2022 Houston Cougars football team

2022 Houston Cougars football
Independence Bowl champion
Independence Bowl, W 23–16 vs. Louisiana
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Record	8–5 (5–3 AAC)
Head coach	Dana Holgorsen (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	Shannon Dawson (3rd season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Brandon Jones (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Doug Belk (4th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	TDECU Stadium
Seasons ← 2021 2023 →

2022 American Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 9 Tulane y$		7	–	1					12	–	2
UCF y		6	–	2					9	–	5
Cincinnati		6	–	2					9	–	4
SMU		5	–	3					7	–	6
Houston		5	–	3					8	–	5
East Carolina		4	–	4					8	–	5
Navy		4	–	4					4	–	8
Memphis		3	–	5					7	–	6
Tulsa		3	–	5					5	–	7
Temple		1	–	7					3	–	9
South Florida		0	–	8					1	–	11
Championship: Tulane 45, UCF 28
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, competing in the American Athletic Conference (The American). They were led by 4th-year head coach Dana Holgorsen. In September 2021, Houston and fellow conference members Cincinnati and UCF accepted bids to join the Big 12 Conference.^[1] The schools had been contractually required to remain with The American through 2024, but all reached a separation agreement that allowed them to join the Big 12 in 2023. Accordingly, the 2022 season was the program's last season as a member of The American.^[2]

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Maxwell Award[3]	Clayton Tune	QB	Sr.
	Nathaniel Dell	WR	Jr.
Davey O'Brien Award[4]	Clayton Tune	QB	Sr.
Fred Biletnikoff Award[5]	Nathaniel Dell	WR	Jr.
John Mackey Award[6]	Christian Trahan	TE	Sr.
Butkus Award[7]	Donavan Mutin	LB	Sr.
Jim Thorpe Award[8]	Gervarrius Owens	S	Sr.
Outland Trophy[9]	Patrick Paul	OT	So.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[10]	Gervarrius Owens	S	Sr.
Ray Guy Award[11]	Laine Wilkins	P	So.
Wuerffel Trophy[12]	Donavan Mutin	LB	Sr.
Chuck Bednarik Award[13]	Gervarrius Owens	S	Sr.
Lombardi Award[14]	Patrick Paul	OT	So.
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award[15]	Clayton Tune	QB	Sr.
Manning Award[16]	Clayton Tune	QB	Sr.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[17]	Clayton Tune	QB	Sr.

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 28, 2022.^[18] The Cougars were picked to win the conference, edging defending conference champion Cincinnati by one vote.

Media poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Houston	243 (7)
2	Cincinnati	242 (10)
3	UCF	225 (7)
4	SMU	187
5	Memphis	162
6	East Carolina	157
7	Tulane	115
8	Tulsa	93
9	South Florida	71
10	Navy	61
11	Temple	28

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	2:30 p.m.	at UTSA*	No. 24	Alamodome San Antonio, TX	CBSSN	W 37–35 3OT	37,526
September 10	3:00 p.m.	at Texas Tech*	No. 25	Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX (rivalry)	FS1	L 30–33 2OT	56,271
September 17	3:00 p.m.	Kansas*		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPNU	L 30–48	30,317
September 24	5:00 p.m.	Rice*		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry)	ESPN+	W 34–27	26,377
September 30[19]	6:00 p.m.	Tulane		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN	L 24–27 OT	24,319
October 7	6:30 p.m.	at Memphis		Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN2	W 33–32	28,126
October 22	11:00 a.m.	at Navy		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	ESPNU	W 38–20	32,443
October 29	11:00 a.m.	South Florida		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN2	W 42–27	24,228
November 5	6:00 p.m.	at SMU		Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX (rivalry)	NFLN	L 63–77	23,841
November 12	2:00 p.m.	Temple		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	W 43–36	21,731
November 19	1:00 p.m.	at East Carolina		Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	ESPN+	W 42–3	42,475
November 26	6:30 p.m.	Tulsa		TDECU Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry)	ESPNU	L 30–37	21,785
December 23	2:00 p.m.	vs. Louisiana*		Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (Independence Bowl)	ESPN	W 23–16	23,410
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game All times are in Central time

Schedule Source:^[20][21]

Houston at UTSA

1 2 3 4 OT 2OT 3OT Total • No. 24 Cougars 0 7 0 17 3 8 2 37 Roadrunners 0 14 7 3 3 8 0 35 Date: September 3, 2022 Location: Alamodome (San Antonio, TX) Game start: 2:37 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 4 hours and 8 minutes Game attendance: 37,526 Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Indoor Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), and Sherree Burruss (sideline)

Scoring summary 2 14:02 HOU Nathaniel Dell 11-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Bubba Baxa Kick) (11 plays, 58 yards, 5:17) HOU 7–0 12:20 UTSA Joshua Cephus 51-yard pass from Frank Harris (Jared Sackett Kick) (4 plays, 65 yards, 1:42) TIE 7–7 6:30 UTSA Frank Harris 38-yard run (Jared Sackett Kick) (9 plays, 80 yards, 2:51) UTSA 14–7 3 4:12 UTSA De'Corian Clark 15-yard pass from Frank Harris (Jared Sackett Kick) (10 plays, 73 yards, 3:12) UTSA 21–7 4 14:54 HOU Nathaniel Dell 10-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Bubba Baxa Kick) (9 plays, 75 yards, 4:18) UTSA 21–14 12:19 HOU Joseph Manjack IV 20-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Bubba Baxa Kick) (1 play, 20 yards, 0:07) TIE 21–21 0:23 HOU Bubba Baxa 35-yard field goal (18 plays, 77 yards, 10:30) HOU 24–21 0:00 UTSA Jared Sackett 37-yard field goal (6 plays, 55 yards, 0:23) TIE 24–24 OT HOU Bubba Baxa 35-yard field goal (4 plays, 7 yards) HOU 27–24 UTSA Jared Sackett 39-yard field goal (4 plays, 3 yards) TIE 27–27 2OT HOU Clayton Tune 1-yard run (Clayton Tune pass to Nathaniel Dell for two-point conversion) (9 plays, 25 yards) HOU 35–27 UTSA De'Corian Clark 13-yard pass from Frank Harris (Frank Harris run for two-point conversion) (5 plays, 25 yards) TIE 35–35 3OT HOU Clayton Tune run for two-point conversion (1 play, 8 yards) HOU 37–35

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –3.5	62

Statistics	Houston	UTSA
First downs	20	24
Plays–yards	76–346	73–441
Rushes–yards	44–140	28–104
Passing yards	206	337
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–32–0	28–43–1
Time of possession	35:27	24:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	22/32, 206 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Clayton Tune	15 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	5 receptions, 50 yards, 2 TDs
UTSA	Passing	Frank Harris	28/43, 337 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Frank Harris	8 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Joshua Cephus	7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

Houston at Texas Tech

1 2 3 4 OT 2OT Total No. 25 Cougars 0 3 7 10 7 3 30 • Red Raiders 3 14 0 3 7 6 33 Date: September 10, 2022 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field (Lubbock, TX) Game start: 3:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 4 hours and 7 minutes Game attendance: 56,271 Game weather: Sunny Referee: Luke Richmond TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 11:26 TTU Trey Wolff 25-yard field goal (9 plays, 68 yards, 3:34) TTU 3–0 2 11:17 HOU Bubba Baxa 24-yard field goal (7 plays, 12 yards, 1:49) TIE 3–3 10:10 TTU Nehemiah Martinez I 43-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Gino Garcia kick) (4 plays, 65 yards, 1:07) TTU 10–3 0:18 TTU Myles Price 54-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Gino Garcia kick) (4 plays, 69 yards, 0:41) TTU 17–3 3 13:24 HOU Brandon Campbell 2-yard run (Bubba Baxa kick) (4 plays, 67 yards, 1:36) TTU 17–10 4 12:25 HOU Jayce Rogers 54-yard interception return (Bubba Baxa kick) (2 plays, 0 yards, 0:16) TIE 17–17 0:37 HOU Bubba Baxa 35-yard field goal (4 plays, 3 yards, 0:20) HOU 20–17 0:03 TTU Trey Wolff 47-yard field goal (6 plays, 46 yards, 0:34) TIE 20–20 OT HOU Matthew Golden 15-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Bubba Baxa kick) (5 plays, 25 yards) HOU 27–20 TTU Tahj Brooks 4-yard run (Trey Wolff kick) (6 plays, 25 yards) TIE 27–27 2OT HOU Bubba Baxa 20-yard field goal (7 plays, 22 yards) HOU 30–27 TTU Donovan Smith 9-yard run (Trey Wolff kick) (4 plays, 25 yards) TTU 33–30

