PREVIEW: #23 Cougars Honor Senior Class on Saturday

Saturday, November 22

Houston, Texas

3 p.m.

University of Houston

TCU

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Mekhi Mews returns a kick against Oregon State on Sept. 26 in Corvallis, Oreg.

PREVIEW: #23 Cougars Honor Senior Class on Saturday

11/20/2025 11:21:00 AM | Football

Houston hosts TCU after entering College Football Playoff rankings for first time since 2021

HOUSTON – The #23 Houston Football team closes out its 2025 home schedule with its Senior Day game against in-state rival TCU. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. on FOX. Prior to the game, the Cougars will recognize a 22-member senior class with a special ceremony starting at 2:30 p.m.

GAME 11 – TCU

COUGAR ALLEY - PREGAME ACTIVITIES

Get your holiday shopping done early. Team Shop opens at 10 a.m. near the Stadium Garage.
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.
Student Tailgate opens at noon! All students are invited to the tent outside Gate 2, sponsored by Dean of Students Office, Coca‑Cola and H‑E‑B. Enjoy games, TVs, video games, food and giveaways!
Swing by the We Luv Spudz Food Truck or by the Portillos on Cullen Blvd., for some tasty gameday eats!
Catch the Spirit of Houston on Cullen Blvd. at 1:50 p.m. for a high‑energy pregame performance!
Feel the roar during Coogs on Parade – the Spirit of Houston will fire up Cougar Alley at 2 p.m.
Join your fellow Alumni at the Alumni and Life Member Tailgate at the Party on the Plaza. Enjoy food, fun and football camaraderie. RSVP here!

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

We're turning up the energy this Saturday with DJ Book bringing the beats inside TDECU Stadium! Get ready for a fresh sound that will keep Coog Nation rocking from kickoff to the final whistle.
Be in your seats by 2:30 p.m. so you don't miss our Senior Day ceremony! Let's show our seniors the appreciation they deserve for all the hard work, pride, and passion they've poured into Houston.
Don't miss the Lewis Jewelers Diamond Dig at halftime. One lucky UH couple will be going home with a $10,000 diamond ring!
Celebrate the Houston Men's and Women's Track and Field Teams team with a special on‑field recognition.
The Spirit of Houston's halftime performance opens with the Cougar Dolls final halftime performance of the year, followed by a special tribute to the senior members of the Band and Spirit Teams. Plus, a performance by the TCU Band.
Get loud with the Cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls pumping up the crowd all game long!

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston is ranked #23 in the Week 13 CFP poll after an 8-2 start and a #25 ranking in the AP Poll and #24 ranking in the Coaches Poll. The Cougars are ranked for the second time this season after an 8-2 start and an undefeated bye week.
The Cougars have allowed 22.1 points per game this season, 46th nationally, however the defense has allowed just 20.7 points per game, 34th nationally and fifth in the Big 12.
Finishing drives has been a point of emphasis for Houston in 2025 and it has paid off with the Cougars red zone offense ranking ninth nationally and second-best in the Big 12 Conference. Houston has converted and scored on 94.1% of its drives in the red zone with its final drive against Arizona State ending in a kneel down inside the 20, deflating the red zone conversion percentage. Houston has scored on 32 of 33 drives in the red zone, excluding the final drive against Arizona State (96.9).
Cougar QB Conner Weigman is tied for seventh nationally with 27 touchdowns responsible for. Weigman has thrown for 18 touchdowns and rushed for another nine. Weigman's 27 total TDs is third among Big 12 quarterbacks.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston overcame a -2 turnover margin, or worse, on the road for the first time since Nov. 15, 2003 at Army. Houston overcame three interceptions and a muffed punt thanks in part to two interceptions, one a pick six, and a defense that held UCF's offense to 13 points. The Cougars beat the Black Knights in the 2003 matchup 34-14.
Houston has won five consecutive road games in a season for the fifth time in program history after its 30-27 win at UCF. The Cougars have won 6 road games in the same season twice, 2011 and 2021. A win at Baylor to close out the season would be just the third 6-0 road record in program history.
Houston has five wins this season when allowing the first score, most in the Big 12. The only FBS team with more such victories is Vanderbilt (five).
Tight end Tanner Koziol was named a John Mackey Award Semifinalist for the second consecutive season. The Bloomingdale, Ill., native leads FBS tight ends in receptions per game (5.60), and is third among FBS tight ends in receiving touchdowns (5), receiving yards (570) and receiving yards per game (57.0).
The Cougars offensive line has given Conner Weigman ample time to throw the football the previous four games – posting a 93.2 offensive line pass block efficiency Week 8-11, second best in the Big 12. The 93.2 o-line pass block efficiency is the best combined rating over a 4+ week span by the Houston o-line since Week 6-10 of 2022 (94.2).

SCOUTING TCU

TCU arrives in Houston with a 6-4 record, including a 3-4 mark in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs have dropped their last two games with losses to then-#12 BYU, 44-13, and Iowa State, 20-17, but have wins over Baylor, 42-36, and SMU, 35-24.
Among common foes (Arizona State, Colorado and West Virginia), TCU and Houston share a 2-1 record.
TCU ranks among the national leaders in passing offense (291.4, 12^th), third-down conversion percentage (.474, 21^st), turnovers gained (17, 24^th) and defensive touchdowns (2, 25^th). Quarterback Josh Hoover is in the fight for the national lead in multiple stat categories, sitting in seventh with 23 passing touchdowns and eighth in passing yards (2,873), while wide receiver Eric McAlister is sixth nationally with 941 receiving yards and 10^th with eight touchdowns.

LAST TIME AGAINST TCU

Houston won the last meeting between the two rivals, 30-19, in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 4, 2024. The win gave the Cougars the edge in the all-time series, 14-13.
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion led the way for Houston, finishing with 141 passing yards and a passing touchdown as well as 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground, including a 71-yard scramble for a score which is still the program record for longest rush in a Big 12 game.
AJ Haulcy paced the Cougars defensively, leading the team with seven tackles while recording two interceptions and breaking up a third pass.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Be Houston's first 9+ win regular season since 2021 (11 wins).
Move Houston to 56-23-1 in regular season home finales and be the Cougars first win in their final regular season home game since 2021.
Be Houston's second consecutive win over TCU for the first time since winning three consecutive from 1988-90, after beating TCU 30-19 in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2024.

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