American college football season
The 2021 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Cougars played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas , competing in the American Athletic Conference . They were led by third-year head coach Dana Holgorsen .
Preseason
The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.[ 1] Cincinnati , who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Cincinnati
262 (22)
2
UCF
241 (2)
3
SMU
188
4
Houston
181
5
Memphis
168
6
Tulsa
153
7
Tulane
132
T-8
East Carolina
85
T-8
Navy
85
10
Temple
46
11
South Florida
43
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 4 6:00 p.m. vs. Texas Tech * ESPN L 21–3843,478
September 11 5:30 p.m. at Rice * CBSSN W 44–726,253
September 18 6:00 p.m. Grambling State * ESPN+ W 45–022,998
September 25 6:00 p.m. Navy ESPNU W 28–2025,054
6:30 p.m. at Tulsa ESPN W 45–1015,890
6:30 p.m. at Tulane ESPN W 40–2215,026
October 23 8:20 p.m. East Carolina ESPNews α W 31–24 OT 22,925
October 30 6:00 p.m. No. 19 SMU ESPN2 W 44–3725,676
November 6 6:30 p.m. at South Florida ESPNU W 54–4228,667
November 13 11:00 a.m. at Temple ESPN+ W 37–818,440
8:00 p.m. Memphis No. 24 ESPN2 W 31–1328,712
November 27 11:00 a.m. at UConn * No. 24 CBSSN W 45–1712,685
December 4 3:00 p.m. at No. 4 Cincinnati No. 21 ABC L 20–3537,978
11:00 a.m. vs. Auburn * No. 20 ESPN W 17–1347,100
[ 2]
Notes
^α This game was initially scheduled for ESPNU at 3:00 p.m. CT, but was moved to 8:20 p.m. CT on ESPNews because of a rain delay.[ 3]
Game summaries
Vs. Texas Tech (Texas Kickoff)
Texas Tech vs. Houston
1
2 3 4 Total
• Red Raiders
0
7 17 14
38
Cougars
14
7 0 0
21
Line
Over/under
HOU –2.5
63
Statistics
Texas Tech
Houston
First downs
15
15
Total yards
376
251
Rushing yards
145
77
Passing yards
231
174
Turnovers
1
4
Time of possession
23:23
36:37
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Texas Tech
Passing
Tyler Shough
17/24, 231 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Tahj Brooks
15 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Erik Ezukanma
7 receptions, 179 yards
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
27/38, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs
Rushing
Mulbah Car
13 rushes, 37 yards
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
7 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
At Rice (Bayou Bucket Classic)
Houston at Rice
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars
17
0 14 13
44
Owls
0
7 0 0
7
Date: September 11, 2021Location: Rice Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 5:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: Game attendance: 26,253Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBDReferee: Charles LamertinaTV announcers (CBSSN ): Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), and Desmond Purnell (sideline)
Line
Over/under
HOU –7.5
51
Statistics
Houston
Rice
First downs
23
15
Total yards
393
212
Rushing yards
144
126
Passing yards
249
86
Turnovers
0
3
Time of possession
32:01
27:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
22/30, 236 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Clayton Tune
9 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
7 receptions, 87 yards
Rice
Passing
Luke McCaffrey
9/19, 86 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Rushing
Khalan Griffin
19 rushes, 86 yards
Receiving
Jorden Myers
5 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD
Grambling State
Grambling State at Houston
1
2 3 4 Total
Tigers
0
0 0 0
0
• Cougars
7
14 21 3
45
Date: September 18, 2021Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 6:06 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 6 minutesGame attendance: 22,998Game weather: SunnyReferee: Nate BlackTV announcers (ESPN+ ): Alex Del Barrio (play–by–play) and Stanford Routt (analyst)
Line
Over/under
HOU –41.0
52
Statistics
Grambling State
Houston
First downs
3
24
Total yards
102
422
Rushing yards
53
164
Passing yards
49
258
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
25:02
34:58
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Grambling State
Passing
Aldon Clark
5/12, 49 yards
Rushing
Darqueze Brutton
9 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving
Greg White
1 reception, 37 yards
Houston
Passing
Ike Ogbogu
14/22, 196 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
16 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
8 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TDs
Navy
Navy at Houston
1
2 3 4 Total
Midshipmen
7
10 0 3
20
• Cougars
7
0 7 14
28
Date: September 25, 2021Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 6:02 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 8 minutesGame attendance: 25,054Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E 6 MPH Referee: Hank JohnsTV announcers (ESPNU ): Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Line
Over/under
HOU –20.0
47
Statistics
Navy
Houston
First downs
16
20
Total yards
300
384
Rushing yards
202
127
Passing yards
98
257
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
33:21
26:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Navy
Passing
Xavier Arline
3/6, 83 yards
Rushing
Xavier Arline
19 rushes, 64 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Mychal Cooper
