Game Primer: Houston vs. BYU
10/15/2020 9:38:00 AM | Football
Game set to air on ESPN with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. CT
GAME 2
Houston vs. No. 14/13 BYU
Oct. 16, 2020 | 8:30 p.m. CT | TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950-AM | TuneIn
Game Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Houston faces No. 14/13 BYU for the third time in series history on Friday night inside TDECU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN with Jason Benetti (pxp), Andre Ware (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline) on the call. Radio coverage on KPRC 950-AM begins at 7:30 p.m. CT. Friday's matchup marks Houston's lone non-conference game of the 2020 season.
« BYU leads the all-time series 2-0 with the last matchup coming in 2014 in Provo, Utah. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams at TDECU Stadium.
« The last time a ranked non-conference opponent traveled to TDECU Stadium came in 2016, as Houston rolled past then No. 3/5 Louisville. The Cougars recorded 11 sacks against future Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and rolled to a 36-10 win in front of a sellout crowd of 42,822 fans (TDECU Stadium attendance record).
« The Cougars are 5-5 against AP top-25 opponents inside TDECU Stadium since its opening in 2014. Houston has an all-time record of 36-105-2 against ranked opponents.
« During his tenure as a head coach, Dana Holgorsen is 1-0 against BYU, with the lone matchup coming in 2016 during his time at West Virginia.
« Entering Friday's game, Houston ranks first in the FBS in kickoff return average (97.0), first in total defense (211.0), second in passing offense (141.0), third in scoring offense (49.0) and third in rushing yards allowed (70.0).
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Among active FBS players, Houston's Marcus Jones and Marquez Stevenson rank first and second, respectively in career kickoff return touchdowns. Jones ranks first among active FBS players with four career kickoff return touchdowns (all four kickoff returns came during his time at Troy), while Stevenson picked up his third career kickoff return touchdown last week against Tulane (97 yards).
« Since 2018, Stevenson has recorded 13 receptions of 40 yards or more. His total is tied for third among active FBS receivers. The senior has also been explosive on kickoff returns during his career. In Stevenson has three career kickoff return touchdowns, all of which have came in the last six games dating back to last season.
« Junior Clayton Tune became the first UH quarterback since David Piland (2010) to pick up his third career 300-yard passing game in 10 starts or fewer. Tune excelled in his first start of the 2020 season, throwing for 319 yards on 20-of-33 passing and two touchdowns last week versus Tulane. The junior completed at least one pass to 10 different receivers in the victory. Tune was named to The American's Honor Roll this week for his performance.
« Houston held Tulane to just 211 yards of total offense last week, the fewest yards allowed by a UH defense since Oct. 29, 2016 against UCF. The Cougars recorded six sacks in the win and snapped Tulane's streak of consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing at 56.
« Senior defensive lineman Payton Turner turned in the best performance of his Houston career, logging seven tackles, two sacks and 4.5 tackles off loss versus Tulane. Five different Cougars recorded at least one sack in the win over Tulane and Houston's six sacks were the most by UH in a single game since 2016 against Louisville.
FOR FANS:
« Friday night's game marks the annual Food Drive to benefit Peeps Pantry. Fans can drop off their donation at any gate at TDECU Stadium. For more information, click here.
« The first 5,000 fans will receive Rally Towel provided by The Joint Chriopractic.
« Houston's swimming and diving team will be recognized for its 2019 American Athletic Conference Championships.
GAME 1 RECAP: TULANE
« Houston erased a 17-point deficit to defeat Tulane 49-31 in its long-awaited season opener inside TDECU Stadium.
« The 17-point deficit is tied for the sixth-largest that a Houston squad has erased in program history and is its largest come-from-behind victory since Oct. 29, 2016 against UCF.
« Wide receiver Marquez Stevenson reached 2,000 career receiving yards, hauling in five receptions for 118 yards. His 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the longest in TDECU Stadium history.
« The result marked the first time Houston had committed five-plus turnovers in a victory since Oct. 13, 2007, vs. Rice in a 56-48 win.
« Junior Clayton Tune picked up his third career 300-yard passing game, finishing with 319 yards on 20-of-33 passing with a pair of touchdown passes. Tune also added a 1-yard score on the ground.
