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Texas Tech football: Three Houston Cougars to know ahead of Saturday’s showdown

By Matthew Conner

Dec 4, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Nathaniel Dell (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half during the American Athletic Conference championship game at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Nathaniel Dell (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half during the American Athletic Conference championship game at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen during the first half against the Grambling State Tigers at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen during the first half against the Grambling State Tigers at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /

There was a time when the Texas Tech football team and Houston were conference rivals.  And soon, they will be again.  For now, though, this Saturday’s matchup in Lubbock remains a non-conference showdown between the Big 12 and the AAC.  Still, this is no ordinary pre-conference tune-up.

The importance of this game can’t be overstated for both teams.  For Houston, their hopes of reaching a New Years’ 6 bowl rest on beating the Red Raiders as the rest of their schedule is incredibly manageable.

As for the Red Raiders, their schedule is on the opposite end of the spectrum as one of the toughest in the NCAA.  Thus, this game is one that Joey McGuire and his team need to get into the boat if they hope to reach the postseason at all.

Beat the Cougars and you are assured of being no worse than 2-1 in non-conference games.  That means that a 4-5 Big 12 record would still qualify the Red Raiders for a bowl.

However, falling to U of H means that Tech would have to win at a top-15 NC State team next week to salvage a winning record in out-of-conference action.  Fail to do that and it would mean that Tech would have to have a winning record in Big 12 play for the first time since 2009 just to reach a bottom-tier bowl game.

Interestingly, 2009 was also the last time that Houston managed to secure a win over the Red Raiders.  Since then, the series has seen Tech rattle off four-straight wins (2010, 2017, 2018, and 2021).

What’s more, it’s been since 1990 that the Cougars came away from Lubbock with a win.  However, the teams have met in the Hub City only three times since then.

The last time this series was played at Jones Stadium was in 2018.  That day proved to be historic for two Red Raiders.

Making just his second college start, true freshman Alan Bowman threw for a Big 12 freshman record 602 yards to surpass the mark set by Pat Mahomes in 2014 against Baylor.  Meanwhile, junior wide receiver Antoine Wesley set a Texas Tech single-game receiving record with 261 yards to go along with three TDs in Tech’s 63-49 shootout victory.

Some may be expecting similar fireworks this weekend given the offensive reputation that both programs have.  However, the defenses of each squad are far better now than they were four years ago.

After week one, we have a better idea of which Red Raiders will be leaned on heavily this weekend so let’s shift gears and take a look at the Houston Cougars that Tech fans should know about ahead of this matchup.  And we will start with the man who makes it all happen for Dana Holgorsen’s team.

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