This 2024 Houston offense is bad. Historically bad. These numbers are brutal:
Houston has scored 150 points in 11 games this season – 2024 will be the first season the Cougars have scored under 200 points since the winless 2001 season.
Seasons under 200 total points in the last 50 years:
| Total Points | Points Per Game | Season |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | 10.5 | 1994 |
| 125 | 11.4 | 1986 |
| 150 | 13.6 | 2024* |
| 171 | 15.5 | 1993 |
| 185 | 16.8 | 1975 |
| 188 | 17.1 | 1995 |
| 190 | 17.3 | 2001 |
*one more game
Every other one of those seasons had 11 games, and they all ended in 0-2 wins (7 wins total), which makes UH’s four wins this season remarkable.
The Coogs need 21 points in Provo to match Kim Helton’s debut season of 171 (there will be one more game, though).
UH is last in the country (#133) in scoring offense at 13.6 ppg. Houston’s 18 total touchdowns are tied for last nationally. The Coogs are tied with five other schools at T-127 in rushing touchdowns (7). UH is tied with three teams at T-123 in passing touchdowns (9).
The Cougars are:
– 129th in total offense
– 131 in 3rd down conversion percentage
– 126 in 4th down conversion percentage
– 130 in first downs offense
– 28th in first downs defense
– 126 in passes had intercepted
– 24th in passes intercepted
– 99th in fumbles lost
– 99th in fumbles recovered
– 126th in passing offense
– 130th in yards per completion
– 133 in red zone offense
– 30th in passing yards allowed
– 128th in turnovers lost
– 47th in turnovers gained
– 108th in sacks allowed
– 86th in team sacks
– 127 in TFL allowed
– 115 pass efficiency
The only offensive statistics where UH is in the top 100 are rushing offense (87th) and completion percentage (24th), but UH is 109 in passes completed.
Red zone offense is particularly offensive. UH has been in the red zone just 21 times in 11 games. They’ve managed six touchdowns in the red zone.
UH is last nationally in total red zone scores (percentage of trips where you score TD/FG). The Cougars are 132nd in red zone chances, T-131 in red zone rushing TDs (tied with a 0-11 team), T-127 in red zone passing TDs (tied for second worst with five other schools), T-107 in red zone field goals (with 13 other schools).
UH has scored 0 offensive touchdowns four times, one offensive TD twice, two offensive TDs twice, three offensiveTDs twice, and four offensive TDs against Rice.
Houston is 131 in third down conversion percentage (26.8%) and 131st in total third down conversions – averaging about 3.5 a game (38 of 142 total).
UH started keeping third-down conversions in final stats in 1979. The only season near UH’s current 38 conversions is 1994, when the Cougars converted 40 of 148 (27.0%). It’s the only season near the 26.8% number, too. To compare, the 2015 team converted 117 times (50.4%) in 14 games, and the 2016 team converted 109 of 231 (47.2%).
According to PFF.com, Zeon Chriss is 16/36 (44.4%) beyond 10 yards for 2 touchdowns and 5 INTs. Donovan Smith is 13/30 (43.3%) for 3 touchdowns and 6 INTs.
Chriss has been pressured 62 times in 139 dropbacks (44.6%). Donovan Smith has been pressured 56 times in 164 dropbacks (34.1%).
Only two teams have thrown more interceptions than Houston’s 15. But UH’s 255 attempts are well behind both ECU (363 attempts vs. 20 INTs) and Utah (338 attempts vs. 17 INTs).
Only nine teams nationally have attempted fewer passes than UH – three of those are service academies.