PREVIEW: Cougars Clash with Cowboys

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Houston Football team is back on the road for a trip to Boone Pickens Stadium for a battle with Oklahoma State at 11 a.m., Saturday, on TNT.

GAME 6 – OKLAHOMA STATE

Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (1-4, 0-2 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.
Boone Pickens Stadium | Stillwater, Okla.
Broadcast: TNT
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

According to ESPN's Power Index, Houston's defensive efficiency ranks 22nd nationally (78.1) thanks to a scoring defense that ranks 29th nationally, only allowing 17.6 points per game.
One of Houston's Keys to Victory is to limit penalties, and the Cougars have done so through five games with the 30th fewest penalties.
Junior wide receiver Amare Thomas recorded a touchdown in the first and fifth games of the season, for his third consecutive multi-touchdown season after hauling in a 64-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Zeon Chriss-Gremillion against Texas Tech.
On the defensive line, the Cougar interior has paced the way in the Big 12 with Khalil Laufau's 88.1 run defense grade is third-best in Big 12 among interior defensive linemen while Carlos Allen's 82.6 run defense grade is seventh-best in Big 12 among interior defensive linemen.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Saturday marks the first time Houston has traveled to Stillwater, Okla., since beating the No. 5 ranked Cowboys 45-35 in 2009 for Houston's first Top 5 win since 1984. Cougars quarterback Case Keenum threw for 366 yards and three passing touchdowns in the upset win.
The Cougars defense has been stout on fourth down, holding opponents to a 22.2% conversion rate on fourth down, sixth best in the country. Houston's third-down defense ranks 36th nationally at 33.8%.
The Cougar wideouts have hauled in big catches this season, with senior Stephon Johnson's 26.1 yards per reception ranking third nationally and Amare Thomas' 17.75 yards per reception ranking 55th nationally.
Houston's defensive backs have impressed through five games with cornerback Zelmar Vedder's 79.0 coverage grade is third-best among Big 12 cornerbacks with at least 95 coverage snaps. Fellow cornerback Latrell McCutchin's 78.1 coverage grade in zone coverage leads all Big 12 defensive backs with at least 120 snaps played. As a pass rusher, STAR Wrook Brown's 3 hurries are third most among Big 12 safeties while he is tied with 12 Big 12 safeties with 1 sack.
Redshirt-freshman wide receiver Koby Young caught his first pass of the season against Texas Tech, a career-long 43-yard reception with pass interference on the play that moved Houston into the redzone and set up a field goal.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE

Oklahoma State enters the week with a 1-4 record, including a 0-2 mark in Big 12 play.
Doug Meacham was named the interim head coach of the Cowboys after the team's third game and holds an 0-2 record in the weeks since.
The Cowboys are coming off a 41-13 loss to Arizona in Tuscon, Ariz., on Oct. 4. Three players threw a pass while eight recorded a rush for Oklahoma State. Ladainian Fields posted the team's lone touchdown in the game with a 55-yard interception return in the fourth quarter while Logan Ward kicked a pair of field goals from 46 and 47 yards out to cap the Cowboys' scoring.

LAST TIME AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE

Oklahoma State won the last meeting, a 43-30 victory inside TDECU Stadium on Nov. 18, 2023. That game revived the rivalry between the two teams that had gone stagnant since 2009, a 45-35 win for Houston.
Donovan Smith finished the day 17-for-29 for 235 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 63 yards and another score.
Houston struck first in the game as Isaiah Hamilton posted a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown. The defense also recorded a safety courtesy of Malik Robinson.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Move Houston to 11-10-1 against Oklahoma State and mark the first win over the Cowboys since 2009.
Move Houston to 7-14 in Big 12 Conference action all-time.
Be Willie Fritz's first win over Oklahoma State (never coached against Oklahoma State).

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Wrook Brown

Zeon Chriss-Gremillion

Stephon Johnson

Khalil Laufau

Donovan Smith

Amare Thomas

Zelmar Vedder

Koby Young

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