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns, and senior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson hauled in nine passes for 129 yards and a pair of scores to lead the University of Houston Football team to a 37-21 win over Navy.
« Stevenson recorded his 20th career receiving touchdown, becoming only the 10th player in school history to reach that milestone. Tune recorded his fourth straight 300-yard passing game, the first Cougar signal-caller to accomplish that feat since All-American Case Keenum hit that total in all 14 games from 2011-12.
« Houston's defense limited the Midshipmen to 166 rushing yards and only one touchdown on the ground as the Cougars rallied from a 13-9 deficit late in the second quarter.
« Senior defensive lineman Payton Turner logged eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and blocked a PAT, while junior linebacker Donavan Mutin had eight tackles, including six solo stops.
« Senior kicker Dalton Witherspoon drilled all three of his field goal attempts, including a school-record-tying 53-yard effort to move the Cougars to within 7-6 in the first quarter, and all four PAT tries.
NOTABLES // UCF
« Saturday marks the 10th all-time meeting between Houston and UCF. The Knights lead the all-time series, 6-3. The series is tied 2-2 in Houston.
« Houston is hosting UCF for the first time since Oct. 29, 2016. In that outing, Houston rallied from a 21-point third quarter deficit to defeat UCF, 31-24, thanks to three second half touchdowns from quarterback Greg Ward Jr.
« Houston is looking for its third win in the last four games against UCF. The Knights snapped the Cougars' two-game win streak a season ago with a 44-29 victory, spoiling a 132-yard rushing performance from Mulbah Car.
« Since the inception of The American Athletic Conference, UCF leads all teams in league victories (42). Houston is tied for second with 37.
« Houston and UCF are the only AAC programs with a New Year's Six bowl victory. Houston defeated No. 9 Florida State, 38-24, in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, 2015. UCF outlasted No. 7 Auburn, 34-27 in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2018.
SCOUTING UCF
« Since the start of the 2017 season, the Knights have won 38 of their last 44 games, which included a school-record streak of 25 straight wins. Since head coach Josh Heupel took over for the 2018 season, UCF is 25-6.
« UCF finished the 2019 season ranked in the top 25 for a third consecutive year. The Knights ended the year 24th in both the Associated Press Top 25 poll and the Amway Coaches Poll, and opened 2020 at 21st in both polls.
« The Knights have scored 30 or more points in 41 of their last 43 outings. UCF has also scored 40 or more points in 27 of its last 43 games. The Knights have scored at least 24 points in 44 straight contests, a streak that leads the nation.
« Sophomore quarterback Dillon Gabriel was one of the best freshmen in the nation in 2019, throwing for 3,653 yards, a UCF freshman record and the fourth most in school history. Gabriel has thrown at least one touchdown in every game of his career (17).
« The Knights have forced 14 turnovers through five games, ranking second in the nation. UCF is also sixth in the nation with a 1.60 turnover margin. UCF recovered only eight fumbles all of 2019 and has already recovered nine fumbles through five games of 2020.
« Despite its offensive firepower, UCF has struggled at times defensively. The Knights rank 88th in the nation, allowing 482.2 yards of offense per game. UCF is giving up 33.4 points per game, which ranks 69th in the nation and sixth in the conference.
LAST TIME AGAINST UCF
« Houston senior running back Mulbah Car rushed for a game-high 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Cougars in a 44-29 loss to UCF inside Spectrum Stadium on Nov. 2, 2019.
« The Cougars jumped out to a 17-7 lead late in the first quarter after Car's two scores and a 45-yard field goal from Dalton Witherspoon, the first of three first-half field goals from the junior kicker.
« Sophomore quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 179 yards with a touchdown and interception, while sophomore receiver Tre'von Bradley added four catches with 90 yards.
« UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel posted 298 passing yards with three touchdowns with receiver Tre Nixon hauling in six catches for 123 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Knights.
DEFENSE MAKES STRIDES
« Through Houston's first three games of the season, its defensive unit has shown major progress from a year ago. The Cougars enter Saturday's game ranked first in The American in rushing defense, limiting their opponents to just 104.7 yards per game on the ground (also ranks 18th in the FBS).
« Houston has held its opponents to under their season average in rushing yards in each of its first three games. Dating back to the start of the 2019 season, Houston has limited its opponent to under 100 yards rushing six times in 15 games.
« The most notable improvement has come from Houston's pass rush. The Cougars rank first in the league with 3.3 sacks per game (also ranks 14th in the FBS). The Cougars recorded 22 sacks in 12 games a year ago. Houston has logged 10 sacks in three game sin 2020.
« As a unit, the Cougars are first in The American in first down defense, holding foes to 18.3 first downs per game.
THE THIRD PHASE
« Houston ranks first in the American in kick return average (31.8), punt return average (17.0) and field goal percentage (.833).
« 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.
AMONG THE BEST
« Houston leads the FBS programs in Texas since 2015 with 43 wins. The Cougars are one win ahead of Texas A&M, two ahead of TCU, five on top of Texas, six ahead of Baylor and boast nine victories more than fellow conference foe, SMU.
« Since 2013, Houston is tied with Baylor for most FBS win in Texas with 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 tied for second among American Athletic Conference Teams with 37 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 448-375-15 all-time since 1946 and give Houston its 60th win since 2013. The Cougars' 59 victories are tied with Baylor for the most among Texas FBS schools in that time.
« Give Houston its third victory in the last four tries against UCF and move the Cougars to 4-6 all-time against the Knights.
« Improve the Cougars' record to 19-8 at TDECU Stadium against American Athletic Conference opponents.
« Up Houston's record in October to 34-13 since the 2009 season.
