Saturday, November 6
Tampa, Fla.
6:30 p.m.
University of Houston
at
USF
Game Primer: USF
11/3/2021 3:47:00 PM | Football
No. 20/19 Cougars visit Bulls in Saturday night showdown
GAME 8
USF at No. 20/19 Houston
Nov. 6, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. CT | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston and USF are meeting for the eighth time. Houston leads the all-time series 5-2 highlighted by five consecutive victories (2013-present). The five-game win streak is tied for Houston's third-longest active streak against an opponent, trailing only Detroit Mercy (7) and Rice (6). USF (0-5) and ECU (0-3) are the only active AAC programs to have not defeated Houston in league play.
« Termed the "Third Ward Defense," the Cougars' unit leads the nation in third down conversion % defense (.250) and team sacks (4.25). The Cougars are fourth in total defense (286.0), sixth in first down defense (117), eighth in tackles for loss (7.0), 10th in rushing defense (96.1), 11th in fumbles recovered (8), 12th in defensive touchdowns (2), and 18th in passing yards allowed (189.9).
« Houston has outscored its opponents 107-24 in the first quarter this season. Navy (7 points), East Carolina (10 points) and SMU (7 points) are the only opponents to register points against the Cougars in the first period this season.
« Following a 44-37 win over previously undefeated and then-No. 16/19 SMU, Houston returned to the top 25 rankings at No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Top 25, announced Sunday. It marks the first time Houston has been nationally ranked in either poll since Oct. 28, 2018, after the Cougars uplifted No. 21 USF, 57-36.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Houston quarterback Clayton Tune set a career high with 412 passing yards and matched a career high with four touchdown passes alongside 27-of-37 passing against No. 19/16 SMU last Saturday. Tune completed 10-of-12 passes on third downs. Tune ranks second in the American and 14th nationally with a 69.7 completion %.
«Houston is 146-119-5 all-time during the month of November including a 31-24 mark since the start of the 2006 season.
« Houston ranks 11th nationally in turnover margin (0.88). The Cougars are sixth in fumbles lost (2) and did not cough up their first fumble until Oct. 23 against ECU. Houston has recovered eight fumbles in eight games, ranking 11th nationally.
« Houston senior Marcus Jones recorded a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, racing into the endzone with 17 seconds remaining to lift Houston to a 44-37 win against No. 19/16 SMU last Saturday. The senior's nine career return touchdowns (six kickoff, three punt) rank tied for first in NCAA history. His five return touchdowns at Houston are tied for second in program history.
«Houston has scored 40-plus points in five of their last seven games and tallied 21-plus points in all eight games this season.
SCOUTING USF
« USF is celebrating its 25th season of football beginning play in 1997 after a year of only practices and scrimmages in 1996.
» USF head coach Jeff Scott is the youngest football head coach in the American Athletic Conference at 40 years old.
« USF kicker Spencer Shrader is one of eight kickers in the nation that are 100% on their field goal attempts throughout the 2021-2022 season.
« USF is one of four teams in the FBS level that play their home games in an active NFL stadium.
LAST TIME AGAINST USF
« The Cougars totaled over 500 yards of total offense and scored a touchdown on offense, defense, and special teams to defeat the Bulls, 56-21 on Nov. 14, 2020.
« Cornerback Marcus Jones registered a 72-yard punt return touchdown, the first punt return touchdown in TDECU stadium history.
« Senior linebacker Grant Stuard logged nine tackles as well as an 85-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
« The 56 points scored against USF were the most points scored under head coach Dana Holgorsen at Houston.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 6-0 in AAC play, matching its best start since 2015 (6-0).
» Move Houston's win streak to eight consecutive, the program's longest since Nov. 27, 2015-Sept. 29, 2016 (8 games). Houston's current seven-game win streak is the seventh-longest active streak nationally.
» Move Houston to 6-0 against USF as co-members of the American Athletic Conference.
» Be Houston's fourth consecutive on the road, matching the program's longest stretch since winning as many between Sept. 12- Oct. 24, 2015. It would also be Houston's third consecutive AAC road victory, matching the longest road win streak since joining the league (Oct 3-24, 2015; Oct. 2011- Nov. 28, 2015).