Pregame line	Over/under
TTU –4.0	62

Statistics	Houston	Texas Tech
First downs	16	35
Plays–yards	68–354	103–468
Rushes–yards	29–88	44–117
Passing yards	266	351
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	20–39–1	36–59–3
Time of possession	22:42	37:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	20/39, 266 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Brandon Campbell	16 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	7 receptions, 120 yards
Texas Tech	Passing	Donovan Smith	36/59, 351 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Tahj Brooks	18 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Myles Price	5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD

Kansas at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total • Jayhawks 14 14 14 6 48 Cougars 14 0 13 3 30 Date: September 17, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 3:01 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 4 hours and 29 minutes Game attendance: 30,317 Game weather: 91 °F (33 °C) • Weather: Sunny Referee: Tuta Salaam TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –8.5	58

Statistics	Kansas	Houston
First downs	24	26
Plays–yards	66–438	70–446
Rushes–yards	43–280	39–174
Passing yards	158	272
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–23–0	22–31–1
Time of possession	31:27	28:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kansas	Passing	Jalon Daniels	14/23, 158 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Jalon Daniels	12 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Torry Locklin	1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TD
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	22/31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Clayton Tune	16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Ta'Zhawn Henry	5 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD

Rice at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Owls 0 14 10 3 27 • Cougars 7 3 14 10 34 Date: September 24, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 5:02 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 28 minutes Game attendance: 26,377 Game weather: 94 °F (34 °C) • Weather: Sunny Referee: Rodney Burnette TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –17.5	52

Statistics	Rice	Houston
First downs	22	19
Plays–yards	65–424	58–427
Rushes–yards	25–90	32–178
Passing yards	334	249
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–40–1	19–26–1
Time of possession	29:55	30:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rice	Passing	T. J. McMahon	25/39, 334 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Kobie Campbell	1 carry, 34 yards
	Receiving	Bradley Rozner	5 receptions, 123 yards
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	19/26, 249 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Ta'Zhawn Henry	17 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	7 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD

Tulane at Houston

1 2 3 4 OT Total • Green Wave 0 7 7 7 6 27 Cougars 0 7 0 14 3 24 Date: September 30, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes Game attendance: 24,319 Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny Referee: Tim Rich TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –5.5	52

Statistics	Tulane	Houston
First downs	14	22
Plays–yards	54–273	81–383
Rushes–yards	28–84	48–175
Passing yards	189	208
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–26–0	22–33–0
Time of possession	23:05	36:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulane	Passing	Kai Horton	11/21, 132 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Tyjae Spears	14 carries, 54 yards
	Receiving	Tyjae Spears	6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	22/33, 208 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Brandon Campbell	19 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	8 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs

Houston at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total • Cougars 0 7 0 26 33 Tigers 14 3 3 12 32 Date: October 7, 2022 Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, TN) Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 41 minutes Game attendance: 28,126 Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 10 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –1.5	57.5

Statistics	Houston	Memphis
First downs	25	25
Plays–yards	80–463	75–438
Rushes–yards	23–97	41–156
Passing yards	366	282
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	36–57–1	21–32–0
Time of possession	26:22	33:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	36/57, 366 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Brandon Campbell	12 carries, 53 yards
	Receiving	Sam Brown	9 receptions, 116 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	21/32, 241 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Jevyon Ducker	10 carries, 38 yards
	Receiving	Gabriel Rogers	5 receptions, 71 yards

