From Houston Cougars On SI · · 3m
No. 22 Houston hosts Southern, and it's a 51-point spread
Houston is 51.5-point favorites over an FCS rebuild led by a Hall of Fame running back, and the real story is what the Cougars fix before Big 12 play.
In brief
Houston is 51.5-point favorites over an FCS rebuild led by a Hall of Fame running back, and the real story is what the Cougars fix before Big 12 play. This is a tune-up game, not a test. Watch Houston's patched-up offensive line and the receivers who are still healthy, because that's what carries them into the Big 12…
Houston opens at 1-0
The Cougars beat Oregon State 33-20 in their season opener and climbed one spot to No. 22 in the Week 1 AP Poll.
An FCS opponent at home
Week 2 brings Southern, a SWAC program, to TDECU Stadium. For Houston it's a chance to clean up the mistakes that showed against Oregon State.
How to watch
Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. CT from TDECU Stadium in Houston. Streaming on ESPN+, radio on KPRC 950 AM with Kevin Eschenfelder on the call.
The records tell the story
Houston is 1-0 and hasn't started Big 12 play. Southern is 1-1 and already 0-1 in the SWAC.
Last year set the bar
Houston went 10-3 in 2025 and beat LSU in the Texas Bowl, the program's first double-digit win season since 2021.
They've met twice before
This is the third all-time meeting and Houston leads 2-0. The last one was Aug. 30, 2013 at Reliant Stadium, a 62-13 Cougars win.
Marshall Faulk's first year
The NFL Hall of Fame running back is a first-year head coach at Southern. He started coaching just last season, as running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders.
Willie Fritz has done this a while
Fritz is in year three at Houston with a 15-11 record there, and 262-132-1 across 34 years of coaching. That's the second-most wins in college football.
A 51.5-point spread
DraftKings has Houston at -51.5 with an over/under of 60.5. The number says the only question is how far the starters go.
“Spread: Houston -51.5 (-112), Southern +51.5 (-108)”
Receiver room still thin
Muizz Tounkara, the sophomore transfer from Florida, is out with a left foot injury. Fritz said he needs more time before he's back.
“a couple more weeks before he's healthy”
Line shuffle up front
Right tackle Drew Terrill got hurt against Oregon State and won't play, with redshirt sophomore Ronnell McClain stepping in. Tight end Luke McGary's status is unclear after missing Week 1.
Southern is rebuilding
The Jaguars finished last in the SWAC in 2025 and look different now. Christian Johnson starts at quarterback, junior back Trey Holly drives the offense, and the defense has experience.
At a glance
This is a tune-up game, not a test. Watch Houston's patched-up offensive line and the receivers who are still healthy, because that's what carries them into the Big 12.