« Houston's defense stepped up to the challenge, snapping Tulane's streak of consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing at 56. The Cougars recorded six sacks in the win and 12.5 tackles for loss. Senior Payton Turner led the way up front with seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
« The defensive unit held the Green Wave to 211 yards of total offense, the fewest allowed by the Cougars since Oct. 29, 2016 versus UCF.
« Junior cornerback Marcus Jones made an immediate impact on special teams, recording 107 punt returns yards on eight attempts. Jones' punt return yardage ranks 10th in UH single-game history.
« Houston's 49 points were the most by the Cougars in the Dana Holgorsen era.
NOTABLES // BYU
« Friday marks the third meeting between Houston and BYU. It is the first matchup between the two on the campus of the University of Houston.
« BYU owns a 2-0 advantage in the series, taking the two prior matchups by a combined nine points including a one-point victory at NRG Stadium in 2013.
« Friday's tilt was originally slated for Provo, Utah. A change was made after Houston officials consulted with local medical professionals and team doctors regarding travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston will travel to BYU to complete the two-game agreement at a later date.
« In 2013 vs. BYU, Houston produced three non-offensive scores including a 29-yard interception return and safety from Derrick Matthews and a 95-yard kickoff return from Demarcus Ayers. BYU's 41 first downs and 115 total plays against Houston at NRG Stadium on Nov. 19, 2013, stand as the most allowed by UH.
SCOUTING BYU
« BYU ranks fourth nationally in total defense (250.5) and fifth nationally in total offense (556.8). The Cougars pace the country in time of possession (35:05) and completion percentage (80.4%)
« BYU is ranked for a third consecutive week in 2020. The Cougars' No. 13 ranking (USA Today Coaches Poll) is the highest for the program since the 2009 season when BYU reached as high as No. 7 in the AP poll. The program finished that season ranked No. 12.
« The Cougars began the year with 279 total passing yards against Navy, 472 vs. Troy, 325 vs. Louisiana Tech and 292 vs. UTSA. BYU passed for 200-plus yards in every game in 2019. Including the final two games of 2018, the Cougars have gone for 200-plus yards in 19 straight games.
« The Cougars' defense is holding their opponents to only 2.4 yards per rush. BYU's 71.0 rushing yards permitted per game ranks fourth nationally. The program's 11.0 points against per game is fourth nationally.
« Kalani Sitake (pronounced kah-lah-nee see-tah-kay) enters his fifth season overseeing the BYU football program in 2020. Sitake has coached in 11 bowl games during his career and has been on the winning side in nine of those 11 contests, including a 2-1 mark as a head coach.
LAST TIME AGAINST BYU
« BYU quarterback Taysom Hill threw for 200 yards and a touchdown while running for 160 yards and another score, lifting the No. 25 Cougars to a 33-25 win against Houston on Sept. 11, 2014.
« Houston quarterback John O'Korn passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard desperation heave to Daniel Spencer as time ran out in the first half.
« Houston wide receiver Deontay Greenberry tallied two touchdowns against BYU for his third multi-touchdown game of his career.
« BYU jumped out to an early 23-0 lead, but Houston scored 15 straight points before halftime.
AMONG THE BEST
« Houston leads the FBS programs in Texas since 2015 with 42 wins. The Cougars are tied with Texas A&M for the most wins by an FBS team in the state. UH is one win ahead of TCU and are five wins ahead of Baylor and Texas.
« Since 2013, Houston ranks second in the state of Texas with 58 wins, trailing only Baylor (59). The Cougars are six wins ahead of Texas in that span. Houston also leads the state of Texas FBS schools with 10 seasons of at least eight wins since 2006. TCU is second in that span with nine.
« The Cougars also rank second among American Athletic Conference Teams with 36 victories in league history. UH remains the last FBS school in the state of Texas to win a league championship (2015 American Athletic Champions).
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
« Improve Houston's program win-loss record to 447-374-15 all-time since 1946 and give Houston its 59th win since 2013, matching Baylor for the most among FBS programs in Texas during that time.
« Move Houston's non-conference regular season record to 31-13 since the start of the 2009 season.
« Give Houston its 30th victory at TDECU Stadium, moving the Cougars to 30-10 all-time inside the facility.
« Be Houston's first win all-time against BYU. The Cougars are 0-2 in the abbreviated history.
« Up Houston's record in October to 33-12 since the 2009 season.