The Houston Cougars have played two Big 12 conference games so far this season, and in both of them, they have been outclassed, overmatched, and outcoached.
the daily #64 | 10/3/2023 | Archives
This is Big 12 football. Like TCU, Texas Tech found a different gear in the second half, and Houston had the wheels come off the cart.
Holding penalties, a kick catch interference penalty, a horsecollar tackle penalty (although justified). Self-inflicted. A 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Texas Tech. Oof. A blocked punt scooped up for a touchdown. Yikes.
Allowing 239 rushing yards, including two different 100-yard rushers in Tahj Brooks and Cam’Ron Valdez. Brutal. The defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed in the first half, and then when it began making stops in the second, the offense couldn’t drive down the field.
“They have been playing Power Five football for a long time here, and they have Power Five bodies, a lot of them,” head coach Dana Holgorsen told reporters in Lubbock. “They’re well coached. They needed a win. So, this one meant a lot to them. We got to do better.”
Another Houston loss, another mention of the lack of depth on the roster. The reality is Holgorsen is right. The Cougars are not deep.
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For back-to-back weeks, freshman Parker Jenkins continued to shine as the No. 1 running back. However, when he was taken out of the game, the running game was nonexistent unless it came from quarterback Donovan Smith.
Smith was the team’s second-leading rusher with 59 yards. Running backs Tony Mathis, Brandon Campbell, and Stacy Sneed combined for just 24 yards on 12 carries. Jenkins had 71 yards on 13 carries.
The right side of the offensive line has struggled throughout the entire season. The defense has given up big plays on the ground and air — like Texas Tech receiver Myles Price’s Randy Moss-esque catch in the third quarter.
And while what Holgorsen is saying is true — it doesn’t absolve him. The buck stops with him. After all, depth is developed, not always recruited.
“They’re well coached,” Holgorsen said.
Well, is Houston not? Hold that thought.
“They needed a win,” Holgorsen stated.
Did Houston not need a win? Under Dana, the Cougars have fallen to 0-6 against Big 12 opponents (at the time of the game) and 0-12 against teams currently in the Big 12.
“This one meant a lot to them.”
Did it not mean a lot to you?
“We got to do better.”
Can you?
Houston sits at 2-3, 0-2 in the Big 12 and at the bottom of the standings. They are in familiar company, with old friends UCF and Cincinnati. It’s a cold life in Power Five country.
The difference is that, unlike the other two programs, UH fans lack confidence in the coaching staff to turn it around. Sometimes, it seems like there is even a lack of confidence within the program itself.
“This is the second game where we competed, and the first half was good. You know, we were competitive. We do things better defensively, and on special teams in the first half, we get a lead. Now, could we sustain the lead, you know, hopefully at some point we would be able to figure that out,” Holgorsen said.
Translation: no.
Houston has reached a much-needed off week. UH meets West Virginia for a Thursday night game on Oct. 12 before hosting the Texas Longhorns the following week.
The faint optimism from a week ago is almost completely gone. Parker Jenkins gives you hope after his effective play against the Red Raiders. Samuel Brown hauled in over 100 receiving yards again and averages over 100 yards a game in 2023. The UH offense looked competent and even exciting for that first half in Lubbock.
But there’s quite a bit of pessimism. It stems from the gauntlet remaining. 2-10 seems a viable possibility, and 5-7 seems overachieving. That is the current state of Houston Cougars football in its inaugural year in the Big 12. Should that be acceptable? The answer is no.
