Saturday, October 30
Houston, Texas
6 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
SMU
Game Primer: SMU
10/26/2021 4:39:00 PM | Football
Cougars, Mustangs square off in I-45 Showdown
GAME 8
No. 19/16 SMU at Houston
Oct. 30, 2021 | 6 p.m. CT | TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN2
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Saturday marks the first matchup between opponents with one or no losses at TDECU Stadium this late in the season since Nov. 14, 2015, when 9-0 Houston hosted 8-1 Memphis. The then-No. 16 Cougars rallied from 20 points down to defeat the No. 25 Tigers, 35-34.
« Saturday's matchup features two of the nation's longest win streaks. SMU's seven-game win streak ranks fourth nationally. Houston's six-game win streak ranks 10th nationally.
« Termed the "Third Ward Defense," the Cougars' unit leads the nation in third down conversion % defense (.234), ranks second in team sacks (4.14), third in first downs defense (99), fourth in total defense (276.3), ninth in defensive touchdowns (2), ninth in fumbles recovered (8), 11th in tackles for loss (6.7) and 12th in passing yards allowed (173.4).
« Houston senior Marcus Jones is the only FBS player in the country with a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown this season. His three special teams' touchdowns lead the nation. With his 98-yard kick return touchdown Saturday, Jones became the first player to record a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown in TDECU Stadium history. The 98-yard play was also the longest since the stadium's opening. Dating to his time at Troy, Jones owns eight career special teams' touchdowns.
FOR FANS
« Fans attending Saturday's "blackout" game are encouraged to wear black. The UH Team Shop will have black shirts and hats, in addition to other gear including apparel featuring the "Cougar Paw" logo worn by Houston Football coaches and staff, on sale at multiple locations around the stadium.
« Fans can take advantage of the Family 4-Pack for Saturday's game featuring four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips and four sodas for just $60. To purchase, click here.
« The Houston Men's Basketball program will host its Red-White scrimmage at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Fertitta Center. Admission is free. Fans attending should plan on parking in their normal football game day lot.
« With staffing shortages affecting business and venue operations around the country, the Houston Athletics Department and its vendors are making every effort to improve service and appropriately accommodate our fans and guests.
« Fans attending Houston Football games this fall at TDECU Stadium are encouraged to arrive early and familiarize themselves with game day procedures and guidelines. Parking, tickets, tailgating, directions, and additional information can be found here.
« Due to the campus construction project on Cullen Boulevard, fans are encouraged to plan ahead and provide extra time while using alternative routes to avoid delays.
« Cougar Pride members giving at the Varsity Level and up are welcome to enjoy food, entertainment and family fun at the Cougar Pride Tailgate Takeover. Located outside of TDECU at Gate 2 – southeast corner, the CP Tailgate will feature entertainment provided by DJ Teddi and food by Demeris BarB-Q. Cougar Pride members will also be able to taste a wide variety of locally made wines thanks to Haak Vineyards & Winery
GAMEDAY TIMELINE
2 p.m. – Ticket office, cash parking lots, kids' zone and tailgating opens
3:30 p.m. – Cougar Walk begins
4:30 p.m. – TDECU Stadium opens
6:05 p.m. – Kickoff vs. ECU
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
«Houston and SMU are meeting for the 36th time in the history of the programs. The Cougars have won 10 of the last 14 matchups. The teams had met in 15 consecutive seasons (2005-19) before COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 matchup.
«With Saturday's win, Houston qualified for its 14th bowl game in the last 17 seasons (2005-present). The Cougars are among 30 bowl-eligible teams nationally. Houston's 13 bowl appearances since 2005 rank second among programs in Texas, trailing only Texas A&M (14).
« Over its last six contests, Houston has limited opponents to 13.83 points per game. Houston's 121 points allowed (17.2 per game) are the fewest permitted through its first seven games of a season since allowing 102 (14.57) in 2016.
« Houston is 43-17 in the month of October since 2006 including a 24-9 mark at home.
«Houston running back Alton McCaskill is second nationally among true freshmen in total touchdowns (10) and rushing touchdowns (9). He is third in scoring (60 points). McCaskill's 25-yard touchdown rush on the first play of overtime against ECU last Saturday was the difference maker in the Cougars' 31-24 victory.
SCOUTING SMU
« SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai is tied for the national lead with 29 passing touchdowns.
» Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen and SMU head coach Sonny Dykes spent six seasons (2000-06) together on staff at Texas Tech. Both were receivers' coaches from 2000-04 and co-offensive coordinators together in 2005-06.
« SMU's 7-0 start is the second time in the past three seasons they have done so.
« At 42.7 points per game, the SMU offense is currently sixth in the nation.
LAST TIME AGAINST SMU
« The Cougars totaled 510 offensive yards in a 34-31 loss to SMU on Oct. 24, 2019, at TDECU Stadium.
« Quarterback Clayton Tune completed his longest career pass with a 96-yard strike to wide receiver Marquez Stevenson.
« Junior kicker Dalton Witherspoon went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and nailed both of his extra point attempts.
« Junior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson reeled in a career high 211 receiving yards and added two receiving touchdowns.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 5-0 in AAC play, its best start since 2015 (5-0).
» Move Houston's win streak to seven consecutive, the program's longest since Nov. 27, 2015-Sept. 29, 2016 (8 games). Houston's current six-game win streak is the 10th-longest active streak nationally.
» Move Houston to 34-12 at TDECU Stadium since the facility opened.
» Be Houston's first victory against a nationally-ranked opponent since Oct. 27, 2018, vs. No. 21/20 USF (57-36).
» Move Houston to 4-0 at TDECU Stadium with one home contest remaining (Nov. 19 vs. Memphis.).
TICKET INFORMATION
Houston Football mini-plans are still available alongside single-game tickets for remaining home matchups at TDECU Stadium. The Veer Package starts as low as $40 with fans choosing tickets to two Houston games. Fans can click here to purchase tickets.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
No. 19/16 SMU at Houston
Oct. 30, 2021 | 6 p.m. CT | TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN2
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Saturday marks the first matchup between opponents with one or no losses at TDECU Stadium this late in the season since Nov. 14, 2015, when 9-0 Houston hosted 8-1 Memphis. The then-No. 16 Cougars rallied from 20 points down to defeat the No. 25 Tigers, 35-34.
« Saturday's matchup features two of the nation's longest win streaks. SMU's seven-game win streak ranks fourth nationally. Houston's six-game win streak ranks 10th nationally.
« Termed the "Third Ward Defense," the Cougars' unit leads the nation in third down conversion % defense (.234), ranks second in team sacks (4.14), third in first downs defense (99), fourth in total defense (276.3), ninth in defensive touchdowns (2), ninth in fumbles recovered (8), 11th in tackles for loss (6.7) and 12th in passing yards allowed (173.4).
« Houston senior Marcus Jones is the only FBS player in the country with a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown this season. His three special teams' touchdowns lead the nation. With his 98-yard kick return touchdown Saturday, Jones became the first player to record a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown in TDECU Stadium history. The 98-yard play was also the longest since the stadium's opening. Dating to his time at Troy, Jones owns eight career special teams' touchdowns.
FOR FANS
« Fans attending Saturday's "blackout" game are encouraged to wear black. The UH Team Shop will have black shirts and hats, in addition to other gear including apparel featuring the "Cougar Paw" logo worn by Houston Football coaches and staff, on sale at multiple locations around the stadium.
« Fans can take advantage of the Family 4-Pack for Saturday's game featuring four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips and four sodas for just $60. To purchase, click here.
« The Houston Men's Basketball program will host its Red-White scrimmage at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Fertitta Center. Admission is free. Fans attending should plan on parking in their normal football game day lot.
