The Houston Cougars overcame home losses to Arkansas and TCU to win the 1984 Southwest Conference title. UH went undefeated in four road games in the league and was the first-ever two-loss team to represent the SWC in the Cotton Bowl.
Offensive lineman Mike Wharton (’82, ’84) shares his memories from the 1984 season in our Cougar History Conversation. Follow along as you scroll through these photos and articles from that Cotton Bowl season.
1984 SWC Champs: Photos, Stats, & Articles
Click through the gallery to enlarge.
1984 media guide
Mike Wharton quoted in the Star-Telegram
Depth chart - offense
1984 defensive starters
stats heading into SWC opener
Baylor game - Baylor Lariat
Raymond Tate (33) breaks free
Baylor game stats
Bill Yeoman and Gerald Landry 1984
Homecoming parade 1984
Cougar Marching Band
Carl Hilton (84) running free at SMU
TJ Turner (95) and Bryant Winn (54) take down the Horns
Running through the Horns
Final Score 1984 in Austin
After beating Texas, the Coogs still were not in the hunt for SWC
After the whacky last full weekend of SWC games UH was in position
Preview of Rice game
Earl Allen around the right side
early in the week Rice preview 1984
Tuesday of Rice week
Coach Don Todd
Game previews – final weekend of SWC play
Raymond Tate steamrolls through the Rice defense
Larry Shepherd runs at a Rice defender
Rice Thresher 1984
AP coaches report card
Aftermath of Coogs winning SWC
Audrey McMillian
Cotton Bowl preview
Cougar fans in the Cotton Bowl
Cotton Bowl recap
Photos courtesy of the Houstonian Yearbook unless specified. Stories gathered from various historical archives.
1984 SWC Standings
| Team | SWC | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | 6-2* | 7-5 |
| SMU | 6-2 | 10-2 |
| Texas | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| TCU | 5-3 | 8-4 |
| Arkansas | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Baylor | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Texas A&M | 3-5 | 6-5 |
| Texas Tech | 2-6 | 4-7 |
| Rice | 0-8 | 1-10 |
| *won head-to-head |
