2023 Houston Cougars football team

American college football season

2023 Houston Cougars football

Conference| Big 12 Conference
Record| 4–8 (2–7 Big 12)
Head coach|

* Dana Holgorsen (5th season)

Offensive coordinator| Eman Naghavi (1st season)
Defensive coordinator| Doug Belk (3rd, 5th overall season)
Base defense| 4–2–5
Home stadium| TDECU Stadium

Seasons

<- 2022

2024 ->

2023 Big 12 Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 3 Texas y$^  |  | 8  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 12  | - | 2  |
No. 16 Oklahoma State y  |  | 7  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 4  |
No. 15 Oklahoma |  | 7  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
Iowa State |  | 6  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
No. 18 Kansas State |  | 6  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
West Virginia |  | 6  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
Texas Tech |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
No. 23 Kansas |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
UCF |  | 3  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
TCU |  | 3  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Houston |  | 2  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
BYU |  | 2  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Baylor |  | 2  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Cincinnati |  | 1  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Championship: Texas 49, Oklahoma State 21

* ^ - College Football Playoff participant
* $ - Conference champion
* y - Championship game participant

Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the Big 12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars were led by Dana Holgorsen in his fifth season as their head coach. The Cougars played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas.

In September 2021, Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, and UCF accepted bids to join the Big 12 Conference.[1] On June 10, 2022, the American Athletic Conference and the three American Athletic Conference schools set to depart from the league (Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF) announced that they had reached a buyout agreement with the conference that would allow those schools to join the Big 12 in 2023.[2] BYU had previously operated as an independent prior to accepting a membership invitation to join the Big 12.

On November 26, head coach Dana Holgorsen was fired.[3] He finished with a record of 31–28 in five seasons.

## Offseason

[edit]

### Transfers

[edit]

#### Outgoing

[edit]

Player  | Position  | Destination

|
|

Joshua Atkins  | OL  | Hawaii
Holman Edwards  | QB  | Southern Miss
Rafal Szymanski  | DE  | Northwestern State
Theron Stroops  | CB  | Unknown
Demarcus Griffin-Taylor  | CB  | Louisiana Tech
Derek Bowman  | OL  | South Florida
Carlton Guidry  | WR  | Grambling State
Ugonna Nnanna  | OL  | Virginia
Khiyon Wafer  | WR  | Stephen F. Austin
Trevor Helburg  | K  | Tarleton State
Kyle Ramsey  | K  | Abilene Christian
Carson Walker  | OL  | Abilene Christian
Almarion Crim  | OL  | Chattanooga
Cody Jackson  | WR  | Tarleton State
Mark Wilson  | CB  | Unknown
Jamel Starks  | RB  | Unknown
Mannie Nunnery  | S  | Florida
Cam'Ron Johnson  | OT  | Missouri
Trevonte Sylvester  | OT  | Louisville
Chayse Todd  | OL  | Texas State
Lance Robinson  | OT  | Louisville
Abdul-Lateef Audu  | CB  | Western Kentucky
Alton McCaskill | RB  | Colorado

#### Incoming

[edit]

Player  | Position  | Previous School

|
|

Max Banes  | OT  | Akron
Jack Martin  | P  | Alabama
Aubrey Smith  | LB  | Colorado
Malik Fleming  | CB  | East Carolina
Shamar Hobdy-Lee  | OT  | FIU
Peyton Dunn  | OL  | Louisiana–Monroe
Juwon Gaston  | S  | NEMCC
Adari Haulcy | S  | New Mexico
David Ugwoegbu  | LB  | Oklahoma
Stephon Johnson  | WR  | Oklahoma State
Brandon Mack  | DE  | Ole Miss
Jaylen Garth  | OL  | Texas
Brian George  | CB  | Texas A&M
Isaiah Hamilton  | CB  | Texas Southern
Donovan Smith | QB  | Texas Tech
Latrell McCutchin  | CB  | USC
Mike O’Laughlin  | TE  | West Virginia
Tony Mathis  | RB  | West Virginia
David Ndukwe  | OL  | Western Kentucky
Joshua Cobbs  | WR  | Wyoming

