The Pride Of The AAC

Long-term stability isn’t something that the Houston Cougars are accustomed to. In the 68 years of Houston’s football program, they have been affiliated with four different conferences, while also being a football independent for 18 years. The Cougars are currently affiliated with the American Athletic Conference, but we’re not sure for how long as there are rumors that the Big 12 Conference has them on their radar. And the reason why the Big 12 has their eyes on Houston is due to the direction that they are currently going in.

Last year the Cougars went 13-1 for the second time since 2008. Houston would upset the Florida State Seminoles in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve which ensured them of their first top-ten finish in the Associated Press Poll since 1990. This year the Cougars began ranked 15th in the nation, and so far they have not disappointed.

Houston immediately served notice to the college football world that last year wasn’t a fluke when they upset the third ranked Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 33-23 on September 3. After cruising past the Lamar Cardinals 42-0 on September 10, the Cougars were expected to be tested this past Thursday when they traveled to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in their first American Athletic Conference game of the season.

Early in the fourth quarter, Houston would find themselves trailing Cincinnati 16-12, but they would control the rest of the action for the game.

Cougars senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. would take over as he scored on a pair of touchdown runs to give Houston the 26-16 lead. The Bearcats were driving for a touchdown that would keep them in the game, but Cougars senior linebacker Steven Taylor had other thoughts in mind when he intercepted a pass that was thrown by Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Hayden Moore and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown that would put the game out of reach. And on Cincinnati’s next offensive play, Moore was picked off once again; this time by sophomore defensive back Howard Wilson who scampered 28 yards for a touchdown to make it 40-16 in favor of Houston. The Cougars would go on to win by that score as they served notice to Cincinnati and everybody else in the American Athletic Conference that they won’t be an easy out as they are seeking their second conference crown.

A second consecutive American Athletic Conference Title for Houston would mark the first time that they were able to repeat as conference champions since 1979 when they were members of the now defunct Southwestern Conference. In those days the SWC was one of the best conferences in college football as it included the likes of the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies, as Houston was able to hold their own. And this is something that current Cougars head football coach Tom Herman is attempting to get them back to.

The Cougars now consistently find themselves in the spotlight which is something that is going to help them as far as recruiting goes in the talent rich State of Texas. There are facility upgrades that are going on at Houston’s campus which will either make them the envy of the American Athletic Conference, or allow them to hang with the big boys of the Big 12.

Another reason why the Cougars are back in the national spotlight is due to the play of Ward. Ward emerged as a play maker for Houston in 2014 when he took over at quarterback. And when Herman became Houston’s head football coach in 2015, Ward became a household name. Ward would continue to build on that status last year when he accounted for 3,936 yards of total offense and 38 touchdowns.

A shoulder injury kept Ward out of the game against Lamar, but he made his presence known against Oklahoma as he was 23-of-40 passing for 321 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. And although that Ward threw a pair of interceptions against Cincinnati, he stepped up when his team needed him the most in the fourth quarter. But whereas Ward is in the conversation of winning the Heisman Trophy, along with being the American Athletic Conference, they have a strong presence on the defensive side of the football as well.

Through three games Houston’s defense is averaging only 13 points allowed per game with Taylor leading the charge. Last year Taylor teamed with Elandon Roberts to give the Cougars one of the best linebacking duos in the nation. But with Roberts now in the National Football League as a member of the New England Patriots, Taylor is showing that he can get it done in each phase of the game.

Through three games in 2016, Taylor already has 21 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and an interception as he is the front runner to be the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

In a very short time Herman is showing that he is ready to emerge as one of the best head coaches in college football. And with Houston currently not in a Power Five conference, his name has been thrown around in regards to bigger jobs. But Herman has decided to remain at Houston as the possibility of the Cougars being in the Big 12 real soon appears to be enticing him to stay. Herman has already established himself at Houston and he doesn’t appear ready to go to another school where he would have to start over, while also have to deal with more pressure.

Outside of a road game against the Navy Midshipmen on October 8, Houston’s conference schedule is very favorable, and the only thing that could prevent them from going undefeated is a meeting with the Louisville Cardinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference on November 17. Houston has already shown that they can defeat a Big 12 team this year as they knocked off Oklahoma, and the rest of this season should be their audition for the Big 12 Conference as it would be nothing but a win-win scenario for both parties. Although that Houston is currently ranked sixth in the Associated Press Poll, it is still a long shot for them to reach the College Football Playoff, but this program has shown the college football world that they can hang with the big boys as this is a definitely a program that is on the rise.

Source: Sports-reference.com