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University of Houston Athletics

University of Houston Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Houston Football Team returns to action following its bye week as the Cougars travel to Kansas City to play the Kansas Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m

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, Missouri
Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

 

  • Houston benefits from a 30-19 win at TCU in their last game. The win was Houston’s third in Big 12 play since joining the conference a season ago and first since a 25-24 overtime win over Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2023, following its loss to Cincinnati and #18/19 Iowa State, the Cougars scored on four of their first six drives en route to the win.

  • Houston wide receivers Joseph Manjack IV and linebacker Jamal Morris are the only remaining Cougars who started in the last game against Kansas (September 17, 2022). Seven current Cougars appeared in the game – Manjack IV, Morris, defensive back Noah Guzmanrun back Stacy SneedLinebackers Jalen Garneroffensive lineman Tank Jenkins and tight end Matt Byrnes.

  • Head coach Willie Fritzs ties to Kansas State are close. The Shawnee Mission, Kansas, native started four years as a defensive back at Pittsburg State (Pittsburg, Kansas), where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1983. He served as defensive coordinator at Coffeyville Community College (1987-90). Under the leadership of coach Skip Foster, he helped the program win the 1990 NJCAA National Championship. On Friday evening (October 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 executive director of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in Kansas City. The elder Fritz coached the Central Missouri football team in 1952 and served in administration as an athletics director at several colleges and universities.

  • Saturday marks the seventh NFL venue Houston has attended since 2011. In addition to nine meetings at NRG Stadium (Houston Texans), the Cougars played three times (2013, ’17, ’21) at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles) and three times (2014, ’17, ’21) at Raymond James Stadium ( Tampa Bay Buccaneers), once (2015) in the Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons), once (2014) in the now renamed Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) and once (2011) in Caesars Superdome (New Orleans Saints).

  • Over the 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 managed just 96 total yards (15th in the Big 12) on 1.6 yards per carry (last in the Big 12).

  • After allowing 11 sacks in the first three games, Houston has allowed just six in the last three meetings. This season, the Cougars were led in tackles David Ndukwewho only allowed one pressure on 85 occasions. Guard Peyton Dunn leads the offensive line with a pass block value of 81.1 and only three pressing opportunities allowed in 173 chances. Run back Stacy Sneed According to PFF, it ranks third nationally among Power Four schools in block passing grade (84.2).

  • Last time out against TCU, quarterback, he made his first Houston start Zeon Chriss contributed 141 passing yards, 97 rushing yards and two total scores. The sophomore’s 83% completion rate (15 of 18) was the best for a Cougar minor league quarterback (min. 15 attempts) since then-sophomore quarterback Greg Ward Jr.’s 87.9% on Oct. 17 against Temple Passes completed (29 of 33), 2014.

  • Houston’s 12-game schedule is among the most difficult in the country, according to Phil Steele, who used the “NCAA method” of ranking schedules by compiling the records of each team’s opponents from the previous season. The Cougars face the fifth-toughest schedule in the country and the toughest schedule in the Big 12 Conference.

  • Houston’s defender AJ 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 a breakup and paced the Cougars with 7.0 tackles. Haulcy, whose three interceptions are tied for the Big 12 lead, allowed just one reception on four targets against the Horned Frogs and allowed no yards after the catch. Haulcy leads the Big 12 in passes defensed (breakups + INTs) with eight this season.

  • Hailing from his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, senior running back Devin Neal has established himself as one of the all-time greats in Kansas and has been one of the best running backs in the country over the course of his career. Entering Saturday’s game, Neal is just 181 yards away from surpassing the Kansas rushing record of 3,841 yards set by June Henley between 1993 and 1996. Neal currently ranks 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 closing in on Kansas’ all-time rushing touchdown record, his 38 career rushing touchdowns are just three touchdowns shy of the KU rushing touchdown record of 41 set by Henley in 1993-96. Neal also ranks in the top three among all FBS running backs in both categories.

  • Paving the way for Neal is a solid offensive line that has a total of 133 career starts. Despite losing veterans Dominick Puni and Mike Novitsky to the NFL after the 2023 season, Kansas’ offensive line is among Pro Football Focus’ top-rated, including offensive tackle Bryce Cabeldue, ranked as the 11th-ranked offensive tackle among Power Four schools (80.7), center Bryce Foster is the 12th-ranked center (80.4) and offensive tackle Logan Brown is ranked as the 14th-ranked 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 and 22 tackles-for-loss allowed, which are the 13th fewest in FBS and second fewest in the Big 12 this season.

  • Kansas’ defense is anchored by 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 have combined to make 76 career starts (Dotson 40, Bryant 36) while combining for 20 career interceptions, the most of any Power Four cornerback duo in the country. The Kansas duo now ranks in the top 10 in KU school history for interceptions, 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 ranks 21st nationally. Kansas has outscored its opponents in five of six games this season by a margin of 1,273 to 947.

  • The Jayhawks have five different games with at least 150 rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns this season, tied for the most in the FBS (Army, Boise State, Navy).

  • Houston jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game, but allowed 28 unanswered points before falling to a 48-30 loss on September 17, 2022 at TDECU Stadium.

  • 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 outscored Kansas 272-158 but had two turnovers that stalled drives.

  • Snap Kansas’ four-game winning streak in the series (since 1994).

  • Give Houston two straight wins in the Big 12 for the first time since joining the league before the 2023 season.

  • Be Houston’s first ever against Kansas and come in the fifth meeting between the programs.

  • Bring the Cougars to 15-4 in NFL venues since the start of the 2011 season, including an 8-1 mark in true away games at NFL stadiums during that period.

  • Be the 250th head coach win for Willie Fritz and bring Fritz to 12-2 in away games since 2022.

  • It would be Houston’s 13th road win since the start of the 2021 season. The Cougars’ 12 road wins entering the weekend during that span are tied for the 10th most nationally.

  • Cougar meeting

    • Friday, Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m

    • Brooksider Sports Bar & Grill

      • 6330 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri, 64113

    • Register here

      • The event does not include a game ticket

BUY TICKETS
Houston returns home for its homecoming against rv/rv Utah on Saturday, October 26th before facing #17/rv Utah in the program’s annual Black Out Game and Heroes Night on Saturday, November 2nd. 17 Kansas State competes.

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