3 receptions, 83 yards
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
22/30, 257 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
17 rushes, 74 yards
Receiving
Christian Trahan
4 receptions, 65 yards
At Tulsa
Houston at Tulsa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars
14
14 7 10
45
Golden Hurricane
0
3 0 7
10
Date: October 1, 2021Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 32 minutesGame attendance: 15,890Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: W 2 MPHReferee: Luke RichmondTV announcers (ESPN): Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
Line
Over/under
TLSA –3.5
54
Statistics
Houston
Tulsa
First downs
22
14
Total yards
405
289
Rushing yards
144
31
Passing yards
261
258
Turnovers
1
3
Time of possession
32:26
27:34
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
17/24, 241 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
17 rushes, 77 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
6 receptions, 82 yards
Tulsa
Passing
Davis Brin
20/39, 258 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Rushing
Anthony Watkins
8 rushes, 39 yards
Receiving
Sam Crawford Jr.
5 receptions, 101 yards
At Tulane
Houston at Tulane
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars
14
3 9 14
40
Green Wave
0
15 7 0
22
Date: October 7, 2021Location: Yulman Stadium New Orleans, LA Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 19 minutesGame attendance: 15,026Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Mostly Sunny • Wind: NE 4 MPHReferee: Tim RichTV announcers (ESPN ): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Harry Lyles, Jr. (sideline)
Line
Over/under
HOU –6.5
60
Statistics
Houston
Tulane
First downs
18
17
Total yards
435
308
Rushing yards
147
94
Passing yards
288
214
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
31:34
28:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
23/36, 288 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
18 rushes, 93 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
KeSean Carter
6 receptions, 69 yards
Tulane
Passing
Michael Pratt
20/30, 214 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Cameron Carroll
13 rushes, 68 yards
Receiving
Will Wallace
2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD
East Carolina
East Carolina at Houston
1
2 3 4 OT Total
Pirates
10
0 0 14 0
24
• Cougars
17
7 0 0 7
31
Date: October 23, 2021Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT (Kicked at 8:20 p.m. – delayed 5 hours and 20 minutes to kickoff due to lightning ) Elapsed time: 3 hours and 27 minutesGame attendance: 22,925Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 9 MPHReferee: Edwin LeeTV announcers (ESPNews ): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Line
Over/under
HOU –13.5
57
Statistics
East Carolina
Houston
First downs
20
16
Total yards
360
256
Rushing yards
82
87
Passing yards
278
169
Turnovers
3
1
Time of possession
29:13
30:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
East Carolina
Passing
Holton Ahlers
23/37, 278 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Keaton Mitchell
11 rushes, 38 yards
Receiving
Tyler Snead
7 receptions, 114 yards
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
19/29, 169 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
12 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Christian Trahan
6 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
No. 19 SMU
SMU at Houston
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 19 Mustangs
7
13 14 3
37
• Cougars
17
6 7 14
44
Date: October 30, 2021Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 37 minutesGame attendance: 25,676Game weather: Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 6 MPH Referee: Charles LamertinaTV announcers (ESPN2 ): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Line
Over/under
SMU –1.0
62
Statistics
SMU
Houston
First downs
18
23
Total yards
355
489
Rushing yards
50
77
Passing yards
305
412
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
24:37
35:23
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SMU
Passing
Tanner Mordecai
24/37, 305 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing
Tre Siggers
13 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Danny Gray
5 receptions, 73 yards
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
27/37, 412 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing
Ta'Zhawn Henry
21 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
9 receptions, 165 yards, 3 TDs
At South Florida
Houston at South Florida
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars
9
17 21 7
54
Bulls
14
14 7 7
42
Date: November 6, 2021Location: Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: Game attendance: 28,667Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBDReferee: Tim RichTV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
Line
Over/under
HOU –13.5
53
Statistics
Houston
South Florida
First downs
30
23
Total yards
646
399
Rushing yards
261
110
Passing yards
385
289
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
33:07
26:53
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
21/26, 385 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Ta'Zhawn Henry
10 rushes, 130 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
