PREVIEW: #15/13 Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Houston Football seeks its first win of the season at #15/13 Oklahoma on Saturday in the Cougars third trip to Norman, Okla., in program history as multiple Houston stars return to play in Oklahoma.

GAME 2 – #15/13 OKLAHOMA

Houston (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. #15/13 Oklahoma (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 6:45 p.m. CT
Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium | Norman, Okla.
Broadcast: SEC Network
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Thirty-two Cougars made UH debuts last Saturday. Among UH's 11 defensive starters, eight were playing in their first game with the Cougars. Student-athletes participating in their first UH game contributed 70% of the Cougars' all-purpose yards and 65% of tackles.
UH defensive end Keith Cooper Jr., a three-year standout at Tulane, offered up a strong debut last Saturday. Competing in his 40th career game, Cooper Jr. blocked a field goal with 1:47 to play in the first half, keeping UH's deficit at 14 points. On defense, the Dickinson, Texas, product logged 3.0 tackles including a sack with 15 seconds to play in the opening half – upping his career total to a team-best 11.5 sacks.
UH's 11 road victories since 2021 rank tied for ninth nationally. The Cougars have won seven of their last nine road openers (2015-present). Head Coach Willie Fritz led Tulane to a perfect 10-0 road record the last two seasons. Fritz's last road loss was Nov. 27, 2021, at Memphis.
Fritz's last trip to Norman, Okla., was part of a game originally scheduled to take place in New Orleans. Following the landfall of Hurricane Ida, Tulane and #2 Oklahoma moved their 2021 opener to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Tulane left New Orleans ahead of the storm, setting up a temporary base in Birmingham, Ala. OU led 40-22 early in the 4Q and held off a furious Tulane rally for a 40-35 win.
Fritz was named UH's 16th head coach in program history on December 3, 2023. The back-to-back American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year is in the midst of his 32nd season as head coach. Fritz ranks fifth nationally among active FBS head coaches with 208 victories, trailing only LSU's Brian Kelly (283), North Carolina's Mack Brown (283) and Sam Houston's K.C. Keeler (263).

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston is looking for its first victory against a ranked opponent since defeating #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. Houston's last road victory against a ranked opponent came on Oct. 29, 2017, when the Cougars downed #17/14 USF, 28-24, in Tampa. After posting an 8-1 record against Top 25 opponents between 2015-18, UH has gone 1-11 since the start of the 2019 season.
Houston's 2024 roster is comprised of 27 college graduates (23% of the roster). The total ranks 15th among FBS programs, ninth among Power Four programs and second among in-state programs.
Houston's 63 newcomers are tied with Colorado for the most among Power Four members. The Cougars' 36 transfers are the second most among the Power 4 behind only Colorado's 44. It is tied with New Mexico State and North Texas for the fifth most in all FBS.
Among Houston's 119-member roster, 63 student-athletes – or 52.9% – are entering their first season with the Scarlet & White this fall. The group consists of 26 defensive players, 30 on offense and seven specialists. It is made up of 27 freshmen, four redshirt freshmen, nine sophomores, nine juniors and 14 seniors. In total, 34 of the 63 players (53.9%) call the state of Texas home.
Houston senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr. and senior linebacker Jamal Morris each competed at Oklahoma. McCutchin Sr. played with the Sooners in 2021, appearing in nine games including one start. Morris spent 2019-21 at Oklahoma, playing in 20 total games. The duo was among four student-athletes who represented the Cougars over the summer at Big 12 Media Days.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA

Offensively, sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold completed 17 of 25 passes (68%) for 141 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions last week against Temple. He became just the third Sooner to ever pass for at least four TDs in their first career home start, joining Josh Heupel in 1999 and Spencer Rattler in 2020.
Three of Arnold's TDs went to redshirt junior Deion Burks. The receiver finished with six catches for 36 yards and became the first Sooner to catch three TD passes in a season opener and the first OU player to haul in three TDs in his school debut. The Purdue transfer's scoring grabs covered 14, 8 and 5 yards. Arnold also threw a 14-yard TD pass to Southeastern Louisiana tight end transfer Bauer Sharp on OU's opening drive.
The Sooners averaged 6.1 yards per rush and were led by freshman Taylor Tatum, who racked up 69 yards on just five carries (13.8 average), including a game-long 35-yarder and an eight-yard TD. Redshirt junior Sam Franklin carried four times for 45 yards (11.2 average; long of 30) and junior Jovantae Barnes carried five times for 33 yards (6.6 average).
On defense, OU held the Owls to 197 yards and 3.2 yards per play. Temple gained 128 yards on 12-of-25 passing and 69 yards on 36 rushes (1.9 average).
The game was OU's first since 1987 to finish +6 in turnover margin. The Sooners converted all six takeaways into points (34 total).

LAST TIME AGAINST OKLAHOMA

D'Eriq King threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in the 49-31 loss at Oklahoma.
Making his Oklahoma debut, graduate transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts accounted for 508 yards of offense to Houston's 408 in a 49-31 home win over the Cougars on the night of Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.
Marquez Stevenson and Kyle Porter hauled in touchdown passes for the Cougars while Mulbah Car rushed for another Houston touchdown.
Grant Stuard posted a game-high 14 tackles in the game.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD

Be UH's first against a ranked opponent since defeating #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium.
Be Houston's first road victory against a ranked opponent since downing #17/14 USF, 28-24, in Tampa, on Oct. 29, 2017.
Be Fritz's 11th consecutive road victory dating to the start of the 2022 season.
Move Houston to 7-4 against SEC opponents since 1999.

COOGS ON THE ROAD

Cougar Meetup
- Friday, Sept. 6 from 6-8 p.m.
- O'Connell's Irish Pub & Grille
  - 769 Asp Ave, Norman, OK 73069
- Register here
Pregame Meetup
- Saturday, Sept. 7 from 4-6 p.m.
- O'Connell's Irish Pub & Grille
  - 769 Asp Ave, Norman, OK 73069
- Parking map
  - $30 parking charge
- Register here

BUY TICKETS
Tickets to see Houston face Rice in the Bayou Bucket exactly 50 years to the date from the very first Bayou Bucket Trophy matchup can be purchased by clicking here.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing season 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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Keith Cooper Jr.

Latrell McCutchin Sr.

Jamal Morris

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