» Be Houston's first true road victory when competing as the AP No. 20 team (0-1 currently).
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
USF at No. 20/19 Houston
Nov. 6, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. CT | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston and USF are meeting for the eighth time. Houston leads the all-time series 5-2 highlighted by five consecutive victories (2013-present). The five-game win streak is tied for Houston's third-longest active streak against an opponent, trailing only Detroit Mercy (7) and Rice (6). USF (0-5) and ECU (0-3) are the only active AAC programs to have not defeated Houston in league play.
« Termed the "Third Ward Defense," the Cougars' unit leads the nation in third down conversion % defense (.250) and team sacks (4.25). The Cougars are fourth in total defense (286.0), sixth in first down defense (117), eighth in tackles for loss (7.0), 10th in rushing defense (96.1), 11th in fumbles recovered (8), 12th in defensive touchdowns (2), and 18th in passing yards allowed (189.9).
« Houston has outscored its opponents 107-24 in the first quarter this season. Navy (7 points), East Carolina (10 points) and SMU (7 points) are the only opponents to register points against the Cougars in the first period this season.
« Following a 44-37 win over previously undefeated and then-No. 16/19 SMU, Houston returned to the top 25 rankings at No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Top 25, announced Sunday. It marks the first time Houston has been nationally ranked in either poll since Oct. 28, 2018, after the Cougars uplifted No. 21 USF, 57-36.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Houston quarterback Clayton Tune set a career high with 412 passing yards and matched a career high with four touchdown passes alongside 27-of-37 passing against No. 19/16 SMU last Saturday. Tune completed 10-of-12 passes on third downs. Tune ranks second in the American and 14th nationally with a 69.7 completion %.
«Houston is 146-119-5 all-time during the month of November including a 31-24 mark since the start of the 2006 season.
« Houston ranks 11th nationally in turnover margin (0.88). The Cougars are sixth in fumbles lost (2) and did not cough up their first fumble until Oct. 23 against ECU. Houston has recovered eight fumbles in eight games, ranking 11th nationally.
« Houston senior Marcus Jones recorded a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, racing into the endzone with 17 seconds remaining to lift Houston to a 44-37 win against No. 19/16 SMU last Saturday. The senior's nine career return touchdowns (six kickoff, three punt) rank tied for first in NCAA history. His five return touchdowns at Houston are tied for second in program history.
«Houston has scored 40-plus points in five of their last seven games and tallied 21-plus points in all eight games this season.
SCOUTING USF
« USF is celebrating its 25th season of football beginning play in 1997 after a year of only practices and scrimmages in 1996.
» USF head coach Jeff Scott is the youngest football head coach in the American Athletic Conference at 40 years old.
« USF kicker Spencer Shrader is one of eight kickers in the nation that are 100% on their field goal attempts throughout the 2021-2022 season.
« USF is one of four teams in the FBS level that play their home games in an active NFL stadium.
LAST TIME AGAINST USF
« The Cougars totaled over 500 yards of total offense and scored a touchdown on offense, defense, and special teams to defeat the Bulls, 56-21 on Nov. 14, 2020.
« Cornerback Marcus Jones registered a 72-yard punt return touchdown, the first punt return touchdown in TDECU stadium history.
« Senior linebacker Grant Stuard logged nine tackles as well as an 85-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
« The 56 points scored against USF were the most points scored under head coach Dana Holgorsen at Houston.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 6-0 in AAC play, matching its best start since 2015 (6-0).
» Move Houston's win streak to eight consecutive, the program's longest since Nov. 27, 2015-Sept. 29, 2016 (8 games). Houston's current seven-game win streak is the seventh-longest active streak nationally.
» Move Houston to 6-0 against USF as co-members of the American Athletic Conference.
» Be Houston's fourth consecutive on the road, matching the program's longest stretch since winning as many between Sept. 12- Oct. 24, 2015. It would also be Houston's third consecutive AAC road victory, matching the longest road win streak since joining the league (Oct 3-24, 2015; Oct. 2011- Nov. 28, 2015).
» Be Houston's first true road victory when competing as the AP No. 20 team (0-1 currently).
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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