Houston Cougars Football

The Houston Cougars football program is a prominent team in NCAA Division I FBS representing the University of Houston. They are affiliated with the Big 12 Conference. Since 2014, they've showcased their talents at TDECU Stadium, succeeding Robertson Stadium as their home ground. The Cougars have won eleven conference championships and six division championships across two different conferences.

Houston Cougars Football Introduction

The Houston Cougars football program started in 1946. Initially, they participated in the Lone Star Conference but later shifted to the Gulf Coast Conference by 1948. Their affiliation then changed to the Missouri Valley Conference from 1951 to 1959. A significant development occurred in 1956 with the NCAA's divisional split, propelling them into the University Division, which eventually became Division I.

From 1960 to 1976, the Houston Cougars experienced significant achievements while functioning as an independent team. They acquired six successive Top-25 rankings and participated in five bowl contests.

Upon entering the Southwest Conference in 1976, the Cougars achieved a remarkable feat by winning the conference championship in their inaugural season, distinguishing them as the lone Texas university to accomplish this feat.

After the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996, they became one of the founding members of Conference USA. Over the years, the Cougars have earned a total of 11 conference championships, including six outright titles.

Houston Cougars Football History

The history of the Houston Cougars football team can be traced back to 1941 when Johnny Goyen and Jack Valenti advocated for establishing an official intercollege football team at the University of Houston (UH). Subsequently, they convened a student body meeting in 1942 to challenge Rice Institute (now Rice University) to a football match.

In August 1945, UH publicly announced its plans to form a football team for the first time, and by October of the same year, they received an invitation to join the Lone Star Conference. In September 1946, under the guidance of head coach Jewell Wallace, the Cougars officially debuted, playing their inaugural game against Southwestern Louisiana Institute.

Despite initial setbacks, such as losing in their debut match, the team made steady advancements, moving from the Lone Star Conference to the Gulf Coast Conference. Coaches like Clyde Lee and Bill Meek played pivotal roles in the Cougars' journey, leading them to milestones like their first bowl game appearance in 1951 and their inaugural Missouri Valley Conference championship in 1952.

Hal Lahar's coaching era highlighted offensive excellence, while Bill Yeoman's extensive tenure from 1962 to 1986 propelled the Cougars to national recognition. Yeoman introduced the Veer offense and steered the team to four Southwest Conference Championships along with numerous bowl victories. Despite facing controversies, including allegations of recruiting infractions, Yeoman's enduring impact as the longest-serving coach in Cougar history remains noteworthy.

Houston Cougars Football Coach

Willie Fritz currently holds the position of football head coach at the University of Houston. Born on April 2, 1960, Fritz is an American football coach and former player. He assumed the role of head coach on December 3, 2023. In the history of the Cougars football program, there have been eighteen head coaches, including two who served as interim head coaches, since the team's inception in the fall of 1946.

Here’s a table showing all the head coaches and the period they served as head coaches.

Houston Cougars Football Stadium: TDECU Stadium

John O'Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium is located on the University of Houston campus and serves as the home turf for the Houston Cougars football team. The stadium has a capacity of 40,000. This stadium was previously used by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL.

TDECU Stadium was constructed on the site where Robertson Stadium once stood, the former venue for the university's football program since 1946. Its name, TDECU Stadium, comes from Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU), Houston's largest credit union, which acquired the naming rights in what was then the largest-ever deal of its kind for a college football stadium.

The idea for a new or renovated football facility was conceived as early as 2010 by the university's athletics department and contractors. Demolition of Robertson Stadium started on December 3, 2012, with the official groundbreaking for the new stadium taking place on February 8, 2013. TDECU Stadium was built at a cost of $128 million and was opened by the University of Houston on August 29, 2014, during a game against UTSA.

Houston Cougars Football Rivals

Rice stands out as Houston's primary rival. Their rivalry is one of the most intense crosstown rivalries in college football. The Bayou Bucket trophy is the coveted prize awarded to the victor of this matchup.

They also have a rivalry with SMU that traces back to their shared history in the Southwest Conference.

Additionally, Tulsa holds the distinction of being Houston's most frequently played opponent. Other notable rivals include former Southwest Conference adversaries such as Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas, and TCU. Recently, rivalries have emerged within Conference USA and the AAC, notably with teams like Memphis, Cincinnati, and UCF. As of the 2023 season, Houston leads the series against Rice with a record of 33 wins to 12.

Houston Cougars Football Record and stats

• The Cougars have claimed 11 conference championships in their history, with six being outright titles.

• Houston has secured six division championships across two different conferences.

Conference championships

Division championships

Houston Cougars Football Roster

The Houston Cougars football team roster includes players from diverse backgrounds

On the offense side, the players included are:

On the defense side, notable players include:

Houston Cougars Football Schedule

The Houston Cougars' regular season matchups are as follows: