University of Houston Athletics
Saturday, September 4
NRG Stadium
6 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
Texas Tech
Game Primer: Houston vs. Texas Tech
9/2/2021 4:52:00 PM | Football
Cougars, Red Raiders open season at Texas Kickoff
GAME 1
Houston vs. Texas Tech
Sept. 4, 2021 | 6:05 p.m. CT | NRG Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950-AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston begins its 76th season of football and third under head coach Dana Holgorsen when it faces Texas Tech in the Good Sam Texas Kickoff from NRG Stadium at 6 p.m. CT Saturday. The Cougars are 40-33-2 all-time in openers including a 10-3 mark in openers dating to 2008. Houston is 15-9-2 against in-state schools in season openers.
« Houston and Texas Tech are meeting for the 33rd time in the history of the programs. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 18-13-1, but have dropped the last three meetings to the Red Raiders. Saturday marks the first meeting at a neutral site.
« During his tenure as a head coach, Holgorsen is 7-3 in season openers (1-1 at Houston; 6-2 at West Virginia). As a head coach, Holgorsen is 5-2 against Texas Tech including five consecutive victories (2014-18).
« Houston returns eight offensive starters from last year's unit, including quarterback Clayton Tune. Tune returns after throwing for 2,048 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight starts in 2020. Houston welcomes back five of its top-seven leading receivers including Nathaniel Dell, who led the team with 29 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns.
FOR FANS
Tickets are currently on sale to the Texas Kickoff by visiting Ticketmaster.com. All tickets are mobile. Fans must download the Houston Texans app and log into their Texans account with their email on file with UH. For more information, click here.
For parking information, tailgating, including maps, RV parking, accessible parking, and to purchase pre-paid parking, click here. The Cougar Pride Tailgate will begin at 3 p.m. in Lot 22.
NRG Stadium clear bag policy: To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into NRG Stadium, Lone Star Sports & Entertainment ("LSSE") has implemented a policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into stadiums. For more information, click here.
PREGAME TIMELINE
12 p.m. – CougaRVillage Lot opens (Platinum 23)
1 p.m. – Platinum Lot opens
2 p.m. – Main Parking Lot opens
3 p.m. – Karbach Love Street TexFest opens
3:45 p.m. – Houston Team Arrival/Spirit Walk
4 p.m. – TexFest Artist headliner Randall King performs
4 p.m. – Premium Gates open
4:30 p.m. – Stadium Gates open
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Saturday marks Houston's first game against an in-state opponent since Oct. 24, 2019, vs. SMU (12 consecutive games).
« Houston returns 16 players (not including specialists) who started at least four games last season (eight on defense and eight on offense). Eleven of those 17 started at least six games and six started at least seven contests (two on offense, four on defense).
« Last season, Houston ranked 16th nationally in sacks per game (3.00) and were one of The American's best pass rushing squads. Houston also brings back 20 players with at least one career start on the defensive side of the ball.
« In January, Holgorsen promoted Doug Belk to defensive coordinator. Belk joined the staff in 2019 and will serve as the program's associate head coach and coach the safeties. He spent the 2020 season as the Cougars' co-defensive coordinator.
« There will be several noticeable ties between the two schools this weekend, none greater probably than Houston Head Coach Dana Holgorsen, who was the inside receivers coach for the Red Raiders from 2000-04 and then co-offensive coordinator from 2005-07. Holgorsen departed the Texas Tech coaching staff prior to the 2008 season to take the offensive coordinator position at Houston.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
« Texas Tech will kick off its 97th season of football Saturday when the Red Raiders face Houston at NRG Stadium. This is Texas Tech's second all-time appearance in the Texas Kickoff as the Red Raiders previously faced Ole Miss to open the 2018 campaign.
« The Red Raiders will unveil a new-look offense under first-year offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie Saturday as the former Red Raider gunslinger returned to his alma mater this offseason. Cumbie, who spent the previous seven seasons at TCU, was previously an assistant coach for his alma mater from 2010-13.
« In addition to the debut of Cumbie as Texas Tech's play caller, the Red Raiders will also break in a new quarterback as Tyler Shough was named the starter after transferring from Oregon this offseason. Shough led Oregon to a 4-3 record and a Pac-12 title over seven starts just a year ago.
« Texas Tech will debut several new faces on the defensive side of the ball Saturday thanks to the arrival of impact transfers Marquis Waters from Duke, Malik Dunlap from N.C. State, Rayshad Williams from UCLA and Jesiah Pierre from Florida.
LAST TIME AGAINST TEXAS TECH
« The Cougars lost their first game of the 2018 season on the road against Texas Tech by a score of 63-49.
« Wide receiver Marquez Stevenson recorded nine receptions and picked up 177 receiving yards for two touchdowns.
« With the point total, the Cougars scored 40+ points in three straight games to open the season for the first time in school history.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
» Be Houston's sixth in its last seven season openers
» Be Head Coach Dana Holgorsen's sixth consecutive against Texas Tech
» Snap Houston's three-game losing streak against Texas Tech
» Be Houston's 45th win since the start of the 2015 season. The Cougars rank third in wins among FBS programs in Texas during that span, trailing only Texas A&M (48) and TCU (46).
» Improve Houston's record to 62-70-2 against current members of the Big 12 Conference. The Cougars are 3-4 against the league since 2009 including victories against No. 5 Oklahoma State (Sept. 12, 2009), Texas Tech (Sept. 26, 2009) and No. 3 Oklahoma (Sept. 3, 2016).