8 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD
South Florida
Passing
Timmy McClain
22/46, 289 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing
Timmy McClain
11 rushes, 46 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Xavier Weaver
6 receptions, 105 yards
At Temple
Houston at Temple
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars
7
3 14 13
37
Owls
0
0 0 8
8
Date: November 13, 2021Location: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA Game start: 11:00 a.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 16 minutesGame attendance: 18,440Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: S 13 MPHReferee: Edwin LeeTV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)
Line
Over/under
HOU –25.0
53
Statistics
Houston
Temple
First downs
24
10
Total yards
446
218
Rushing yards
217
99
Passing yards
229
119
Turnovers
0
3
Time of possession
39:22
20:38
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
21/34, 224 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
21 rushes, 129 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Seth Green
7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
Temple
Passing
Justin Lynch
11/24, 119 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing
Justin Lynch
14 rushes, 78 yards
Receiving
Randle Jones
5 receptions, 36 yards
Memphis
Memphis at Houston
1
2 3 4 Total
Tigers
0
3 7 3
13
• No. 24 Cougars
0
21 0 10
31
Date: November 19, 2021Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 40 minutesGame attendance: 28,712Game weather: • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 4 MPHReferee: Hank JohnsTV announcers (ESPN2): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
Line
Over/under
HOU –9.5
59
Statistics
Memphis
Houston
First downs
24
25
Total yards
322
461
Rushing yards
106
197
Passing yards
216
264
Turnovers
2
2
Time of possession
25:34
34:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Memphis
Passing
Seth Henigan
21/45, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
Rodrigues Clark
12 rushes, 32 yards
Receiving
Calvin Austin
5 receptions, 103 yards
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
Ta'Zhawn Henry
13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
At UConn
Houston at UConn
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 24 Cougars
7
14 17 7
45
Huskies
0
10 0 7
17
Line
Over/under
HOU –32.0
54.5
Statistics
Houston
UConn
First downs
21
16
Total yards
472
238
Rushing yards
149
82
Passing yards
323
156
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
31:16
28:44
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
21/30, 301 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
9 rushes, 54 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Jake Herslow
5 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD
UConn
Passing
Steven Krajewski
9/19, 79 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Steven Krajewski
8 rushes, 53 yards
Receiving
Kevens Clercius
2 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
At No. 4 Cincinnati (AAC Championship game)
Line
Over/under
CIN –10.5
52.5
Statistics
Houston
Cincinnati
First downs
22
14
Total yards
336
400
Rushing yards
86
210
Passing yards
250
190
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
40:19
19:41
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
17/26, 250 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
13 rushes, 39 yards
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
9 receptions, 152 yards, 1 TD
Cincinnati
Passing
Desmond Ridder
11/17, 190 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Jerome Ford
18 rushes, 187 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Alec Pierce
2 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Auburn (Birmingham Bowl)
2021 Birmingham Bowl
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 20 Cougars
7
3 0 7
17
Tigers
0
3 10 0
13
Date: December 28, 2021Location: Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL Game start: 11:00 a.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutesGame attendance: 47,100Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind:Referee: Michael MothershedTV announcers (ESPN/Bowl Season Radio): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Eric Mac Lain (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline)/Travis Jones (play-by-play), J.D. Byars (analyst), and Tenitra Batiste (sideline)
Line
Over/under
AUB –2.0
49
Statistics
Houston
Auburn
First downs
19
15
Total yards
398
352
Rushing yards
115
125
Passing yards
283
227
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
29:50
30:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Clayton Tune
26/40, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing
Alton McCaskill
14 rushes, 78 yards
Receiving
Nathaniel Dell
10 receptions, 150 yards
Auburn
Passing
T. J. Finley
19/37, 227 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Tank Bigsby
16 rushes, 96 yards
Receiving
Tank Bigsby
5 receptions, 68 yards
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV — — — — — — RV RV 20 17 17 19 16 21 17 Coaches RV — — — — — RV RV RV 19 17 17 16 16 21 17 CFP Not released — — 24 24 21 20 Not released
References
Venues Bowls and rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons