Houston Coach Dana Holgorsen Discusses Facing No. 8 Texas

Houston coach Dana Holgorsen understands that his team will face a motivated and determined No. 8 Texas in their upcoming game. The Longhorns are coming off a loss to Oklahoma that ended their perfect start to the season, and Holgorsen expects them to bring that motivation into their game against Houston. He acknowledges that Texas has been dominant all season and with two weeks’ rest after the loss, they will be even more motivated than ever.

Houston, on the other hand, is coming off a thrilling victory against West Virginia, where they won on a 49-yard Hail Mary as time expired. Despite being 22 1/2-point underdogs according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Holgorsen believes that his team has the potential to challenge Texas. He has received messages from fans expressing their desire to beat Texas, as this game holds a special significance due to the rivalry between the two schools. Holgorsen understands that beating Texas will be a difficult task but remains committed to the challenge.

This game marks the first meeting between Houston and Texas since 2002, and the Longhorns have won their previous seven encounters. However, Houston quarterback Donovan Smith has faced the Longhorns before when he played for Texas Tech last season. In that game, Smith threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, securing a victory for his team. Holgorsen believes that Smith’s past success against the Longhorns will boost their confidence for this upcoming game.

During their off week, the Longhorns focused on fine-tuning their strategies on both offense and defense. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian aimed to reignite the competitive spirit within the team and ensure that the practice sessions remained highly competitive. The Longhorns aim to make a comeback into the College Football Playoff conversation.

The game between Houston and Texas is already sold out, generating excitement among the Cougars’ fan base. The Cougars are looking to secure their first win against Texas in Houston since 1991.

In recent games, the Longhorns have struggled to convert long drives into touchdowns, particularly in the red zone. Sarkisian acknowledges the need for improvement in game planning and execution. The team has had many big-play touchdowns but has faltered in finishing drives with touchdowns.

Houston’s Matthew Golden has been a standout player on special teams, leading the FBS with two kickoff return touchdowns this season. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown against TCU and had another 100-yard return against West Virginia. The Cougars have excelled in kickoff returns, scoring eight touchdowns since 2019.

Additionally, Texas freshmen Anthony Hill Jr. and Malik Muhammad have made significant contributions to the team’s defense. Hill leads the team in sacks, while Muhammad impressed with a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown against Oklahoma.

Both teams are preparing for an exciting and highly-anticipated matchup. Houston hopes to end Texas’ winning streak in the series and create an upset, while Texas looks to bounce back from their loss and solidify their position in the College Football Playoff conversation.