Houston at Navy

1 2 3 4 Total • Cougars 14 7 10 7 38 Midshipmen 0 7 7 6 20 Date: October 22, 2022 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, MD) Game start: 11:07 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes Game attendance: 32,443 Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Sunny Referee: Tim Rich TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 12:06 HOU Nathaniel Dell 6-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (7 plays, 76 yards, 2:54) HOU 7–0 5:29 HOU Nathaniel Dell 11-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (7 play, 35 yards, 2:33) HOU 14–0 2 10:20 NAVY Daba Fofana 25-yard run (Daniel Davies kick) (4 plays, 80 yards, 1:21) HOU 14–7 5:18 HOU Matt Byrnes 3-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (9 plays, 75 yards, 5:02) HOU 21–7 3 10:16 NAVY Jianni Woodson-Brooks 5-yard fumble return (Daniel Davies kick) (1 play, -25 yards, 0:49) HOU 21–14 6:25 HOU Kyle Ramsey 24-yard field goal (10 plays, 68 yards, 3:51) HOU 24–14 1:36 HOU Sam Brown 7-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (5 plays, 17 yards, 2:45) HOU 31–14 4 4:56 HOU Sam Brown 4-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (9 plays, 63 yards, 4:49) HOU 38–14 2:28 NAVY Jayden Umbarger 41-yard pass from Tai Lavatai (Two-point run conversion failed) (7 plays, 64 yards, 2:28) HOU 38–20

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –3.0	51.0

Statistics	Houston	Navy
First downs	23	16
Plays–yards	64–441	63–326
Rushes–yards	34–180	50–201
Passing yards	261	125
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–30–0	6–13–2
Time of possession	28:12	31:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	21/30, 261 yards, 5 TDs
	Rushing	Stacy Sneed	20 carries, 100 yards
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	8 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs
Navy	Passing	Tai Lavatai	6/13, 125 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Daba Fofana	20 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jayden Umbarger	2 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD

South Florida at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Bulls 14 0 7 6 27 • Cougars 14 14 7 7 42 Date: October 29, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 11:01 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 10 minutes Game attendance: 24,228 Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • Weather: Cloudy Referee: Nate Black TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –17.5	59

Statistics	South Florida	Houston
First downs	25	23
Plays–yards	65–429	64–490
Rushes–yards	31–154	25–103
Passing yards	275	387
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–34–0	33–39–0
Time of possession	29:53	30:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Florida	Passing	Katravis Marsh	24/34, 275 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Brian Battie	12 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Xavier Weaver	7 receptions, 84 yards
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	31/37, 380 yards, 4 TDs
	Rushing	Stacy Sneed	10 carries, 60 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	9 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TDs

Houston at SMU

1 2 3 4 Total Cougars 14 21 14 14 63 • Mustangs 21 35 7 14 77 Date: November 5, 2022 Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (University Park, TX) Game start: 6:03 CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 55 minutes Game attendance: 23,841 Game weather: Sunny, 64 °F (18 °C) Referee: Luke Richmond TV announcers (NFLN): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
SMU –3.5	66

Statistics	Houston	SMU
First downs	34	31
Plays–yards	71–710	83–642
Rushes–yards	17–182	46–263
Passing yards	528	379
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	37–54–3	28–37–0
Time of possession	28:28	31:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	36/53, 527 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Clayton Tune	12 rushes, 111 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	13 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TDs
SMU	Passing	Tanner Mordecai	28/37, 379 yards, 9 TDs
	Rushing	Tyler Lavine	25 rushes, 146 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Dylan Goffney	3 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Temple at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Owls 7 12 7 10 36 • Cougars 0 14 14 15 43 Date: November 12, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 2:02 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes Game attendance: 21,731 Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) • Weather: Sunny Referee: Edwin Lee TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Taylor McHargue