[4][5]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|

September 2| 6:00 p.m.| UTSA*|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| FS1| W 17–14| 37,862
September 9| 6:00 p.m.| at Rice*|

* Rice Stadium
* Houston, TX (rivalry)

| NFLN| L 41–43 2OT| 23,425
September 16| 7:00 p.m.| TCU|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| FOX| L 13–36| 36,049
September 23| 6:00 p.m.| Sam Houston*|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| ESPN+| W 38–7| 35,044
September 30| 2:30 p.m.| at Texas Tech|

* Jones AT&T Stadium
* Lubbock, TX (rivalry)

| FS2| L 28–49| 53,308
October 12| 6:00 p.m.| West Virginia|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| FS1| W 41–39| 32,152
October 21| 3:00 p.m.| No. 8 Texas|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| FOX| L 24–31| 42,812
October 28| 11:00 a.m.| at Kansas State|

* Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
* Manhattan, KS

| ESPN2| L 0–41| 51,928
November 4| 2:30 p.m.| at Baylor|

* McLane Stadium
* Waco, TX

| ESPN+| W 25–24 OT| 41,180
November 11| 6:00 p.m.| Cincinnati|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| FS1| L 14–24| 34,312
November 18| 3:00 p.m.| No. 23 Oklahoma State|

* TDECU Stadium
* Houston, TX

| ESPN2| L 30–43| 33,906
November 25| 11:00 a.m.| at UCF|

* FBC Mortgage Stadium
* Orlando, FL

| FS1| L 13–27| 43,610

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) - Released prior to game
* All times are in Central time

[6]

## Game summaries

[edit]

### UTSA

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Roadrunners  | 7  | 0  | 0  | 7 | 14
Cougars | 7  | 3  | 7  | 0 | 17

See also: 2023 UTSA Roadrunners football team

### at Rice

[edit]

See also: 2023 Rice Owls football team

Houston Cougars at Rice Owls – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| OT| 2OT| Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Cougars | 0 | 7 | 0| 21| 7| 6| 41
Owls | 21 | 7 | 0| 0| 7| 8| 43

at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas

* Date: September 9
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 96 °F (36 °C)
* Game attendance: 23,425
* Referee: Derek Anderson
* TV announcers (NFLN): Doug Sherman and Tyoka Jackson

Game information

First quarter

* RICE – Luke McCaffrey 10-yard pass from JT Daniels (Tim Horn kick), 10:11. Owls 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 4:44.
* RICE – Daelen Alexander 1-yard run (Tim Horn kick), 4:17. Owls 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 4:08.
* RICE – Luke McCaffrey 32-yard pass from JT Daniels (Tim Horn kick), 3:00. Owls 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 69 yards, 0:50.

Second quarter

* RICE – Braylen Walker 15-yard pass from JT Daniels (Tim Horn kick), 8:32. Owls 28–0. Drive: 11 plays, 92 yards, 6:14.
* HOU – Matthew Golden 10-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 2:42. Owls 28–7. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:45.

Third quarter

* No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

* HOU – Donovan Smith 1-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 14:05. Owls 28–14. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 1:24.
* HOU – Stacy Sneed 14-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 3:46. Owls 28–21. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:04.
* HOU – Donovan Smith 1-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 0:15. Tied 28–28. Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 2:34.

Overtime

* HOU – Matthew Golden 2-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick). Cougars 35–28. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.
* RICE – Daelen Alexander 3-yard run (Tim Horn kick). Tied 35–35. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.

Second overtime

* RICE – Daelen Alexander 1-yard run (Daelen Alexander run). Owls 43–35. Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards.
* HOU – Donovan Smith 2-yard run (pass failed). Owls 43–41. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.

