Game Preview: #23 Oklahoma State

HOUSTON – The Houston Football team will honor its seniors on Saturday prior to facing #23 Oklahoma State in TDECU Stadium at 3 p.m. The game is the second ranked matchup in the Cougars' home slate and airs on ESPN2.

GAME 11 – OKLAHOMA STATE

Houston (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) vs. #23 Oklahoma State (7-3, 5-2 Big 12)
Saturday, Nov. 18 | 3 p.m. CT
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN2
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

COOG FEST – PREGAME ACTIVITIES

Grab your friends and enjoy all the fun at Fan Fest in Cougar Alley. This area features a huge LED TV, interactive games and activities.
- Cougar Alley includes:
  - The Bud Light Backyard
  - Fan Fest on Cullen
Join the team for Cougar Walk at 12:45 p.m. Cougar Walk will be led by the UH Helmet Car with Shasta and Sasha. Plus, you will enjoy performances by the Spirit of Houston, UH Cheerleaders and the Cougar Dolls!
The student tailgate, sponsored by H-E-B, Dean of Students Office and SGA: All students are invited to stop by the student tailgate outside Gate 2. Spend time with friends and enjoy tailgating games, TVs, video games, food and giveaways.
Stop by The Porch by H-E-B for interactive games and samples.
Get to your seats for the national anthem to see the second flyover of the season during the national anthem.

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

Performances by the Spirit of Houston!
Get your Video Done at the 360 Video Booth behind Section 138.
On the field recognitions of Women's Golf, Bauer College of Business and the Hall of Honor orchestrators.
Cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls on hand to entertain you!
DJ Yobi Yobz mixin' it up in the student section!
Join the Light Show in the 4th Quarter with Cougar Lights in the Houston Athletics app!

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston is 15-3 in its last 18 regular season home finales (2006-present) and 55-21-1 in regular season home finales all-time. The Cougars have closed their home slate once with Oklahoma State, defeating the Cowboys, 31-7, on Nov. 24, 1951, inside Rice Stadium.
On Friday (Nov. 17), the University of Houston is set to break ground on the Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center. The school's planned $130 million state-of-the-art sports performance center will feature an academic support services suite, a leading-edge locker room facility, student-athlete flex space and office space to house the Houston Football coaching and support staff among other amenities. The center, which will also provide additional premium seating to TDECU Stadium with 14 suites, a 450-seat club section with access to an 11,000-square-foot club and 300-seat roof terrace facing inward to John O'Quinn Field, is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
Houston Head Coach Dana Holgorsen spent one season (2010) at Oklahoma State, serving as the Cowboys Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Holgorsen was a finalist for the 2010 Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant, and was named the rivals.com Offensive Coordinator of the Year. The Cowboys led the nation in total offense during the regular season and finished No. 2 in passing offense and No. 3 in total and scoring offense.
After a 24-14 loss last time out against Cincinnati, UH finds itself needing to win each of its last two contests to reach bowl eligibility. UH has played in 30 bowl games all-time including 15 bowl appearances since 2005 which ranks tied with TCU for the most in Texas.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

The University of Houston community mourns the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden (1990-2023), Zachary McMillian (1991-2023) and Ralph Oragwu (1992-2023) who died in a car accident in the early-morning hours Saturday, Nov. 11. Houston Football will wear a commemorative helmet decal the remainder of the season.
Houston and Oklahoma State are meeting for the 21st time in the history of the programs and first since Houston went into Stillwater, Okla., and knocked off #5/6 Oklahoma State, 45-35, on Sept. 12, 2009, in a matchup that featured UH Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen and fifth-year Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy.
While Saturday marks the first meeting between Houston and Oklahoma State as Big 12 Conference mates, it is not the first league matchup between the two programs. The Cougars and Cowboys faced off six times as members of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1951-56 with Houston going 5-1 during the stretch.
Houston sophomore wide receiver Stephon Johnson spent his 2022 true freshman season at Oklahoma State, playing nine games (four starts) while hauling in 17 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns including an 84-yard score against Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Johnson has made a lasting impact for the Cougars, coming down with a 49-yard Hail Mary grab as time expired to lift Houston past West Virginia, 41-39, for the program's inaugural Big 12 Conference win on Oct. 12.
Oklahoma State is the second ranked team Houston has faced this season. The Cougars went toe-to-toe with #8/8 Texas on Oct. 21. The Longhorns halted Houston on a 4th-and-1 inside the Texas 10 in the final minute to seal a 31-24 victory. The Cougars are 6-7 against Top 25 opponents inside TDECU Stadium (2014-present) with the last win coming via a 44-37 result against #19/16 SMU on Oct. 30, 2021.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II leads FBS in every rushing category: rushing yards (1,250), carries of 20+ yards (17), carries of 30+ yards (13), carries of 40+ yards (6), carries of 70+ yards (2), 100-yard games (6), 200 yard rushing games (2).
Since 2010, OSU has seven seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game (2021). The Cowboys have reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Nickolas Martin is making a strong case for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the conference in total tackles per game with 10.0 per game and is third with 5.2 solo tackles per game. He is the only Power Five Player with two 17-tackle games this season.

LAST TIME AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE

The Cougars won the 2009 meeting in Stillwater, stunning #5 Oklahoma State 45-35 behind the arm of Case Keenum and running back Bryce Beall.
At the time, the win marked program's first victory over a Top 5 team since an upset of third-ranked Texas in 1984.
Keenum threw for 366 yards and threw three touchdown passes while adding a rushing touchdown. Beall rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown and caught a TD pass from Keenum.
The Houston defense kept 10-year NFL veteran Dez Bryant out of the endzone during the game and held the future NFL receiver under 100 yards receiving.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Send Houston's seniors out with their 14th victory at TDECU Stadium over the last four seasons.
Move Houston to 16-3 in regular season home finales since 2005.
Be the Cougars' fifth of the season with one remaining opportunity, at UCF next Saturday, to reach a sixth win to become bowl eligible.
Move Houston to 11-9-1 all-time against Oklahoma State and 1-0 as co-Big 12 members.
Be Houston's first against a Top 25 opponent since defeating #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021.
Move Houston to 7-7 against Top 25 opponents inside TDECU Stadium since the facility opened in 2014.

TICKETS ON SALE
Be part of history this fall by purchasing tickets for Houston Football's inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. Single-game tickets are available for the Big 12 matchup of 2023 against Oklahoma State by clicking here.

SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.

JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE
Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
 
STAY CONNECTED 
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.

– UHCougars.com –

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