« With staffing shortages affecting business and venue operations around the country, the Houston Athletics Department and its vendors are making every effort to improve service and appropriately accommodate our fans and guests.
« Fans attending Houston Football games this fall at TDECU Stadium are encouraged to arrive early and familiarize themselves with game day procedures and guidelines. Parking, tickets, tailgating, directions, and additional information can be found here.
« Due to the campus construction project on Cullen Boulevard, fans are encouraged to plan ahead and provide extra time while using alternative routes to avoid delays.
« Cougar Pride members giving at the Varsity Level and up are welcome to enjoy food, entertainment and family fun at the Cougar Pride Tailgate Takeover. Located outside of TDECU at Gate 2 – southeast corner, the CP Tailgate will feature entertainment provided by DJ Teddi and food by Demeris BarB-Q. Cougar Pride members will also be able to taste a wide variety of locally made wines thanks to Haak Vineyards & Winery
GAMEDAY TIMELINE
2 p.m. – Ticket office, cash parking lots, kids' zone and tailgating opens
3:30 p.m. – Cougar Walk begins
4:30 p.m. – TDECU Stadium opens
6:05 p.m. – Kickoff vs. ECU
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
«Houston and SMU are meeting for the 36th time in the history of the programs. The Cougars have won 10 of the last 14 matchups. The teams had met in 15 consecutive seasons (2005-19) before COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 matchup.
«With Saturday's win, Houston qualified for its 14th bowl game in the last 17 seasons (2005-present). The Cougars are among 30 bowl-eligible teams nationally. Houston's 13 bowl appearances since 2005 rank second among programs in Texas, trailing only Texas A&M (14).
« Over its last six contests, Houston has limited opponents to 13.83 points per game. Houston's 121 points allowed (17.2 per game) are the fewest permitted through its first seven games of a season since allowing 102 (14.57) in 2016.
« Houston is 43-17 in the month of October since 2006 including a 24-9 mark at home.
«Houston running back Alton McCaskill is second nationally among true freshmen in total touchdowns (10) and rushing touchdowns (9). He is third in scoring (60 points). McCaskill's 25-yard touchdown rush on the first play of overtime against ECU last Saturday was the difference maker in the Cougars' 31-24 victory.
SCOUTING SMU
« SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai is tied for the national lead with 29 passing touchdowns.
» Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen and SMU head coach Sonny Dykes spent six seasons (2000-06) together on staff at Texas Tech. Both were receivers' coaches from 2000-04 and co-offensive coordinators together in 2005-06.
« SMU's 7-0 start is the second time in the past three seasons they have done so.
« At 42.7 points per game, the SMU offense is currently sixth in the nation.
LAST TIME AGAINST SMU
« The Cougars totaled 510 offensive yards in a 34-31 loss to SMU on Oct. 24, 2019, at TDECU Stadium.
« Quarterback Clayton Tune completed his longest career pass with a 96-yard strike to wide receiver Marquez Stevenson.
« Junior kicker Dalton Witherspoon went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and nailed both of his extra point attempts.
« Junior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson reeled in a career high 211 receiving yards and added two receiving touchdowns.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 5-0 in AAC play, its best start since 2015 (5-0).
» Move Houston's win streak to seven consecutive, the program's longest since Nov. 27, 2015-Sept. 29, 2016 (8 games). Houston's current six-game win streak is the 10th-longest active streak nationally.
» Move Houston to 34-12 at TDECU Stadium since the facility opened.
» Be Houston's first victory against a nationally-ranked opponent since Oct. 27, 2018, vs. No. 21/20 USF (57-36).
» Move Houston to 4-0 at TDECU Stadium with one home contest remaining (Nov. 19 vs. Memphis.).
TICKET INFORMATION
Houston Football mini-plans are still available alongside single-game tickets for remaining home matchups at TDECU Stadium. The Veer Package starts as low as $40 with fans choosing tickets to two Houston games. Fans can click here to purchase tickets.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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