Statistics | HOU | RICE

|
|

First downs | 27 | 24
Total yards | 443 | 470
Rushing yards | 183 | 69
Passing yards | 260 | 401
Turnovers | 1 | 2
Time of possession | 28:10 | 31:50
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Houston | Passing | Donovan Smith | 24/42, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing | Tony Mathis Jr. | 8 rushes, 60 yards
Receiving | Samuel Brown | 9 receptions, 138 yards
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 28/42, 401 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing | Dean Connors | 8 rushes, 48 yards
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD

### TCU

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Horned Frogs | 7  | 13  | 9  | 7 | 36
Cougars  | 3  | 10  | 0  | 0 | 13

See also: 2023 TCU Horned Frogs football team

### Sam Houston

[edit]

See also: 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

Sam Houston State Bearkats at Houston Cougars – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Bearkats | 7 | 0 | 0| 0| 7
Cougars | 10 | 14 | 7| 7| 38

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

* Date: September 23
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 94 °F (34 °C)
* Game attendance: 35,044
* Referee: Tutashinda Salaam
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely, Ryan Leaf, and Shane Sparks

Game information

First quarter

* HOU – Jack Martin 23-yard field goal, 9:05. Cougars 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:55.
* SHSU – Trapper Pannell 2-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 6:02. Bearkats 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 83 yards, 2:58.
* HOU – Parker Jenkins 4-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 1:47. Cougars 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:08.

Second quarter

* HOU – Parker Jenkins 1-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 7:22. Cougars 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 4:13.
* HOU – Parker Jenkins 2-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 0:49. Cougars 24–7. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:17.

Third quarter

* HOU – Matthew Golden 6-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 2:59. Cougars 31–7. Drive: 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:42.

Fourth quarter

* HOU – Stacy Sneed 58-yard pass from Ui Ale (Jack Martin kick), 10:06. Cougars 38–7. Drive: 1 play, 58 yards, 0:10.

Statistics | SHSU | HOU

|
|

First downs | 8 | 27
Total yards | 178 | 538
Rushing yards | 52 | 186
Passing yards | 126 | 352
Turnovers | 2 | 0
Time of possession | 25:05 | 34:55
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Sam Houston State | Passing | Grant Gunnell | 14/22, 100 yards, INT
Rushing | Tobias Weaver | 6 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving | John Gentry | 5 receptions, 32 yards
Houston | Passing | Donovan Smith | 31/40, 294 yards, TD
Rushing | Parker Jenkins | 20 rushes, 105 yards, 3 TD
Receiving | Matthew Golden | 9 receptions, 92 yards, TD

### at Texas Tech

[edit]

See also: 2023 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

Houston Cougars at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Cougars | 14 | 14 | 0| 0| 28
Red Raiders | 14 | 21 | 7| 7| 49

at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas

* Date: September 30
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 53,308
* Referee: David Alvarez
* TV announcers (FS2): Dan Hellie and Petros Papadakis

Game information

First quarter

* HOU – Bryan Henry 6-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 8:40. Cougars 7–0. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:20.
* TTU – Drae McCray 100-yard kickoff return (Gino Garcia kick), 8:25. Tied 7–7.
* HOU – Samuel Brown 16-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 6:15. Cougars 14–7. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:10.
* TTU – Tahj Brooks 7-yard run (Gino Garcia kick), 1:25. Tied 14–14. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 4:50.

Second quarter

* HOU – Joseph Manjack IV 49-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 13:45. Cougars 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:40.
* TTU – Loic Fouonji 25-yard pass from Behren Morton (Gino Garcia kick), 8:47. Tied 21–21. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 4:58.
* TTU – Loic Fouonji 7-yard blocked punt return (Gino Garcia kick), 7:18. Red Raiders 28–21.
* HOU – Dalton Carnes 41-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 2:16. Tied 28–28. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:02.
* TTU – Tahj Brooks 1-yard run (Gino Garcia kick), 0:44. Red Raiders 35–28. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:32.

Third quarter

* TTU – Myles Price 11-yard pass from Behren Morton (Gino Garcia kick), 9:22. Red Raiders 42–28. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 0:48.

Fourth quarter

* TTU – Cam'Ron Valdez 41-yard run (Gino Garcia kick), 8:47. Red Raiders 49–28. Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 3:07.

Top passers

* HOU – Donovan Smith – 29/40, 335 yards, 4 TD
* TTU – Behren Morton – 14/22, 161 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

* HOU – Parker Jenkins – 13 rushes, 71 yards
* TTU – Tahj Brooks – 22 rushes, 106 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

* HOU – Samuel Brown – 9 receptions, 113 yards, TD
* TTU – Myles Price – 5 receptions, 63 yards, TD

|

### West Virginia

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Mountaineers  | 10  | 0  | 7  | 22 | 39
Cougars | 7  | 7  | 7  | 20 | 41

See also: 2023 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

### No. 8 Texas

[edit]

See also: 2023 Texas Longhorns football team

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• No. 8 Texas | 14 | 7| 3| 7 | 31
Houston | 0 | 14| 7| 3 | 24

* Date: October 21, 2023
* Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX)
* Game start: 3:05 p.m.
* Game attendance: 42,812
* Game weather: Sunny, 93 °F (34 °C), wind SW at 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
* Referee: Michael VanderVelde
* TV announcers (FOX): Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman

* Sources: [7][8]

Pregame line  | Over/under

|

Texas -23.5  | 61[9]
Statistics  | Texas  | Houston

|
|

First downs | 19 | 20
Plays–yards | 69–360 | 65–392
Rushes–yards | 37–141 | 19–14
Passing yards | 219 | 378
Passing: comp–att–int | 25–32–0 | 32–46–1
Time of possession | 31:58 | 28:02
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Texas  | Passing | Quinn Ewers | 23–29, 211 yards, 2 TD
Rushing | Jonathon Brooks | 20 carries, 99 yards
Receiving | Xavier Worthy | 6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD
Houston  | Passing | Donovan Smith | 32–46, 378 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Parker Jenkins | 9 carries, 23 yards
Receiving | Joseph Manjack IV | 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

|
|
|
|
|

Plays | Yards  | TOP | Texas  | Houston
1st  | 10:02  | 11  | 75  | 04:58  | Texas  | Adonai Mitchell 14-yard touchdown reception from Quinn Ewers, Bert Auburn kick good  | 7  | 0
1st  | 06:56  | 4  | 62  | 01:36  | Texas  | Xavier Worthy 42-yard touchdown reception from Quinn Ewers, Bert Auburn kick good  | 14  | 0
2nd  | 12:49  | 9  | 58  | 04:31  | Texas  | Savion Red 1-yard touchdown run, Bert Auburn kick good  | 21  | 0
2nd  | 06:07  | 4  | 71  | 01:26  | Houston  | Matthew Golden 32-yard touchdown reception from Donovan Smith, Jack Martin kick good  | 21  | 7
2nd  | 00:26  | 9  | 75  | 02:07  | Houston  | Joseph Manjack IV 21-yard touchdown reception from Donovan Smith, Jack Martin kick good  | 21  | 14
3rd  | 12:29  | 6  | 49  | 02:24  | Houston  | Matthew Golden 3-yard touchdown reception from Donovan Smith, Jack Martin kick good  | 21  | 21
3rd  | 03:17  | 11  | 31  | 03:49  | Texas  | 25-yard field goal by Bert Auburn  | 24  | 21
4th  | 07:43  | 7  | 68  | 03:49  | Houston  | 40-yard field goal by Jack Martin  | 24  | 24
4th  | 05:37  | 6  | 53  | 01:58  | Texas  | CJ Baxter 16-yard touchdown run, Bert Auburn kick good  | 31  | 24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 31  | 24

### at Kansas State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Cougars  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0 | 0
Wildcats | 7  | 21  | 7  | 6 | 41

See also: 2023 Kansas State Wildcats football team

### at Baylor

[edit]

See also: 2023 Baylor Bears football team

Houston Cougars (3–5) vs. Baylor Bears (3–5)

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| OT| Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Houston | 0 | 7 | 3| 7| 8| 25
Baylor | 0 | 0 | 7| 10| 7| 24

at McLane Stadium • Waco, TX

* Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 73°F
* Game attendance: 41,180
* Referee: Derek Anderson
* TV: ESPN+
* Pregame line: Baylor –2.5

