Friday, October 1
Tulsa, Okla.
6:30 p.m.
University of Houston
at
Tulsa
Game Primer: Tulsa
9/30/2021 12:11:00 PM | Football
Houston continues American play with Friday visit to Tulsa
GAME 5
Houston vs. Tulsa
Oct. 1, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. CT | H.A. Chapman Stadium | Tulsa, Okla.
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston senior Marcus Jones leads the nation with two punt return touchdowns. He is the fifth player in school history and first since 1968 to record multiple punt return touchdowns in a season. Last Saturday against Navy, Jones became the first Houston player since 2011 (Patrick Edwards) to record a receiving touchdown and punt return touchdown in the same game.
« Houston and Tulsa are meeting for the 45th time in the history of the programs. The Cougars' 25 all-time wins against the Hurricane are the second-most against any opponent (33, Rice). Houston has won five of the last six matchups against Tulsa.
« Houston has won nine of its last 10 conference road openers including going 7-1 in American Athletic Conference road openers.
« Houston ranks fourth nationally in passing yards allowed per game (116.0), fifth in third down conversion % defense (.231), sixth in total defense (244.8), sixth in first downs defense (48), 22nd in red zone defense (.700) and 23rd in scoring defense (16.2).
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« After seeing a pair of 14-point leads slip away in a season-opening loss to Texas Tech, Houston has reeled off three consecutive victories, the longest streak for the program since winning five straight from Sept. 22-Oct. 27, 2018.
« Friday marks Houston's first game outside the City of Houston this season. The Cougars faced Texas Tech at NRG Stadium (Sept. 4) before visiting Rice (Sept. 11) and hosting Grambling (Sept. 18) and Navy (Sept. 25).
« Houston has held opponents under 100 passing yards in three consecutive games including limiting Grambling to 49 through the air. The Cougars' 103 total yards allowed to Grambling and 2.2 yards per play by the Tigers are the lowest by an opponent against an American Athletic Conference school this season.
« Houston is 40-17 in the month of October since 2006 including a 17-9 mark on the road.
« Houston running back Alton McCaskill's five total touchdowns rank third nationally among freshmen. His four rushing touchdowns are fourth nationally among freshmen. The Conroe, Texas, native leads all American Athletic Conference freshmen in scoring (30 points) and is second among freshmen in rushing yards (242).
SCOUTING TULSA
« Junior Kendarin Ray has a team-high 29 tackles, while adding one sack for -7 yards and one forced fumble.
« Shamari Brooks now has a 2,992 career yards and 24 TDs in 36 career games and needs eight yards to become the fifth Tulsa running back to reach the 3,000-yard plateau.
« Tulsa is in its 125th season of football.
« Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 2,929 undergraduate students (based off 2020-21 statistics). Tulsa's overall enrollment is 3,961. Houston's enrollment is 47,000 students.
LAST TIME AGAINST TULSA
« The Cougars defense forced four turnovers one of which was returned 25 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Damarion Williams.
« Junior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson returned a kickoff 94 yards to seal a 24-14 win for the Cougars.
« Junior Quarterback Clayton Tune had an impressive game on the ground, rushing for 52 yards on 14 attempts as well as the Cougars lone offensive touchdown.
« Junior defensive lineman Isaiah Chambers spearheaded the Cougars pass rush with two of the teams five sacks of Tulsa's Zach Smith.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 34-24-1 all-time in conference road openers and 8-1 in AAC road openers.
» Be Houston's sixth in its last seven games against Tulsa.
» Move Houston's win streak to four consecutive (Cougars last won five straight Sept. 22-Oct. 27, 2018).
» Move Houston to 4-1 on the season. It would mark the sixth time in the last nine seasons Houston has won at least four of its first five contests (2013-present).
Houston vs. Tulsa
Oct. 1, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. CT | H.A. Chapman Stadium | Tulsa, Okla.
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston senior Marcus Jones leads the nation with two punt return touchdowns. He is the fifth player in school history and first since 1968 to record multiple punt return touchdowns in a season. Last Saturday against Navy, Jones became the first Houston player since 2011 (Patrick Edwards) to record a receiving touchdown and punt return touchdown in the same game.
« Houston and Tulsa are meeting for the 45th time in the history of the programs. The Cougars' 25 all-time wins against the Hurricane are the second-most against any opponent (33, Rice). Houston has won five of the last six matchups against Tulsa.
« Houston has won nine of its last 10 conference road openers including going 7-1 in American Athletic Conference road openers.
« Houston ranks fourth nationally in passing yards allowed per game (116.0), fifth in third down conversion % defense (.231), sixth in total defense (244.8), sixth in first downs defense (48), 22nd in red zone defense (.700) and 23rd in scoring defense (16.2).
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« After seeing a pair of 14-point leads slip away in a season-opening loss to Texas Tech, Houston has reeled off three consecutive victories, the longest streak for the program since winning five straight from Sept. 22-Oct. 27, 2018.
« Friday marks Houston's first game outside the City of Houston this season. The Cougars faced Texas Tech at NRG Stadium (Sept. 4) before visiting Rice (Sept. 11) and hosting Grambling (Sept. 18) and Navy (Sept. 25).
« Houston has held opponents under 100 passing yards in three consecutive games including limiting Grambling to 49 through the air. The Cougars' 103 total yards allowed to Grambling and 2.2 yards per play by the Tigers are the lowest by an opponent against an American Athletic Conference school this season.
« Houston is 40-17 in the month of October since 2006 including a 17-9 mark on the road.
« Houston running back Alton McCaskill's five total touchdowns rank third nationally among freshmen. His four rushing touchdowns are fourth nationally among freshmen. The Conroe, Texas, native leads all American Athletic Conference freshmen in scoring (30 points) and is second among freshmen in rushing yards (242).
SCOUTING TULSA
« Junior Kendarin Ray has a team-high 29 tackles, while adding one sack for -7 yards and one forced fumble.
« Shamari Brooks now has a 2,992 career yards and 24 TDs in 36 career games and needs eight yards to become the fifth Tulsa running back to reach the 3,000-yard plateau.
« Tulsa is in its 125th season of football.
« Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 2,929 undergraduate students (based off 2020-21 statistics). Tulsa's overall enrollment is 3,961. Houston's enrollment is 47,000 students.
LAST TIME AGAINST TULSA
« The Cougars defense forced four turnovers one of which was returned 25 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Damarion Williams.
« Junior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson returned a kickoff 94 yards to seal a 24-14 win for the Cougars.
« Junior Quarterback Clayton Tune had an impressive game on the ground, rushing for 52 yards on 14 attempts as well as the Cougars lone offensive touchdown.
« Junior defensive lineman Isaiah Chambers spearheaded the Cougars pass rush with two of the teams five sacks of Tulsa's Zach Smith.
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD …
» Move Houston to 34-24-1 all-time in conference road openers and 8-1 in AAC road openers.
» Be Houston's sixth in its last seven games against Tulsa.
» Move Houston's win streak to four consecutive (Cougars last won five straight Sept. 22-Oct. 27, 2018).
» Move Houston to 4-1 on the season. It would mark the sixth time in the last nine seasons Houston has won at least four of its first five contests (2013-present).
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
CB
/ FootballPOSTGAME – at Oregon State (Sept. 26, 2025)
Saturday, September 27
Recap: Houston vs Colorado
Monday, September 15
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. Colorado
Friday, September 12
Postgame Press Conference: Football at Rice
Saturday, September 06