PREVIEW: Cougars Celebrate Homecoming Against Arizona

HOUSTON – The Houston Football team returns home to celebrate homecoming as Arizona visits TDECU Stadium for a 11 a.m., Saturday, kickoff as Big 12 Conference play continues.

GAME 6 – OKLAHOMA STATE

COUGAR ALLEY - PREGAME ACTIVITIES

Stop by the UH Team Shop for newly released merchandise. The team shop opens at 7 a.m. near the Stadium Garage.
Don't miss the Coke Football Fan HQ! Stop by on Cullen Blvd. and you can enjoy Coke, pick up some goodies and get some cool selfies!
Before kickoff, let's team up to tackle hunger on campus! Beginning at 9:30 a.m., drop off non-perishable food donations at any TDECU Stadium gate to support Cougar Cupboard, UH's on-campus food pantry. Your generosity helps provide essential resources for students in need.
Bring the kids to the Kids' Zone by Schroeder Gate 1 for inflatables and fun. This week features the ConocoPhillips STEM Zone with fun activities and great prizes.
Stop by the Tailgate Tour this week in Cougar Alley!
Arrive early and kick back with friends in the Bud Light Backyard Beer Garden between Schroeder Gate 1 and Gate 2.
Catch the Spirit of Houston on Cullen Blvd. at 9:50 a.m. for a high-energy pregame performance!

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

Celebrate the Houston Swimming & Diving team with a special on-field recognition.
Check out the Homecoming Cougars that were hand painted by our students on the concourse behind Section 124.
Get ready for a show-stopping halftime! The Cougar Dolls will take the field with a throwback performance to Motown's greatest hits, followed by a special tribute from the Spirit of Houston Marching Band celebrating the 2024 Men's Basketball team.
The Homecoming Court will be introduced at halftime including the coronation of the 2025 Homecoming King and Queen.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Saturday's Homecoming game for Houston marks the second meeting between the Cougars and Arizona Wildcats in Houston and the first time Houston has hosted Arizona since 2018 when the Cougars beat the Wildcats 45-18.
The Cougars defense has been stout on fourth down, holding opponents to a 27.3% conversion rate on fourth down, eighth best in the country. Houston's third-down defense ranks 37th nationally at 34.0%.
Houston allowed just 239 yards of total offense to Oklahoma State, its lowest conceded in a Big 12 game. The Cougars' previous best was 299 yards at TCU on Oct. 4, 2024. Of the Cowboys 239 yards, Houston allowed just 45 rushing yards, the fewest gained by a Big 12 opponent against the Cougars on the ground and 180 passing yards, the fourth fewest permitted by Houston in a Big 12 contest.
Weigman was one of two Power 4 quarterbacks in Week 7 with 300+ passing yards and a completion percentage of 70%+ without an interception.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston's 39 points scored on the road at Oklahoma State were the most points by the Cougars in a road Big 12 Conference game and second most in any Big 12 game.
According to ESPN's Power Index, Houston's defensive efficiency ranks 19th nationally (78.2) thanks to a scoring defense that ranks 23rd nationally, only allowing 17.5 points per game.
Wide receiver Amare Thomas recorded a career-high 157 receiving yards, the most by a Cougar since Tank Dell's 161-yard game in 2022 against Tulsa. Thomas has recorded 100-yard receiving games in two of the last three games.
Conner Weigman surpassed the 1,000-yard passing milestone on his eighth completion against the Cowboys with a 39-yard strike to Thomas. The 300-yard passing performance was Weigman's fourth-career 300-yard game.
Dean Connors' rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown at Oklahoma State marked the first time a Cougar rushed for and caught a TD in the same game since Donovan Smith posted a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown against #24/#25 Oklahoma State on Nov. 18, 2023. Connors is the 33rd Cougar to complete the feat.

SCOUTING ARIZONA

Arizona enters the week with a 4-2 record, including a 1-2 mark in Big 12 play. The league record puts them in a tie for 11^th in the Big 12.
The Wildcats are coming off a 33-27 loss in double overtime to #18 BYU. Tied at 24-24 after regulation, the teams traded field goals in the first OT period before BYU opened the second with a five-play touchdown drive and a failed two-point conversion. Arizona couldn't hit paydirt on their possession, giving BYU the win.
Arizona has wins over Hawai'i, Weber State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State with its losses coming to two ranked foes in #14 Iowa State and #18 BYU.

LAST TIME AGAINST ARIZONA

Arizona won the last meeting, 27-3, in Tucson last season, although Houston still leads in the all-time series, 3-2.
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion threw for 191 yards while Re'Shaun Sanford led with 76 rushing yards. Defensively, Hosuton tallied five sacks with Hershey McLaurin posting an interception.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Make Houston bowl eligible for the first time since 2022 when the Cougars went 7-5 before winning its bowl game win over Louisiana in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Be Houston's best start since 2021 when the Cougars started 11-1 and went to the American Championship before beating Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl to go 12-2.
Move Houston to 4-2 against Arizona and the first win over the Wildcats since 2018.

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