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

|
|
|
|
|

Plays | Yards  | TOP | Houston  | Baylor
2nd  | 08:03  | 3  | 44  | 01:11  | Houston  | Samuel Brown 26-yard touchdown reception from Donovan Smith, Jack Martin kick good  | 7  | 0
3rd  | 06:16  | 14  | 67  | 08:44  | Houston  | 31-yard field goal by Jack Martin  | 10  | 0
3rd  | 02:20  | 8  | 75  | 03:56  | Baylor  | Drake Dabney 38-yard touchdown reception from Blake Shapen, Isaiah Hankins kick good  | 10  | 7
4th  | 08:18  | 12  | 69  | 06:54  | Baylor  | 27-yard field goal by Isaiah Hankins  | 10  | 10
4th  | 05:38  | 5  | 75  | 02:40  | Houston  | Tony Mathis Jr. 24-yard touchdown reception from Donovan Smith, Jack Martin kick good  | 17  | 10
4th  | 00:29  | 11  | 74  | 02:22  | Baylor  | Hawkins Polley 1-yard touchdown reception from Blake Shapen, Isaiah Hankins kick good  | 17  | 17
OT  | –  | 4  | 25  | –  | Baylor  | Dawson Pendergrass 1-yard touchdown run, Isaiah Hankins kick good  | 17  | 24
OT  | –  | 7  | 40  | –  | Houston  | Donovan Smith 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run by Donovan Smith good  | 25  | 24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 25  | 24
Statistics  | Houston  | Baylor

|
|

First downs | 21 | 22
Plays–yards | 59–366 | 72–413
Rushes–yards | 32–130 | 35–150
Passing yards | 236 | 263
Passing: comp–att–int | 21–27–2 | 29–37–1
Time of possession | 26:39 | 33:21
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Houston  | Passing | Donovan Smith | 21–27, 236 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Donovan Smith | 20 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
Receiving | Samuel Brown | 9 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
Baylor  | Passing | Blake Shapen | 29–37, 263 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Dominic Richardson | 11 carries, 51 yards
Receiving | Drake Dabney | 4 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

### Cincinnati

[edit]

See also: 2023 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Game Ten – Cincinnati Bearcats at Houston Cougars

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Bearcats | 7 | 7 | 3| 7| 24
Cougars | 0 | 7 | 0| 7| 14

at TDECU Stadium • Houston, Texas

* Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: • Wind:
* Game attendance: 34,312
* Referee: David Alvarez
* TV: FS1
* Pregame line: • FPI odds to win: • Game summary:

Game information

First quarter

* (8:43) CIN – Ryan Montgomery 7-yard pass from Emory Jones (Carter Brown kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:17; Cincinnati 7–0)

Second quarter

* (14:04) HOU – Joseph Manjack IV 7 yard-pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 83 yards, 4:57; Tied 7–7)
* (8:04) CIN – Corey Kiner 1-yard run (Carter Brown kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 93 yards, 2:17; Cincinnati 14–7)

Third quarter

* (8:25) CIN – Carter Brown 31-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 37 yards, 6:28; Cincinnati 17–7)

Fourth quarter

* (8:47) CIN – Corey Kiner 5-yard run (Carter Brown kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 3:14; Cincinnati 24–7)
* (3:22) HOU – Joseph Manjack IV 2-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:25; Cincinnati 24–14)

Statistics  | CIN  | HOU

|
|

First downs | 22 | 12
Plays–yards | 71–368 | 51–241
Rushes–yards | 48–204 | 23–139
Passing yards | 164 | 102
Passing: comp–att–int | 17–23–0 | 16–28–0
Time of possession | 36:55 | 23:05
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Cincinnati  | Passing | Emory Jones | 13/16, 131 yards, 1 TD
Rushing | Corey Kiner | 23 carries, 129 yards, 2 TD
Receiving | Braden Smith | 5 receptions, 69 yards
Houston  | Passing | Donovan Smith | 16/28, 102 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Donovan Smith | 13 carries, 88 yards
Receiving | Joseph Manjack IV | 4 receptions, 22 yards, 2 TD

### No. 23 Oklahoma State

[edit]

