PREVIEW: Houston-TCU Prep for Primetime

FORT WORTH, Texas – Houston heads to TCU for a Big 12 Conference Friday night matchup on national television in a series that dates to 1976.

GAME 6 – at TCU

Houston (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) at TCU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Friday, Oct. 4 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Amon G. Carter Stadium | Fort Worth, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston and TCU have met 26 times, splitting each of the prior matchups, 13-13 (1976-present). In the series, 10 contests have been decided by seven-or-fewer points including three of the last four (2003-present).
Friday marks Houston's first visit to TCU since falling 34-27 to the Horned Frogs on Oct. 23, 2004, during their final matchup as Conference USA foes. The teams have split 12 all-time matchups in Fort Worth with TCU winning each of the last five (1991-present).
Houston and TCU have competed together in three different leagues: the Southwest Conference (1976-95), Conference USA (2001-04) and Big 12 Conference (2023-present). UH was 13-7 vs. TCU as co-Southwest Conference members. Houston has dropped nine straight in the series (1993-present) including a 36-13 loss in the program's Big 12 Conference debut on Sept. 16, 2023, inside TDECU Stadium.
Houston's defense has allowed just 1,471 yards, the program's third fewest over the first five games of a season since 2000. The Cougars' 2024 squad trails only their 2016 defense (1,250) and 2021 defense (1,266) in that timeframe. The Cougars have permitted just 79 opponent first downs, the fourth fewest by a Cougar defense through five games since 2000.
Houston is 27-16 against in-state programs since the start of the 2011 season. TCU is the second of three state of Texas programs on the Cougars' 2024 slate. Houston defeated Rice, 33-7, on Sept. 14, and closes its home slate on Nov. 23, against Baylor.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

UH's last win at TCU, a 55-10 result, came on Nov. 4, 1989. In the win, quarterback Andre Ware completed 42 of 63 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns before taking the fourth quarter off. In the win, Ware became the most prolific single-season passer in Southwest Conference history and he teamed with backup David Klinger to equal an NCAA team record with 47 completions. Houston set another NCAA mark in the victory -- 72 passes without an interception.
Over its last three games, Houston has rushed for 554 yards, a mark which ranks fourth in the Big 12 and 16th among Power Four programs in that span. The turnaround represents a sharp contrast from Games 1-2 in which Houston rushed for a combined 96 yards (15th among 16 Big 12 schools) at 1.6 yards per carry (last in the Big 12).
Houston is looking to solve an offensive drought what has featured 127+ minutes without a score dating to midway through the fourth quarter on Sept. 14 against Rice. Last Saturday against an Iowa State team which leads the Big 12 in points allowed (7.3) and first downs defense (59), the Cougars put together four drives of 6+ plays, but were doomed by untimely penalties and an interception in the endzone which thwarted a 9-play, 72-yard drive with six minutes remaining.
During his 32-year coaching career, Head Coach Willie Fritz is 67-40 in games immediately (occurred during same season) following a loss. Dating to the final month of Tulane 2021 season, Fritz coached teams are 4-2 in games immediately following a loss.
UH's 12-game schedule ranks as the nation's fifth toughest and hardest in the Big 12 Conference according to Phil Steele who utilized the "NCAA Method" to rank schedules, compiling each team's opponent's records from the previous season.

SCOUTING TCU

Quarterback Josh Hoover ranks third in the FBS in passing yards (1,774) and is tied for fourth in touchdown passes (14).
Hoover is on pace to set TCU season records for completion percentage, yards and touchdown passes. He has thrown for at least two scores in eight consecutive games.
Wide receiver Jack Bech is the only player to rank in the top three nationally in receiving yards (2nd, 647) and touchdown catches (T-3rd, 6). He's also tied for seventh in receptions (35).
Bech has topped 100 yards in four of five games, including a 200-yard effort against UCF that ranks third among Power Four Conference players this season.
Bech is en route to breaking Josh Doctson's TCU season records from 2015 for receptions, yards and touchdowns.

LAST TIME AGAINST TCU

TCU quarterback Chandler Morris threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns as the Horned Frogs spoiled Houston's Big 12 Conference debut with a 36-13 victory.
Houston's touchdown came late in the first half on a 98-yard kickoff return, cutting TCU's lead to 13-10. TCU immediately answered with a 16-yard touchdown run by Emani Bailey, and the Horned Frogs led 20-13 at halftime.
Quarterback Donovan Smith threw for 225 yards and wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV caught four passes for 50 yards.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD

Be the Cougars' third Big 12 victory and second league record victory (last: at Baylor, Nov. 4, 2023).
Move Houston to 14-13 all-time against TCU (1976-present) including a 7-6 mark in Fort Worth.
Snap TCU's nine-game win streak in the series (1993-present) and be UH's first victory in the series since defeating TCU, 49-46, on Oct. 31, 1992, inside the Astrodome. It would also be the UH's first road over TCU since Nov. 4, 1989.
Move Houston to 28-16 against in-state opponents since 2011.

COOGS ON THE ROAD

Cougar Meetup
- Thursday, Oct. 3 from 6-8 p.m.
- Lot 12 Rooftop Bar
  - 2512 W. Berry Street, Fort Worth, TX 76019
- Register here
  - Event does not include game ticket

BUY TICKETSThe Cougars return home to TDECU Stadium Oct. 26 for Homecoming Weekend against #18 Utah.

Tickets for that game and all home Football contests are available by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, or by clicking here at any time.

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Joseph Manjack IV

Donovan Smith

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