Houston vs. Texas Tech
Sept. 4, 2021 | 6:05 p.m. CT | NRG Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950-AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston begins its 76th season of football and third under head coach Dana Holgorsen when it faces Texas Tech in the Good Sam Texas Kickoff from NRG Stadium at 6 p.m. CT Saturday. The Cougars are 40-33-2 all-time in openers including a 10-3 mark in openers dating to 2008. Houston is 15-9-2 against in-state schools in season openers.
« Houston and Texas Tech are meeting for the 33rd time in the history of the programs. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 18-13-1, but have dropped the last three meetings to the Red Raiders. Saturday marks the first meeting at a neutral site.
« During his tenure as a head coach, Holgorsen is 7-3 in season openers (1-1 at Houston; 6-2 at West Virginia). As a head coach, Holgorsen is 5-2 against Texas Tech including five consecutive victories (2014-18).
« Houston returns eight offensive starters from last year's unit, including quarterback Clayton Tune. Tune returns after throwing for 2,048 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight starts in 2020. Houston welcomes back five of its top-seven leading receivers including Nathaniel Dell, who led the team with 29 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns.
FOR FANS
Tickets are currently on sale to the Texas Kickoff by visiting Ticketmaster.com. All tickets are mobile. Fans must download the Houston Texans app and log into their Texans account with their email on file with UH. For more information, click here.
For parking information, tailgating, including maps, RV parking, accessible parking, and to purchase pre-paid parking, click here. The Cougar Pride Tailgate will begin at 3 p.m. in Lot 22.
NRG Stadium clear bag policy: To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into NRG Stadium, Lone Star Sports & Entertainment ("LSSE") has implemented a policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into stadiums. For more information, click here.
PREGAME TIMELINE
12 p.m. – CougaRVillage Lot opens (Platinum 23)
1 p.m. – Platinum Lot opens
2 p.m. – Main Parking Lot opens
3 p.m. – Karbach Love Street TexFest opens
3:45 p.m. – Houston Team Arrival/Spirit Walk
4 p.m. – TexFest Artist headliner Randall King performs
4 p.m. – Premium Gates open
4:30 p.m. – Stadium Gates open
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Saturday marks Houston's first game against an in-state opponent since Oct. 24, 2019, vs. SMU (12 consecutive games).
« Houston returns 16 players (not including specialists) who started at least four games last season (eight on defense and eight on offense). Eleven of those 17 started at least six games and six started at least seven contests (two on offense, four on defense).
« Last season, Houston ranked 16th nationally in sacks per game (3.00) and were one of The American's best pass rushing squads. Houston also brings back 20 players with at least one career start on the defensive side of the ball.
« In January, Holgorsen promoted Doug Belk to defensive coordinator. Belk joined the staff in 2019 and will serve as the program's associate head coach and coach the safeties. He spent the 2020 season as the Cougars' co-defensive coordinator.
« There will be several noticeable ties between the two schools this weekend, none greater probably than Houston Head Coach Dana Holgorsen, who was the inside receivers coach for the Red Raiders from 2000-04 and then co-offensive coordinator from 2005-07. Holgorsen departed the Texas Tech coaching staff prior to the 2008 season to take the offensive coordinator position at Houston.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
« Texas Tech will kick off its 97th season of football Saturday when the Red Raiders face Houston at NRG Stadium. This is Texas Tech's second all-time appearance in the Texas Kickoff as the Red Raiders previously faced Ole Miss to open the 2018 campaign.
« The Red Raiders will unveil a new-look offense under first-year offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie Saturday as the former Red Raider gunslinger returned to his alma mater this offseason. Cumbie, who spent the previous seven seasons at TCU, was previously an assistant coach for his alma mater from 2010-13.
« In addition to the debut of Cumbie as Texas Tech's play caller, the Red Raiders will also break in a new quarterback as Tyler Shough was named the starter after transferring from Oregon this offseason. Shough led Oregon to a 4-3 record and a Pac-12 title over seven starts just a year ago.
« Texas Tech will debut several new faces on the defensive side of the ball Saturday thanks to the arrival of impact transfers Marquis Waters from Duke, Malik Dunlap from N.C. State, Rayshad Williams from UCLA and Jesiah Pierre from Florida.
LAST TIME AGAINST TEXAS TECH
« The Cougars lost their first game of the 2018 season on the road against Texas Tech by a score of 63-49.
« Wide receiver Marquez Stevenson recorded nine receptions and picked up 177 receiving yards for two touchdowns.
« With the point total, the Cougars scored 40+ points in three straight games to open the season for the first time in school history.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
» Be Houston's sixth in its last seven season openers
» Be Head Coach Dana Holgorsen's sixth consecutive against Texas Tech
» Snap Houston's three-game losing streak against Texas Tech
» Be Houston's 45th win since the start of the 2015 season. The Cougars rank third in wins among FBS programs in Texas during that span, trailing only Texas A&M (48) and TCU (46).
» Improve Houston's record to 62-70-2 against current members of the Big 12 Conference. The Cougars are 3-4 against the league since 2009 including victories against No. 5 Oklahoma State (Sept. 12, 2009), Texas Tech (Sept. 26, 2009) and No. 3 Oklahoma (Sept. 3, 2016).
Players Mentioned
Media Availability: Ashton Porter
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Kentrell Webb
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Keisean Henderson
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Conner Weigman
Sunday, April 19