PREVIEW: Cougars Embark on Arrowhead Stadium

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Houston Football team returns to action after its bye week when the Cougars head to Kansas City to play the Kansas Jayhawks in Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

GAME 7 – at KANSAS

Houston (2-4, 1-2 Big 12) at Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 19 | 2:30 p.m. CT
Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Mo.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston is riding momentum from its 30-19 victory at TCU last time out. The win was Houston's third in Big 12 play since joining the conference a season ago and first since defeating Baylor, 25-24, in overtime in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2023. After being shut out against Cincinnati and #18/19 Iowa State, the Cougars scored on four of their first six drives en route to the win.
Houston wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV and linebacker Jamal Morris are the lone remaining Cougars who started in the last matchup against Kansas (Sept. 17, 2022). Seven current Cougars appeared in the game – Manjack IV, Morris, defensive back Noah Guzman, running back Stacy Sneed, linebacker Jalen Garner, offensive lineman Tank Jenkins and tight end Matt Byrnes.
Head Coach Willie Fritz's ties to the state of Kansas run deep. The Shawnee Mission, Kansas, native was a four-year starter at defensive back at Pittsburg State (Pittsburg, Kan.), where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1983. He served as the Defensive Coordinator at Coffeyville Community College (1987-90), under the direction of Coach Skip Foster, helping the program capture the NJCAA 1990 National Championship. On Friday night (Oct. 18), Fritz was inducted into the Coffeyville Community College Red Raven Hall of Fame.
Head Coach Willie Fritz is the son of the late Harry Fritz, who served as the Executive Director at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in Kansas City. The elder Fritz coached the Central Missouri football team in 1952 and served at several colleges and universities in administration as an athletics director.
Saturday marks the seventh different NFL venue Houston has competed in since 2011. Alongside nine matchups inside NRG Stadium (Houston Texans), the Cougars have competed three times (2013, '17, '21) inside Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), three times (2014, '17, '21) at Raymond James Stadium (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), once (2015) in the Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons), once (2014) in since-renamed Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) and once (2011) inside the Caesars Superdome (New Orleans Saints).

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Over its last four games, UH has rushed for 761 yards (eighth in the Power Four and third in the Big 12). The turnaround represents a sharp contrast from Games 1-2 in which UH rushed for just 96 total yards (15th in Big 12) at 1.6 yards per carry (last in Big 12).
After allowing 11 sacks across its first three games, Houston has permitted just six over its last three matchups. On the season, the Cougars have been led up front by tackle David Ndukwe, who has permitted just one pressure in 85 opportunities. Guard Peyton Dunn leads the offensive line with an 81.1 pass block grade and just three pressures allowed in 173 chances. Running back Stacy Sneed is third at his position nationally among Power Four schools in pass block grade (84.2) according to PFF.
Making his first Houston start last time out against TCU, quarterback Zeon Chriss contributed 141 passing yards, 97 rushing yards and two total scores. The sophomore's 83% completion (15 of 18) was the best for a Cougar underclassman quarterback (min. 15 attempts) since then-sophomore Greg Ward Jr. completed 87.9% of his passes (29 of 33) vs. Temple on Oct. 17, 2014.
Houston's 12-game schedule ranks among the hardest in the country according to Phil Steele who utilized the "NCAA Method" to rank schedules, compiling each team's opponent's records from the previous season. The Cougars are facing the nation's fifth-toughest schedule and the toughest schedule in the Big 12 Conference.
Houston defensive back A.J. Haulcy became the first Cougar to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance last time out at TCU. Haulcy intercepted two passes, added one breakup and paced the Cougars with 7.0 tackles. Haulcy, whose three interceptions are tied for the Big 12 lead, allowed just one reception in four targets against the Horned Frogs, and did not permit any yards after catch. Haulcy leads the Big 12 in passes defended (breakups + INTs) with eight on the season.

SCOUTING KANSAS

A hometown product of Lawrence, Kansas, senior running back Devin Neal has cemented himself as one of the Kansas all-time greats and is amongst the best running backs in the country over his career. Entering Saturday's game, Neal is just 181 yards away from surpassing the Kansas all-time rushing record of 3,841 yards, set by June Henley from 1993-96. Neal currently sits in third in KU school history with 3,661 career rushing yards, trailing only Henley and Tony Sands (3,788 yards, 1988-91). Not only is Neal approaching the Kansas alltime rushing record, his 38 career rushing touchdowns are also just three touchdowns shy of the KU all-time rushing touchdowns record of 41 set by Henley in 1993-96. Neal also ranks in the top three in both of those categories among all running backs in the FBS.
Paving the way for Neal is a steady offensive line that has combined for 133 career starts. Despite losing veterans Dominick Puni and Mike Novitsky to the NFL following the 2023 season, Kansas' offensive line has been among the top graded on Pro Football Focus, including offensive tackle Bryce Cabeldue grading as the 11th-ranked offensive tackle among power-four schools (80.7), center Bryce Foster grading as the 12th-ranked center (80.4) and offensive tackle Logan Brown is rated as the 14th offensive tackle among power-four schools. Since the start of the 2022 season, Kansas has allowed the fourth-fewest sacks among power-four offensive lines, trailing only Oregon (17), Georgia (29) and Washington (34). This year, the Jayhawks have allowed just 7.0 sacks along with 22 tackles-for-loss allowed, which are the 13th fewest in FBS and the second fewest in the Big 12 this season.
Kansas' defense is anchored by its pair of All-Big 12 Conference cornerbacks, Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, who are among the most experienced and productive cornerback tandems in the country. The Jayhawk duo has combined for 76 starts over their careers (Dotson 40, Bryant 36), while combining for 20 career interceptions, the most among any power-four cornerback duo in the country. The Kansas duo now ranks in the top-10 in KU school history for interceptions, with both tied for fifth with 10 career interceptions.
Through six games this season, the Kansas offense is averaging 212.2 rushing yards per game, which rank 21st nationally. Kansas has outrushed its opponent in five of six games this season by a margin of 1,273 to 947.
The Jayhawks have five different games this season with at least 150 rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns, tied for the most in the FBS (Army, Boise State, Navy).

LAST TIME AGAINST KANSAS

Houston jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game but allowed 28 unanswered points before a 48-30 loss inside TDECU Stadium on Sept. 17, 2022.
Clayton Tune threw for 272 yards and rushed for 63 and two total touchdowns.
Running back Ta'Zhawn Henry caught five passes for a game-high 107 yards out of the backfield.
Houston out-gained Kansas 272-158 but had two turnovers that stalled drives.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD

Snap Kansas's four-game win streak in the series (1994-present).
Give Houston back-to-back Big 12 wins for the first time since joining the league ahead of the 2023 season.
Be Houston's first all-time against Kansas, coming in the fifth matchup between the programs.
Move the Cougars to 15-4 in NFL venues since the start of the 2011 season including an 8-1 mark in true road games inside NFL stadiums in that timeframe.
Be the 250th head coaching victory for Willie Fritz and move Fritz to 12-2 in road games since 2022.
Be Houston's 13th road victory since the start of the 2021 season. The Cougars'12 road wins entering the weekend in that timeframe stand as the 10th most nationally.

COOGS ON THE ROAD

Cougar Meetup
- Friday, Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m.
- Brooksider Sportsbar & Grill
  - 6330 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, Mo., 64113
- Register here
  - Event does not include game ticket

BUY TICKETS
Houston returns home to celebrate Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 26, against rv/rv Utah, before facing #17/17 Kansas State in the program's annual Black Out Game and Heroes Night on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Tickets for that game and all home Football contests are available by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, or by clicking here at any time.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective and by joining 46ers and The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.
 
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.

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Matt Byrnes

Zeon Chriss-Gremillion

Peyton Dunn

Jalen Garner

Noah Guzman

A.J. Haulcy

Tank Jenkins

Joseph Manjack IV

Jamal Morris

David Ndukwe

Stacy Sneed

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