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –20.0	56

Statistics	Temple	Houston
First downs	33	25
Plays–yards	85–533	66–485
Rushes–yards	26–47	26–196
Passing yards	486	289
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	42–59–0	29–40–1
Time of possession	31:44	28:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing	E.J. Warner	42/59, 486 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Darvon Hubbard	4 carries, 26 yards
	Receiving	Jose Barbon	8 receptions, 128 yards
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	29/40, 289 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Stacy Sneed	11 carries, 143 yards
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	12 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD

Houston at East Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total • Cougars 7 14 14 7 42 Pirates 0 0 3 0 3 Date: November 19, 2022 Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium (Greenville, NC) Game start: 1:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes Game attendance: 42,475 Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • N 2 MPH Referee: Kevin Randall TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Taylor McHargue

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
ECU –6.0	66.5

Statistics	Houston	East Carolina
First downs	27	13
Plays–yards	68–515	57–315
Rushes–yards	24–80	22–118
Passing yards	435	197
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	32–44–1	17–35–0
Time of possession	30:42	29:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	32/44, 435 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Clayton Tune	6 carries, 43 yards
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	9 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD
East Carolina	Passing	Holton Ahlers	15/30, 182 yards
	Rushing	Keaton Mitchell	14 carries, 129 yards
	Receiving	Jsi Hatfield	2 receptions, 68 yards

Tulsa at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total • Golden Hurricane 3 17 7 10 37 Cougars 14 10 3 3 30 Date: November 26, 2022 Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX) Game start: 6:35 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 35 minutes Game attendance: 21,785 Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPNU): Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonantony

Scoring summary 1 (, , ) ( , , ) 2 (, , ) ( , , ) 3 ( , , ) ( , , ) 4 ( , , ) ( , , ) OT ( , , )

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –12.0	67

Statistics	Tulsa	Houston
First downs	19	24
Plays–yards	75–431	70–506
Rushes–yards	32–115	23–120
Passing yards	316	386
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–43–0	26–47–1
Time of possession	29:37	30:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulsa	Passing	Braylon Braxton	25/43, 316 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Braylon Braxton	11 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	JuanCarlos Santana	6 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDs
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	26/47, 386 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Ta'Zhawn Henry	9 carries, 54 yards
	Receiving	Nathaniel Dell	9 receptions, 161 yards, 1 TD

Houston vs. Louisiana

1 2 3 4 Total • Cougars 0 6 7 10 23 Ragin' Cajuns 7 9 0 0 16 Date: December 23, 2022 Location: Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes Game attendance: 23,410 Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 15 MPH Referee: Scott Hardin TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play–by–play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline reporter)

Scoring summary 1 07:39 LA Johnny Lumpkin 4-yard pass from Chandler Fields (Kenneth Almendares kick) (15 plays, 75 yards, 7:21) LA 7–0 2 09:35 LA Kenneth Almendares 42-yard field goal (7 plays, 39 yards, 3:43) LA 10–0 07:05 LA Kenneth Almendares 42-yard field goal (4 plays, 3 yards, 0:58) LA 13–0 03:00 HOU KeSean Carter 33-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey PAT failed) (9 plays, 80 yards, 3:59) LA 13–6 00:02 LA Kenneth Almendares 32-yard field goal (13 plays, 83 yards, 2:51) LA 16–6 3 09:21 HOU Nathaniel Dell 2-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (13 plays, 70 yards, 5:33) LA 16–13 4 13:40 HOU Kyle Ramsey 19-yard field goal (8 plays, 31 yards, 4:02) TIE 16–16 00:20 HOU Nathaniel Dell 12-yard pass from Clayton Tune (Kyle Ramsey kick) (6 plays, 92 yards, 2:39) HOU 23–16

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –5.0	58.0

Statistics	Houston	Louisiana
First downs	21	21
Total yards	363	323
Rushing yards	139	129
Passing yards	224	194
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	30:19	29:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	19/28, 224 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Clayton Tune	11 carries, 55 yards
	Receiving	KeSean Carter	4 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana	Passing	Chandler Fields	17/25, 169 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Chris Smith	14 carries, 48 yards
	Receiving	Lance Legendre	5 receptions, 56 yards

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	24	25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	25	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released