GAME #11
TULSA (3-7, 1-5 AAC) vs. HOUSTON (3-7, 1-5 AAC)
Saturday, November 23, 2019 • 6:30 pm (CT)
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) • Tulsa, Okla.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM
TULSA 3-7, 1-5 The American
Head Coach: Philip Montgomery
(Tarleton State '95)
5th year at Tulsa
Career Record: 24-36 (5 years)
TU Record: same
HOUSTON 3-7, 1-5 The American
Head Coach: Dana Holgorson
(Iowa Wesleyan '93)
1st year at Houston
Career Record: 64-48 (8 years)
UH Record: 3-7 (1 year)
THE STORYLINES . . .
• Tulsa is in its 120th season of football this year, as college football celebrates its 150th year.
• Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 3,297 undergraduate students … Tulsa's overall enrollment is 4,412 … Houston's enrollment is 43,770.
• A total of 16 Tulsa seniors will be playing in their final game at H.A. Chapman Stadium this Saturday.
• After 10 games, the combined record of Tulsa's opponents entering that particular game was 37-8 (MSU 0-0, SJS 1-0, OSU 2-0, WYO 3-0, SMU 5-0, Navy 3-1, CINCI 5-1, Memphis 6-1, Tulane 5-3 and UCF at 7-2) for an .822 win percentage.
• The American Athletic Conference is the 3rd league that Tulsa and Houston have been members together – the others were Missouri Valley Conference (1950s) and Conference USA (2005-12).
• Tulsa and Houston have combined to face 9 top-25 opponents, including 5 for Houston and 4 for Tulsa.
• Five of Tulsa's opponents already played were ranked in the 1st CFP Rankings when announced 3 weeks ago – #20 Cincinnati, #21 Memphis, #23 Oklahoma State, #24 Navy and #25 SMU
• Four of Tulsa's first 8 opponents are currently ranked in the top-25 this week –#17 Cincinnati, #18 Memphis, #21 SMU and #22 Oklahoma State.
• Eight of the 10 opponents Tulsa has already faced are bowl eligible this year.
THE SERIES . . .
• This is the 44th meeting between Tulsa and Houston.
• Houston leads the series 24-19-0 and have won 4 of the last 5 meetings.
• Tulsa has a 10-9 series advantage in games played in Tulsa.
• The Cougars won last year's meeting at home by a score of 41-26 … with first-time starting QB Seth Boomer leading the way, Tulsa led 26-17 early in the 4th quarter.
• Tulsa won the last time the teams met in Tulsa, 45-17, in the 2017 season … Tulsa trailed 10-7 at halftime, but scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter and outscored Houston 38-7 in the 2nd half.
TULSA HAS NATION'S 6th TOUGHEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE . . .
• Tulsa's strength of schedule according to Cody Kellner's Points Index Strength of Schedule Ratings this week is 6th nationally behind Michigan State, which was Tulsa's first opponent this year, Mississippi State, Auburn, Maryland and North Carolina.
• The next closest American Athletic Conference member with the toughest strength of schedule is 40th-ranked Houston and the next closest is #66 Cincinnati.
• The Hurricane's strength of schedule was as high as No. 3 in the country on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10.
• The Cody Kellner Points Index gives each team a rating that is reflective of the success they had within their strength of schedule.
FACING THE TOUGH AMERICAN . . .
• The 6 American Athletic Conference opponents that Tulsa has already faced – @ SMU (9-1), Navy (7-2), @ Cincinnati (9-1), Memphis (9-1), @ Tulane (6-4), UCF (7-3) – this season has a combined 47-12 record for a .796-win percentage.
• Overall, Tulsa's 8 AAC opponents have combined for a .671-win percentage with an overall 53-26 record this season.
FIRST & TEN . . .
• Four of Tulsa's losses have been to top-25 teams – (AP) #18 Michigan State, (AP) #24 SMU, (AP) #21 Cincinnati and (Coaches) #25 Memphis.
• In the first 5 games of the season Tulsa faced an undefeated opponent each week … Tulsa handed San Jose State and Wyoming their first losses.
• Tulsa has seven 2018 bowl participants on its 2019 schedule –– Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, UCF and Houston.
• Tulsa's win at San Jose State snapped a 13-game road losing streak … before that, Tulsa's last true road win was at UCF, 35-20, on Nov. 19, 2016.
