PREVIEW: Cougars Paint Houston Blue Against #11/#14 Texas Tech

HOUSTON – The Houston Football team puts its undefeated record on the line as #11/#14 Texas Tech visits TDECU Stadium for a 6 p.m., Saturday, kickoff on ESPN.

GAME 5 – #11/#14 TEXAS TECH

Houston (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) vs #11/#14 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 4 | 6 p.m.
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

Parking Lots Open/Tailgating in Cougar Alley | 2 p.m. (For more parking information, click here.)
Stadium Opens | 4:30 p.m.
Coogs on Parade | 4:50 p.m.
Spirit of Houston Takes the Field | 5:47 p.m.
Kickoff | 6 p.m.

COUGAR ALLEY - PREGAME ACTIVITIES

Stop by the UH Team Shop for the newly released Houston Blue merchandise. Team Shop opens at 1 p.m. near the Stadium Garage.
Catch the Spirit of Houston on Cullen Blvd. at 4:50 p.m. for a high‑energy pregame performance and Coogs on Parade.
Bring the kids to the Kids' Zone by Schroeder Gate 1 for inflatables and fun!
Arrive early and kick back with friends in the Bud Light Backyard Beer Garden between Schroeder Gate 1 and Gate 2.

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

Arrive early! The first 20,000 fans will receive a Houston Blue rally towel courtesy of Bud Light, UH Alumni, Trust Guss Injury Lawyers and Ford.
Students get in your seats early for the Blue Wave T-shirt toss in the first quarter compliments of Bullpen Marketing.
Celebrate the 2025‑26 Houston Men's Basketball team with a special on‑field recognition.
The Spirit of Houston will present their classic rock show at half-time, featuring the music of Boston, Houston's own ZZ Top, and Fleetwood Mac! The show will include performances by the Cougar Dolls Dance Team and the UH Featured Twirlers Paige Carruthers and Keira George.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Cougars don their Houston Blue uniforms against Texas Tech on Saturday for the third time since debuting the combination in 2023. Houston is 1-1 in Houston Blue, beating UTSA in 2023 in the jersey's debut. In total, the Houston Athletics Department is 4-6 in Houston Blue.
According to ESPN's Power Index, Houston's defensive efficiency ranks 18th nationally at 82.8 thanks to a scoring defense that ranks 14th nationally, only allowing 13.3 points per game and a team passing defense efficiency that ranks 10th nationally at 97.13.
Defensive lineman Carlos Allen leads all defensive lineman in FBS with 31 tackles after his career-high 13 tackles at Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 26. Allen's 31 tackles is seven more than the next closest defensive lineman in the Big 12.
Through Week 4, Houston is one of just six Power Four teams -- and eight programs nationally -- with one or fewer turnovers. The Cougars beat Oregon State with a minus-one turnover margin for Houston's first win when losing the turnover battle since beating Baylor 25-24 in 2023 – also in overtime.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston is one of three undefeated unranked Power 4 schools with Louisville (ACC) and Maryland (Big Ten). Houston's Strength of Resume 24th and one of six schools with a top 25 resume not ranked in the AP or AFCA Polls. Houston is the only Power 4 school that is undefeated and not receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.
Houston has started 4-0 for the first time since 2016 after erasing a 14-point fourth quarter deficit at Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 26. The 14-point comeback is the first by the Cougars since Houston erased a 19-point deficit at Memphis in 2022.
Senior tight end Tanner Koziol leads all Big 12 tight ends and has caught the second-most receptions nationally with 23 receptions. Koziol's 234 receiving yards ranks 10th among FBS tight ends and fourth among Big 12 tight ends.
Houston has allowed just 10 offensive plays of 20+ yards this season, tied for the Big 12 Conference lead. The 10 offensive plays of 20+ yards is seventh-fewest in FBS.
Weigman posted his second-career multi-passing touchdown while also scoring a rushing touchdown game when he threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a score at Oregon State on Sept. 26.

SCOUTING TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech has started the year 4-0 with wins against #16/#18 Utah, Oregon State, Kent State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Coming off their bye week, the Red Raiders were last in action on Sept. 20 as they downed a Top 20 Utah squad, 34-10.
The Red Raiders lead the country in passing offense, averaging 368.5 yards per game from primary quarterback Behren Morton and Will Hammond. Texas Tech also sits at second in the country with 573 total offense yards per game.

LAST TIME AGAINST TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech won the last meeting against Houston, 49-28, on Sept. 30, 2023 in the Cougars' first year in the Big 12 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
A close battle in the first half, Texas Tech entered halftime with a seven-point lead courtesy of a last-minute punt-return touchdown from Loic Fouonji. The Red Raiders then added two second-half touchdowns to claim the win.
Donovan Smith passed for 336 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions while limiting Tech to just 161 yards in the air. Houston out-gained the Red Raiders, 489-400, in total offense, but a pair of special teams touchdowns made the difference in the loss.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Move Houston to 5-0 for the first time since 2016.
Move Houston to 19-16-1 against Texas Tech and mark the Cougars' first win over Texas Tech since 2009.
Move Houston to 7-13 in Big 12 Conference action all-time.
Be Houston's 47^th win inside TDECU Stadium.
Be Willie Fritz's first win over Texas Tech (never coached against Texas Tech).
Move Fritz to 5-17 against AP Top 25 opponents in his career and 2-3 against AP Top 25 teams at Houston.
Move the Cougars to 2-1 in the Houston Blue uniforms.
Move Conner Weigman to 4-2 agianst ranked teams as a quarterback.

PARKING INFORMATION

Houston Athletics is encouraging fans attending to:
- Arrive 2-3 hours before kickoff to allow extra transit time. The closer you get to game time, the more you risk missing the kickoff.
- Plan your route to parking | directions to each lot
- Parking availability is going fast
  - Blue Lot is SOLD OUT
  - Purple Lot has availability
  - Green Lot has limited availability
- Pre-purchase parking in Purple Garage (Elgin) | purchase parking
- Pre-purchase parking in Green Lot | purchase parking
- Fans without pre-purchased parking, should utilize a Teal Lot (pay by phone on game day) | parking map
- On game day, utilize Waze directions to specific parking lots | parking lot directions
Traffic Flow Change:
- Traffic flow changes are coming to certain parts of campus on Saturday, Oct. 4.
- Cullen Blvd. is CLOSED at Wheeler St.
- Fans with parking in Platinum/Red Lots should enter from Cougar Place.
- Platinum Lot pass holders can also access the Platinum Lot from Scott St. at Cleburn.
Ride Share & Drop-Off:
- For those using ride-share options to campus, drop-off and pick-up is located in the lot off Elgin St. and Cullen Blvd. next to McDonalds.

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