PREVIEW: Houston Blue Returns vs Baylor

HOUSTON – The return of the Houston Blue uniforms headlines Houston Football senior day as the Cougars host Baylor on campus for the first time in school history at 6 p.m. on Saturday inside TDECU Stadium on FS1.

GAME 11 – BAYLOR

Houston (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) vs. Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)
Saturday, Nov. 23 | 6 p.m. CT
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: FS1
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

GAME DAY TRAFFIC NOTICE

Beginning at 10pm on Friday, November 22, 2024 the Elgin St. underpass at I-45 will be closed due to TXDOT work. Pregame parking lot directions are updated via the Waze links provided in the Football Gameday Guide. Alternate postgame routes will be posted via the @UHCOUGARGAMEDAY X account.
I-45 N – fans will take a u-turn north on Spur 5 at the University Dr light to make their way to the I-45 N on-ramp entrance.
I-45 S – fans will turn left from Spur 5 to Hwy 90 and follow that road until they reach I-45 S.

COOG FEST – PREGAME ACTIVITIES

The Team Shop is back with a retail store outside Gate 1 in the Stadium Parking Garage selling Houston Blue merchandise along with other Houston Athletics apparel.
Join the team for Cougar Walk at 3:45 p.m. Cougar Walk will be led by the UH Helmet Car with Shasta and Sasha. Plus, you will enjoy performances by the Spirit of Houston, UH Cheerleaders and the Cougar Dolls.
Take the kids to the Kids' Zone to enjoy the inflatables and fun near Schroeder Gate 1! This week check out the ConocoPhillips STEM Zone for fun activities and great prizes!

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

On the field recognition of Houston Football senior student-athletes and student workers.
Cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls on hand to entertain you!
Pregame and halftime performance by the Spirit of Houston!
Join the Light Show in the 4th Quarter with Cougar Lights in the Houston Athletics app!

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston's current staff has no shortage of ties with Baylor. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Barbay worked as a graduate assistant at Baylor from 2005-06 where he earned his Master of Science in education-sport management in 2007. Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Shawn Bell spent seven seasons (2017-23) coaching at Baylor where he was a record-setting quarterback from 2003-06. At the conclusion of his career, Bell owned 28 school records. His younger brother, Brian Bell, currently serves as Houston's Offensive Analyst. He joined Houston after two seasons as Baylor's Quality Control Coach.
After a 1-4 start, Houston has won three of its last five games, and two straight at TDECU Stadium including a 24-19 upset of #17/15 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2. With two regular season games to play, the Cougars (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) have matched their 2023 win total (4) and exceeded their 2023 Big 12 win total (2).
Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss, who has started each of the last five games under center, has completed 65.9% of his passes (54 of 82), throwing for 542 yards and rushing for another 349 yards. Chriss is looking to join Case Keenum (2007-08) and Greg Ward Jr. (2014) as the only UH underclassmen quarterbacks to complete 65% of passes (min. 75 attempts) in a season since 2000. Chriss is one of five Power Four underclassmen quarterbacks this season to complete 65% of his passes (min. 75 attempts).
Houston's defense has held opponents to just 11 rushing touchdowns on the season. By contrast, a season ago, Houston opponents registered 21 rushing scores during the same time frame (Games 1-10). Last time out at TDECU Stadium, Houston held #17/15 Kansas State, which entered the day ranked eighth nationally with 223.3 rushing yards per game, to just 89 yards on the ground. The Wildcats' rushing total was their fewest against a current Big 12 program since being held to 71rushing yards at Texas Tech on Oct. 23, 2021.
Over its last five games, UH has committed a combined 18 penalties, ranking 10th in the Power Four. The Cougars' two penalties and 21 penalty yards last time out at home vs. Kansas State marked the fewest since committing one penalty for 15 yards against Texas on Oct. 21, 2023. After averaging 7.4 penalties across their first five games, the Cougars have averaged just 3.6 over their last five games.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston and Baylor are meeting for the 30th time in the history of the programs (1950-present) and second as co-Big 12 Conference members (2023-present). The series is deadlocked at 14-14-1 all-time. Houston's 29 all-time meetings against Baylor entering Saturday are the second most against current Big 12 programs (Texas Tech, 35).
Despite 29 all-time meetings against Baylor, dating to 1950, Saturday marks the first against the Bears on the campus of the University of Houston. UH hosted Baylor three times at Rice Stadium from 1951-1962 and 10 times at the Astrodome from 1977-95. Saturday marks the first between the programs in the City of Houston since Baylor defeated Houston, 47-7 on Oct. 14, 1995, inside the Astrodome.
Saturday marks the Cougars inaugural "Houston Blue Out" Football game. On Nov. 1, UH introduced "Houston Blue" with athletic teams to wear special uniforms against an in-state opponent on select occasions. The color has been woven into the fabric of the City's identity for over a century, seen most notably in the city's flag, adopted in 1915, and iconic white-and-blue mosaic curb tiles marking intersections and addresses beginning in the late 1920s. The Houston Police Department also drove blue cruisers and wore light blue uniforms previously.
Following its 27-3 loss last time out at Arizona, Houston will need to win its final two games to reach bowl eligibility. The Cougars are searching for their first bowl berth since the 2022 Independence Bowl and are looking to avoid missing a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since going six straight seasons without a bowl appearance from 1997-02.
Houston earned its second Big 12 victory, and first league road victory, on Nov. 4, 2023, at Baylor. Houston quarterback Donovan Smith ran for a game-winning 2-point conversion after his 1-yard touchdown run in overtime. After a called timeout, Houston decided to go for the win instead of trying to force a second extra period. The win was the first against the Bears since Oct. 2, 1993, in the Astrodome.

SCOUTING BAYLOR

Baylor is riding its first four-game win streak since 2021, claiming road wins at Texas Tech and West Virginia, and home wins over TCU and Oklahoma State.
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson leads the Big 12 Conference in QB rating (84.9) and ranks sixth in the nation. He has had five of his seven starts in 2024 come with a QBR of at least 80. A native of Lubbock, Texas, and a product of Coronado High School, Robertson was a former four-star recruit who opened his career playing for Coach Mike Leach at Mississippi State before joining the Bears for the 2023 season.
Wide receiver Josh Cameron has hauled in eight TDs in 2024, leading the team and ranking tied for 12th in single-season Baylor history. Cameron has 34 catches for 525 yards and ranks second the nation in punt returns, averaging 20.7 yards per return. He has 823 all-purpose yards through nine games in 2024.
Baylor ranks among the NCAA's top-40 in 13 categories, including checking in No. 2 in punt returns, No. 5 in kickoff return defense, No. 4 in net punting, No. 7 in TFLs allowed, No. 23 in scoring offense, No. 28 in fewest sacks allowed, No. 32 in passing yards per completion, No. 34 in punt return defense and No. 37 in rushing offense. Robertson ranks 21st in passing TDs and No. 24 in passing efficiency. Cameron checks in 15th in receiving TDs and No. 2 in punt return average. Bryson Washington ranks No. 23 in yards per carry and No. 30 in rushing TDs.
Baylor ranks among the best offenses in college football over the last two months, checking in at No. 6 in the nation in yards per game (488.4) – second among power-4 schools –, No. 2 in yards per play (7.29) – and first among power-4 schools –, and fifth in college football in points per game (40.8). Among power-4 schools, Baylor ranks second in points per game.

LAST TIME AGAINST BAYLOR

Houston successfully converted a two-point conversion in overtime at Baylor thanks to a Donovan Smith rush after Smith's overtime touchdown rush.
Smith combined for three touchdowns – two passing, one rushing.
Defensive end Nelson Ceaser recorded three sacks with a team-high eight tackles.
The Cougars sacked Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen four times.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Move Houston one win from bowl eligibility with one contest remaining.
Be the Cougars sixth Big 12 victory, and fourth in a six-game span, since joining the league a season ago.
Up Houston's record to 15-14-1 all-time against Baylor including 8-6 in Houston.
Move Houston's record to 56-22-1 in regular season home finales.

TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are available by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, or by clicking here at any time.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
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