TULSA TAKES THE AMERICAN'S THREE 9-1 TEAMS DOWN TO THE WIRE. . .
• Tulsa has faced 3 conference opponents that were ranked among the nation's top-25 at the time of the meeting –– #24 (AP) SMU, #21 (AP) Cincinnati and #25 (Coaches) Memphis.
• These three teams have each posted 9-1 records this season.
• All 3 games came down to the final minutes … Tulsa lost the 3 games by an average of 6 points.
TOTAL TEAM EFFORT GIVES TULSA WIN OVER TWO-TIME DEFENDING AMERICAN CHAMPION UCF . . .
• Seth Boomer, taking the reins of the offense in the second half for the injured Zach Smith, led Tulsa to 17 second-half points as the Golden Hurricane captured a 34-31 victory over the UCF Knights in a Friday night game.
• Tulsa overcame an 11-point deficit twice for the 12th comeback victory in the past 5 seasons.
• Trailing 28-17 at halftime, Boomer led Tulsa on scoring drives of 50 and 63 yards, and a third that was set-up by Reggie Robinson's interception, which ended in what would be a game-winning 23-yard field goal.
• The Tulsa defense was bend-but-don't-break in the first half and dominant in the final 30 minutes
• Tulsa held the nation's 2nd-ranked UCF offense to 94 yards less than its season average, while limiting the 5th-ranked scoring team to 15.3 points under its average.
• In the second half, Tulsa limited the Knights to 171 yards and forced 3 turnovers, 2 of which led to 10 points.
TEAM NOTES . . .
• Tulsa had its 3rd 500+ total offense game this year with a season-high 584 yards against Memphis … it was the most allowed by the Memphis defense this year.
• On the other hand, the only team Tulsa has given up 500 yards to was Oklahoma State's 506 yards this year … that has been the only game in the last 2 years (22 games) that the Tulsa defense has allowed 500 yards of total offense.
• Against Memphis, Tulsa had a 36:05 to 23::55 possession time edge.
• Tulsa has had 3 games with a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver this season, a feat that never occurred last season.
• Tulsa has had 8 passes for 40 yards or more this season, while last year Tulsa had just 5 passes for 40+ yards for the entire season … 4 of those have gone for more than 50 yards this year.
• The Hurricane has scored 115 points in the 2nd quarter this year, while totaling 139 points in the remaining 3 quarters, including overtime.
• Tulsa's passing total has increased over the past 7 games – averaging 284.3 yards (1,990) per game compared to 224 average passing yards in the first 3 contests.
• Tulsa went 2-2 in non-conference games this year with wins over Mountain West Conference foes San Jose State and Wyoming.
BEING SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS . . .
• Tulsa's special teams have created 5 big plays this season in separate games.
• The Hurricane went 4 straight games with a special teams' big play, including 3 on a kickoff and one on an opponent field goal attempt.
• The consecutive games included … SMU (TD on an onside kick) … Navy (fumble recovery on the opening kickoff) … Cincinnati (blocked FG attempt) … Memphis (fumble recovery on a 2nd quarter kickoff).
• The Hurricane recovered a fumble on a 4th quarter kickoff return that gave Tulsa possession at the UCF 21-yard line.
REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE! AMONG AAC LEADERS . . .
• Senior Reggie Robinson II has had a knack for making big plays this season.
• He has 4 of Tulsa's 5 interceptions this season, including a career-high 2 INTs at Tulane … his 4th INT led to the game-winning FG vs. UCF.
• Robinson ranks 2nd in the AAC for INTs ( 4) and 3rd for passes defended (12).
• In the UCF game, Robinson had 5 tackles, 3 PBUs and one INT, thus earning AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• He also blocked his first FG of the season and second of his career in a 3-point win over Wyoming.
• In the Wyoming game he also recovered a fumble at the Tulsa 3-yard line with 0:50 left to hold off a Wyoming score.
• His overall stat line this year is … 33 tackles, 1 TFL/-2 yards, 4-37 INTs, 8 PBUs, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
• Robinson now has four combined blocked kicks for his career, including two blocked PATs vs. Navy (9/30/17 and 11/17/18), and a FG vs. Tulane (10/22/16).
• Prior to his block against Wyoming, the last time Tulsa blocked a FG was when LB Zaven Collins blocked a FG against SMU (11/24/18).