See also: 2023 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

No. 23 Oklahoma State Cowboys (7–3) vs. Houston Cougars (4–6)

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

No. 23 Oklahoma State | 3 | 16 | 14| 10| 43
Houston | 14 | 9 | 0| 7| 30

at TDECU Stadium • Houston, TX

* Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: • Sunny Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 33,906
* Referee: Stephon Baron
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) Kayla Burton (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics | OKST | HOU

|
|

First downs | 28 | 18
Total yards | 501 | 393
Rushing yards | 153 | 130
Passing yards | 348 | 263
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 29–43–1 | 18–30–2
Time of possession | 32:12 | 27:48
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Oklahoma State | Passing | Alan Bowman | 29/43, 348 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Ollie Gordon II | 25 carries, 164 yards, 3 TD
Receiving | Brennan Presley | 15 receptions, 189 yards
Houston | Passing | Donovan Smith | 17/29, 235 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Donovan Smith | 13 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Receiving | Jonah Wilson | 1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TD

### at UCF

[edit]

See also: 2023 UCF Knights football team

Houston Cougars at UCF Knights

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Cougars | 10 | 0 | 0| 3| 13
Knights | 6 | 7 | 14| 0| 27

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

* Date: November 25, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 43,610
* TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins, Devin Gardner
* Gamecast

Game information

First Quarter

* Houston: Stephon Johnson 16-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 10:34
* UCF: John Rhys Plumlee 8-yard touchdown run (kick failed), 5:31
* Houston: Jack Martin 32-yard field goal, 1:56

Second Quarter

* UCF: Xavier Townsend 28-yard touchdown pass from John Rhys Plumlee (Colton Boomer kick), 12:58

Third Quarter

* UCF: R.J. Harvey 21-yard touchdown run (Colton Boomer kick), 14:07
* UCF: R.J. Harvey 2-yard touchdown run (Colton Boomer kick), 9:04

Fourth Quarter

* Houston: Jack Martin 34-yard field goal, 10:08

Win Probability

* UCF 77.9%

Line

* UCF -15.5

Over/Under

* 61.5

|

Statistics | HOU | UCF

|
|

First downs | 17 | 23
Total yards | 259 | 476
Rushing yards | 94 | 223
Passing yards | 165 | 253
Turnovers | 1 | 0
Time of possession | 27:04 | 32:56
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Houston | Passing | Donovan Smith | 12–20, 161 yards, 1 TD, I INT
Rushing | Stacy Sneed | 3 carries, 33 yards
Receiving | Joseph Manjack IV | 4 receptions, 74 yards
UCF | Passing | John Rhys Plumlee | 23–27, 253 yards, 1 TD
Rushing | R. J. Harvey | 21 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD
Receiving | Kobe Hudson | 9 receptions, 98 yards

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Big 12 Conference Adds Four New Members". Big12Sports.com. Big 12 Conference. September 10, 2021.
2. ^ "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
3. ^ "Houston Fires Coach Dana Holgorsen After Loss to UCF".
4. ^ "2023 Houston Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
5. ^ "Houston Cougars 2023 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
6. ^ "2023 Houston Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
7. ^ "Texas (6-1 , 3-1) -vs- Houston (3-4 , 1-3)". Austin, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin Athletics. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
8. ^ Schultz, Brad (October 19, 2023). "College Football 2023: Week 8 Announcer Pairings". Saturday Blitz. Minute Media. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
9. ^ "Texas vs. Houston odds, spread: 2023 college football picks, Week 8 predictions from proven computer model". CBS. CBS Interactive. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.

* v
* t
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Houston Cougars football

Venues|

* Robertson Stadium (1946–1950, 1998–2012)
* Rice Stadium (1950–1964)
* Houston Astrodome (1965–1997)
* Reliant Stadium (2013)
* BBVA Compass Stadium (2013)
* TDECU Stadium (2014–present)

Bowls and rivalries|

* Bowl games
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* Texas Tech
* Tulsa

Culture & lore|

* Shasta
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* The Comeback Victory
* 2022 SMU game

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses