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HOUSTON – Houston Football hosts #17/15 Kansas State in the Cougars' annual Black Out game inside TDECU Stadium at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, on FOX. The Wildcats mark the third ranked opponent the Cougars have played this season. The Team Shop returns with a retail store outside Gate 1 in the Stadium Parking Garage. Join the team for Cougar Walk at 2:15 p.m. Cougar Walk will be led by the UH Helmet Car with Shasta and Sasha. Plus, you will enjoy performances by the Spirit of Houston, UH Cheerleaders and the Cougar Dolls. Take the kids to the Kids' Zone to enjoy the inflatables and fun near Schroeder Gate 1! This week check out the ConocoPhillips STEM Zone for fun activities and great prizes! IN-GAME ACTIVITIES
On the field recognition of Houston volleyball team. Cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls on hand to entertain you! Pregame and halftime performance by the Spirit of Houston! Join the Light Show in the 4th Quarter with Cougar Lights in the Houston Athletics app! WHAT TO WATCH FORFIVE THINGS TO KNOW #17/15 Kansas State is the third ranked opponent the Cougars have faced this season (Sept. 7 at #15/13 Oklahoma; Sept. 28 vs. #18/19 Iowa State). Houston is in search of its first win against a Top 25 opponent since knocking off #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. Houston is 6-9 against Top 25 opponents inside TDECU Stadium since the facility opened in 2014. No two teams have been more consistently impressive on kickoff return than Houston and Kansas State. The Cougars lead the FBS with eight kickoff return touchdowns since the start of the 2019 season, followed by Kansas State with six. Kansas State's 26 kickoff return touchdowns since the start of the 2008 season lead the country while Houston ranks second with 20. Houston's defense has held opponents to just nine rushing touchdowns on the season, a mark which ranks 10th among Power Four programs. By contrast, a season ago, Houston opponents registered 18 rushing scores during the same time frame (Games 1-8). After facing preseason Big 12 favorite Utah last Saturday, the Cougars welcome preseason projected runner-up Kansas State. The Utes garnered 906 points in the preseason poll, including 20 first-place votes, followed by the Wildcats' 889 points, including 19 first-place votes. Over its last three games, Houston has committed a combined 12 penalties, matching the fewest in the nation in that time frame. The Cougars' three penalties and 30 penalty yards last time out against Utah were each season bests. After averaging 7.4 penalties across their first five games, the Cougars have averaged just 4.0 over their last three games. SCOUTING KANSAS STATEQuarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 10th career start as he has thrown for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns on 130-of-212 aim while adding 373 rushing yards and four scores. He is one of only five quarterbacks in the country and the only Big 12 signal caller with at least 1,600 passing yards and 370 rushing yards this season, and he is coming off back-to-back 250-plus yard passing games. Junior running back DJ Giddens has rushed for 945 yards and four touchdowns on 145 carries to go along with 12 receptions for 197 yards and another score. Giddens ranks 10th nationally by averaging 118.1 rushing yards per game, while he is seventh in the nation in scrimmage yards per game (142.8). He is looking to become the fourth player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Kansas State has seven players with 30 or more tackles this season, led by linebacker Austin Romaine, whose 57 tackles are tied for 12th in the Big 12. Senior defensive end Brendan Mott has 8.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks, the latter ranking 11th in the nation. Five Wildcats have carded an interception this season in Marques Sigle (3), VJ Payne (2), Jacob Parrish, Jack Fabris and Keenan Garber. Chris Tennant has been true on 12-of-14 fi eld goals and most recently hit a 51-yarder with 1:42 left to give the Cats a 29-27 win over Kansas. Simon McClannan has averaged 41.9 yards per punt this season, while his 12 punts that have ended inside the opponent 20-yard line rank third in the Big 12. Dylan Edwards is tied for fourth in the Big 12 with 127 total punt-return yards. Kansas State ranked in the top 10 nationally in turnover margin each of the last two years as the Wildcats finished eighth in 2022 and fifth in 2023, which marked the first time in the top 10 in consecutive seasons since 2011 (9th) and 2012 (3rd). LAST TIME AGAINST KANSAS STATEA HOUSTON WIN WOULD ... Mark the first time Houston has won consecutive games in the same season since Nov. 12-19, 2022 (Temple; at ECU) Be the Cougars fifth Big 12 victory, and third in a four-game span, since joining the league a season ago. Be UH's first win vs. a Top 25 opponent since knocking off #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. Up Houston's record to 44-21 inside TDECU Stadium (2014-present). Be Houston's fourth win of the season with three games remaining to reach bowl eligibility. TICKETS ON SALE Tickets are available by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, or by clicking here at any time. SUPPORT YOUR COOGS Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective and by joining 46ers and The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget. STAY CONNECTED Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb. – UHCougars.com – (责任编辑：) |