TULSA (3-7, 1-5 AAC) vs. HOUSTON (3-7, 1-5 AAC)
Saturday, November 23, 2019 • 6:30 pm (CT)
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) • Tulsa, Okla.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM
TULSA 3-7, 1-5 The American
Head Coach: Philip Montgomery
(Tarleton State '95)
5th year at Tulsa
Career Record: 24-36 (5 years)
TU Record: same
HOUSTON 3-7, 1-5 The American
Head Coach: Dana Holgorson
(Iowa Wesleyan '93)
1st year at Houston
Career Record: 64-48 (8 years)
UH Record: 3-7 (1 year)
THE STORYLINES . . .
• Tulsa is in its 120th season of football this year, as college football celebrates its 150th year.
• Tulsa has the smallest FBS enrollment with 3,297 undergraduate students … Tulsa's overall enrollment is 4,412 … Houston's enrollment is 43,770.
• A total of 16 Tulsa seniors will be playing in their final game at H.A. Chapman Stadium this Saturday.
• After 10 games, the combined record of Tulsa's opponents entering that particular game was 37-8 (MSU 0-0, SJS 1-0, OSU 2-0, WYO 3-0, SMU 5-0, Navy 3-1, CINCI 5-1, Memphis 6-1, Tulane 5-3 and UCF at 7-2) for an .822 win percentage.
• The American Athletic Conference is the 3rd league that Tulsa and Houston have been members together – the others were Missouri Valley Conference (1950s) and Conference USA (2005-12).
• Tulsa and Houston have combined to face 9 top-25 opponents, including 5 for Houston and 4 for Tulsa.
• Five of Tulsa's opponents already played were ranked in the 1st CFP Rankings when announced 3 weeks ago – #20 Cincinnati, #21 Memphis, #23 Oklahoma State, #24 Navy and #25 SMU
• Four of Tulsa's first 8 opponents are currently ranked in the top-25 this week –#17 Cincinnati, #18 Memphis, #21 SMU and #22 Oklahoma State.
• Eight of the 10 opponents Tulsa has already faced are bowl eligible this year.
THE SERIES . . .
• This is the 44th meeting between Tulsa and Houston.
• Houston leads the series 24-19-0 and have won 4 of the last 5 meetings.
• Tulsa has a 10-9 series advantage in games played in Tulsa.
• The Cougars won last year's meeting at home by a score of 41-26 … with first-time starting QB Seth Boomer leading the way, Tulsa led 26-17 early in the 4th quarter.
• Tulsa won the last time the teams met in Tulsa, 45-17, in the 2017 season … Tulsa trailed 10-7 at halftime, but scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter and outscored Houston 38-7 in the 2nd half.
TULSA HAS NATION'S 6th TOUGHEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE . . .
• Tulsa's strength of schedule according to Cody Kellner's Points Index Strength of Schedule Ratings this week is 6th nationally behind Michigan State, which was Tulsa's first opponent this year, Mississippi State, Auburn, Maryland and North Carolina.
• The next closest American Athletic Conference member with the toughest strength of schedule is 40th-ranked Houston and the next closest is #66 Cincinnati.
• The Hurricane's strength of schedule was as high as No. 3 in the country on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10.
• The Cody Kellner Points Index gives each team a rating that is reflective of the success they had within their strength of schedule.
FACING THE TOUGH AMERICAN . . .
• The 6 American Athletic Conference opponents that Tulsa has already faced – @ SMU (9-1), Navy (7-2), @ Cincinnati (9-1), Memphis (9-1), @ Tulane (6-4), UCF (7-3) – this season has a combined 47-12 record for a .796-win percentage.
• Overall, Tulsa's 8 AAC opponents have combined for a .671-win percentage with an overall 53-26 record this season.
FIRST & TEN . . .
• Four of Tulsa's losses have been to top-25 teams – (AP) #18 Michigan State, (AP) #24 SMU, (AP) #21 Cincinnati and (Coaches) #25 Memphis.
• In the first 5 games of the season Tulsa faced an undefeated opponent each week … Tulsa handed San Jose State and Wyoming their first losses.
• Tulsa has seven 2018 bowl participants on its 2019 schedule –– Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, UCF and Houston.
• Tulsa's win at San Jose State snapped a 13-game road losing streak … before that, Tulsa's last true road win was at UCF, 35-20, on Nov. 19, 2016.
TULSA TAKES THE AMERICAN'S THREE 9-1 TEAMS DOWN TO THE WIRE. . .
• Tulsa has faced 3 conference opponents that were ranked among the nation's top-25 at the time of the meeting –– #24 (AP) SMU, #21 (AP) Cincinnati and #25 (Coaches) Memphis.
• These three teams have each posted 9-1 records this season.
• All 3 games came down to the final minutes … Tulsa lost the 3 games by an average of 6 points.
TOTAL TEAM EFFORT GIVES TULSA WIN OVER TWO-TIME DEFENDING AMERICAN CHAMPION UCF . . .
• Seth Boomer, taking the reins of the offense in the second half for the injured Zach Smith, led Tulsa to 17 second-half points as the Golden Hurricane captured a 34-31 victory over the UCF Knights in a Friday night game.
• Tulsa overcame an 11-point deficit twice for the 12th comeback victory in the past 5 seasons.
• Trailing 28-17 at halftime, Boomer led Tulsa on scoring drives of 50 and 63 yards, and a third that was set-up by Reggie Robinson's interception, which ended in what would be a game-winning 23-yard field goal.
• The Tulsa defense was bend-but-don't-break in the first half and dominant in the final 30 minutes
• Tulsa held the nation's 2nd-ranked UCF offense to 94 yards less than its season average, while limiting the 5th-ranked scoring team to 15.3 points under its average.
• In the second half, Tulsa limited the Knights to 171 yards and forced 3 turnovers, 2 of which led to 10 points.
TEAM NOTES . . .
• Tulsa had its 3rd 500+ total offense game this year with a season-high 584 yards against Memphis … it was the most allowed by the Memphis defense this year.
• On the other hand, the only team Tulsa has given up 500 yards to was Oklahoma State's 506 yards this year … that has been the only game in the last 2 years (22 games) that the Tulsa defense has allowed 500 yards of total offense.
• Against Memphis, Tulsa had a 36:05 to 23::55 possession time edge.
• Tulsa has had 3 games with a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver this season, a feat that never occurred last season.
• Tulsa has had 8 passes for 40 yards or more this season, while last year Tulsa had just 5 passes for 40+ yards for the entire season … 4 of those have gone for more than 50 yards this year.
• The Hurricane has scored 115 points in the 2nd quarter this year, while totaling 139 points in the remaining 3 quarters, including overtime.
• Tulsa's passing total has increased over the past 7 games – averaging 284.3 yards (1,990) per game compared to 224 average passing yards in the first 3 contests.
• Tulsa went 2-2 in non-conference games this year with wins over Mountain West Conference foes San Jose State and Wyoming.
BEING SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS . . .
• Tulsa's special teams have created 5 big plays this season in separate games.
• The Hurricane went 4 straight games with a special teams' big play, including 3 on a kickoff and one on an opponent field goal attempt.
• The consecutive games included … SMU (TD on an onside kick) … Navy (fumble recovery on the opening kickoff) … Cincinnati (blocked FG attempt) … Memphis (fumble recovery on a 2nd quarter kickoff).
• The Hurricane recovered a fumble on a 4th quarter kickoff return that gave Tulsa possession at the UCF 21-yard line.
REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE! AMONG AAC LEADERS . . .
• Senior Reggie Robinson II has had a knack for making big plays this season.
• He has 4 of Tulsa's 5 interceptions this season, including a career-high 2 INTs at Tulane … his 4th INT led to the game-winning FG vs. UCF.
• Robinson ranks 2nd in the AAC for INTs ( 4) and 3rd for passes defended (12).
• In the UCF game, Robinson had 5 tackles, 3 PBUs and one INT, thus earning AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• He also blocked his first FG of the season and second of his career in a 3-point win over Wyoming.
• In the Wyoming game he also recovered a fumble at the Tulsa 3-yard line with 0:50 left to hold off a Wyoming score.
• His overall stat line this year is … 33 tackles, 1 TFL/-2 yards, 4-37 INTs, 8 PBUs, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
• Robinson now has four combined blocked kicks for his career, including two blocked PATs vs. Navy (9/30/17 and 11/17/18), and a FG vs. Tulane (10/22/16).
• Prior to his block against Wyoming, the last time Tulsa blocked a FG was when LB Zaven Collins blocked a FG against SMU (11/24/18).
