The September 20, 1986 Houston-Oklahoma State game was Coach Bill Yeoman’s last win at Houston.
The game is notable for a few other reasons. As a 12-point underdog, Houston won 28-12 in Stillwater, but other storylines left their mark. The game featured the two all-time winningest coaches in each program’s history. One was winding down, while the other was just getting started.
Yeoman struggled through a 1-10 season in 1986, including a loss to Tulsa the week after Oklahoma State (OSU lost to Tulsa the week before the UH game).
UH starting QB Gerald Landry suffered a hip pointer in the second quarter against the Cowboys, pushing back-up Mark Davis into action with UH up 7-0. Davis went 6/7 for 108 yards, more passing yards than UH would average that season. Landry was bothered by the injury for much of the year, and Davis and Davis each played that season, but neither established themselves as a clear-cut starter.
Running back Sloan Hood ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns for the Cougars.
For Oklahoma State, freshman Mike Gundy debuted at quarterback. Starter Ronnie Williams was benched at the half in favor of the 5’11” kid who led the Midwest City HS Bombers a year prior.
In his first plays, Gundy handed off twice to start the second half, then completed a pass on a 3rd-and-3. Two plays later, Gundy fumbled, but Thurmond Thomas recovered it.
Gundy ended 12/22 for 163 yards and a 28-yard TD pass while the RB tandem of Thomas (a first-team All-American in 1985) and freshman Barry Sanders struggled to get going against the Cougar defense. OSU averaged under 3 ypc.
Gundy and the Cowboys got their revenge in the opener in 1987, shutting out UH 35-0 in Jack Pardee’s debut. Oklahoma State went 10-2 and finished #11 in the AP Poll that season. Both teams finished in the top 20 in 1988. Barry Sanders won the Heisman that year, and Houston’s Andre Ware won the next year.
The win was Yeoman’s #160, a total that pushed him into the College Football Hall of Fame. Gundy won his 160th game in 2023.
