Next game: vs Cincinnati
Houston’s best edge on Cincinnati is passing
Each unit against the one it meets, by national percentile this season. A filled dot is the attack and a ring is the defense it meets; the first name is the attack. Further right is better for both.
Houston offense against Cincinnati defense
Cincinnati offense against Houston defense
Percentiles are against all FBS teams this season.
Key stats
Each bar is the team’s national rank as a percentile. A longer bar is better, for defense too.
All 98 stats
FBS rankings · 2026 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | ZPR | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical Passer · +0.48 EPA/play | 1 | 8 | 153 / 233 | 65.7 | 2052 #20 FBS | 8.8 | 20 #8 FBS | 2 | 166.3 | 74 | 78.0 | 9.5 | 4.1 | |
Yards by week → Vertical passer· Money-downElite arm talent, pushing downfield. Completion rate is the variable. saves his best for the money downs In the Heisman race — our Heisman model ranks this player #14 right now. This week's matchup — QB Weigman pushes it downfield on every look. Wilson is the one who operates within the system without forcing anything. Season receipt Yards / attempt9.2 89th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts INT rate0.9% 88th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Conner Weigman's full player page | ||||||||||||||
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Stuff% | 10+% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Back · +0.08 EPA/play | 21 | 8 | 117 | 517 #72 FBS | 4.4 | 4 | 18 | 9.4 | 9.4 | |
Yards by week → Balanced backPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Starter — 117 carries and 9 catches in 8 games, more touches a game than most FBS running backs who play every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 134 of 278 classified this way. Played in 8 of 10 games this season · freshman View Makhi Hughes's full player page | ||||||||||
| Balanced Back · +0.17 EPA/play | 6 | 8 | 87 | 447 | 5.1 | 2 | 56 | 12.9 | 11.8 | |
Yards by week → Balanced backPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Starter — 87 carries and 12 catches in 8 games, about as many touches a game as a typical FBS running back who plays every week. This week's matchup — RB II does a little of everything without one standout trait. Young is the one who does a little of everything without one standout trait. Season receipt Yards / carry5.5 56th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Yards / reception12.4 96th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like View Re'Shaun Sanford II's full player page | ||||||||||
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jump-Ball Target · +0.76 EPA/play | — | 8 | 41 | 620 #38 FBS | 15.1 | 6 #23 FBS | 56 | |
Yards by week → Jump-ball target· Money-downWins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons. lives on the sticks and moves the chains Starter — 41 catches in 8 games, more catches a game than most FBS receivers who play every week. This week's matchup — WR Thomas wins the 50-50 ball at the goal line. Jr. is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt TD rate14.6% 80th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Reception volume41 91th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Amare Thomas's full player page | ||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.47 EPA/play | 9 | 8 | 39 | 431 | 11.1 | 7 #17 FBS | 47 | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. Impact starter — 39 catches and 1 carry in 8 games, more catches a game than nearly every FBS tight end who plays every week. 126 of 166 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception11.9 61th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Reception volume39 100th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Patrick Overmyer's full player page | ||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.66 EPA/play | 4 | 8 | 28 | 382 | 13.6 | 2 | 43 | |
Yards by week → Possession receiver· Money-downReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. lives on the sticks and moves the chains 28 catches in 8 games. About as many catches a game as a typical FBS receiver who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 279 of 467 classified this way. Played in 8 of 10 games this season · freshman View Trent Walker's full player page | ||||||||
| Deep Threat · +0.58 EPA/play | 2 | 8 | 18 | 347 | 19.3 | 5 #39 FBS | 48 | |
Yards by week → Deep threat· Money-downStretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play. lives on the sticks and moves the chains 18 catches and 6 carries in 8 games. Fewer catches a game than most FBS receivers who play every week. This week's matchup — WR Young beats you over the top. Jr. is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt Yards / reception17.2 85th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate27.8% 100th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Koby Young's full player page | ||||||||
| +0.88 EPA/play | 87 | 4 | 7 | 90 | 12.9 | 0 | 20 | |
Yards by week → | ||||||||
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Gap Base | 18 | 7 | 27 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
Two-gap baseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. Starter — 27 tackles in 7 games, more tackles a game than most FBS defensive linemen who play every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 276 of 606 classified this way. Played in 7 of 10 games this season · freshman View Khalil Laufau's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 9 | 8 | 21 | 12 | 4.5 | 3 | 3 |
3-tech penetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 21 tackles in 8 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive lineman who plays every week. 200 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate21.4% 71th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Ashton Porter's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 98 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
Nose anchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 130 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight325 lb 93th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Myles Parker's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 90 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Nose anchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 130 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight340 lb 98th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View De'Marion Thomas's full player page | |||||||
| 92 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | 1 | 4 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced linebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. The most common profile in its group this season — 330 of 564 classified this way. Played in 4 of 10 games this season · freshman View Jaden Yates's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 25 | 8 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced linebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 330 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume28 bottom 29th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate0.0% bottom 21th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Carmycah Glass's full player page | |||||||||
| Thumper | 4 | 8 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 8 #50 FBS | 2 | 1 | 0 |
ThumperDownhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 62 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate32.0% 100th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Sack rate8.0% 87th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Brandon Mack's full player page | |||||||||
| Sideline-to-Sideline | 12 | 7 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Sideline-to-sidelineRanges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. 83 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Solo tackle rate0.7 95th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Tackle volume24 bottom 22th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Sione Fotu's full player page | |||||||||
| Thumper | 10 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 #51 FBS |
ThumperDownhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 62 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate13.3% 76th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Sack rate10.0% 95th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Latreveon McCutchin's full player page | |||||||||
| 17 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Nickel | 8 | 8 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Hybrid nickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Starter — 46 tackles in 8 games, about as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 358 of 657 classified this way. Played in 8 of 10 games this season · freshman View Kentrell Webb's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | — | 8 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 5.5 | 2.5 |
Hybrid nickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Starter — 39 tackles in 8 games, about as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. 358 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate12.8% 75th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Javion White's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 2 | 7 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Hybrid nickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 29 tackles in 7 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 358 of 657 classified this way. Played in 7 of 10 games this season · freshman View Jalen Mayo's full player page | |||||||
| Centerfielder | 5 | 8 | 28 | 7 #20 FBS | 2 #51 FBS | 0 | 0 |
CenterfielderSingle-high range who erases the deep middle of the field. 28 tackles in 8 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. 116 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate25.0% 99th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Will James's full player page | |||||||
| Centerfielder | 6 | 8 | 26 | 7 #20 FBS | 2 #51 FBS | 1 | 0 |
CenterfielderSingle-high range who erases the deep middle of the field. 26 tackles in 8 games. Fewer tackles a game than most FBS defensive backs who play every week. 116 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate26.9% 99th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Jordan Allen's full player page | |||||||
| 3 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 8 | 8/9 | 88.9 | 36/37 | 60 | 47 |
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 7 | 20 | 937 | 46.9 | 74 | 10 | 2 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.07 EPA/play | 25 | 6 | 5 | 110 | 22 | 0 | 31 |
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession Receiver · +0.66 EPA/play | 4 | 8 | 7 | 72 | 10.3 | 0 | 33 |
Biggest plays from Houston’s games
Official highlights with our numbers: the plays that moved the chance to win most in Houston’s games this season, whoever made them.
Q4, 2:09 · Utah up 1Devon Dampier runs 9 yards for a touchdownHouston at Utah, week 8Q4, 2:09 · Utah 21, Houston 13▲26%Utah’s chance to win, 70% to 96%▲26%Utah’s chance to win, 70% to 96%D.Dampier rush right for 9 yards gain to the HOU00 touchdown, kick good▶Watch from this play
Q2, 9:52 · Houston up 4Conner Weigman finds Patrick Overmyer for a 2-yard touchdownHouston at Kansas State, week 6Q2, 9:52 · Houston 14, Kansas State 3▲20%Houston’s chance to win, 56% to 76%▲20%Houston’s chance to win, 56% to 76%C.Weigman pass complete short right to P.Overmyer caught at KSTATE00, for 2 yards to the KSTATE00 touchdown, kick good▶Watch from this play
Big 12 Conference
Q4, 11:57 · Utah down 6, takes the leadWayshawn Parker runs 5 yards for a touchdownHouston at Utah, week 8Q4, 11:57 · Utah 14, Houston 13Go-ahead touchdown for Utah in the fourth quarterGo-ahead touchdown for Utah in the fourth quarterW.Parker rush middle for 5 yards gain to the HOU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick good▶Watch from this play
Big 12 Conference
Q1, 9:20 · Houston tiedConner Weigman finds Patrick Overmyer for a 1-yard touchdownHouston at Kansas State, week 6Q1, 9:20 · Houston 7, Kansas State 0Houston opened the scoringHouston opened the scoringC.Weigman pass complete short right to P.Overmyer caught at KSTATE00, for 1 yard to the KSTATE00 touchdown, kick good▶Watch from this play
Big 12 Conference
Q4, 11:57 · Oklahoma State down 11Drew Mestemaker finds Caleb Hawkins for a 66-yard touchdownOklahoma State at Houston, week 7Q4, 11:57 · Oklahoma State 25, Houston 286666-yard touchdown pass6666-yard touchdown pass66-yard touchdown passCaleb Hawkins 66 yd pass from Drew Mestemaker (Drew Mestemaker Pass to Justin Bowick for Two-Point Conversion)▶Watch from this play
Q3, 6:46 · Houston up 3Makhi Hughes runs 2 yards for a touchdownHouston at Utah, week 8Q3, 6:46 · Houston 10, Utah 0▲15%Houston’s chance to win, 58% to 73%▲15%Houston’s chance to win, 58% to 73%M.Hughes rush middle for 2 yards gain to the UTA00 touchdown, kick good▶Watch from this play
How scary each game got
Houston lost at Utah after being 86% to win; the closest win was against UCF, down to 5%
Tap a game for its score and win chances.
Each bar runs from the lowest to the highest chance our model gave Houston during that game; the thick mark is where it started. Numbers are the game week.
Stat leaders
2026 stat leaders · Houston
through 8 gamesAmare Thomas leads Houston with 620 receiving yards through 8 games.
Roster
Roster
2026+13 more
Recruiting and the portal: top commits · who's gone and who's back
How they play
Houston fields an elite methodical, ball-control offense behind a porous defense, though it gives up the big play.
Percentile vs all FBS, based on this season's per-game production. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Player percentiles
Houston reads strongest in success rate (top 1%) and passing EPA (top 2%); the crux lives in explosive plays, where Houston sits at the 10th percentile.
Offense · strengths lead
Defense · higher bar = harder to play against
Hidden math · special situations
Home-field advantage · 2018–present · FBS opponents
Houston has had no measurable home edge: −0.6 points, home against road.
No measurable home edge, 0th percentile of 133 programs
55% at home, 56% away against FBS opponents since 2018 (24-20 home, 27-21 away). Interval ±3.6.
The stadium and how the home edge is measured
Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge. The books use about 3. Per-team versions were tested and did not hold up (why). Against the closing line, Houston has beaten the number by −3.0 more at home than away over 97 games. That is inside the ±5.8 that many games can resolve, so the results cannot tell this stadium from the flat number. That is the honest reading of nearly every FBS stadium.
TDECU Stadium seats 40,000 and has averaged 76% full (30,501, 29 games reported). Visitors cover a median 487 miles to get here since 2018 — 57th-longest of 135 FBS venues, inside the ordinary range. For the home side it is genuinely home ground: 42% of the 2026 roster (49 of 117 located players) grew up inside 100 miles of the stadium.
Edge = half the gap between average home margin and average road margin, FBS opponents only, non-neutral games since 2018; the interval is 95%. Market line: closing spread, seasons with lines on file. Trip length is straight-line miles from the visiting team's campus to the venue, measured across all 49 home games since 2018.
More in this tab
How they play
Usage splits
How the players get used
From the 2025 season's play-by-play
- Money downAmare Thomas is a legitimate money-down target: his 3rd-down conversion rate ranks among the position's best, and his per-target value holds up in that spot too.
- Garbage timeDJ Butler sees a real spike in usage once the game is out of reach, and his efficiency in competitive snaps sits below the position baseline: the numbers lean on the opponent giving up.
- Deep threatTanner Koziol is used almost exclusively underneath: a low share of his targets are downfield shots.
Position battles
RB room
The carries are split. The job isn’t.
Makhi Hughes and Re'Shaun Sanford II split the carries (116/201 vs 85/201) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Makhi Hughes gets the goal line.
See it develop week by week
Inside-the-5 share, week by week (weeks both players actually played the role)
WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Amare Thomas (WR) and Patrick Overmyer (TE) split the targets (58/108 vs 50/108) -- but the job isn't split the same way.
Scheme claims
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Houston actually scores
89th percentile quality, 2nd percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 76th | 3rd |
| Akron | 9th | 90th |
| Alabama | 82nd | 22nd |
| App State | 41st | 48th |
| Arizona | 91st | 16th |
| Arizona State | 20th | 83rd |
| Arkansas | 7th | 93rd |
| Arkansas State | 60th | 32nd |
| Army | 95th | 10th |
| Auburn | 34th | 59th |
| BYU | 83rd | 17th |
| Ball State | 32nd | 72nd |
| Baylor | 36th | 63rd |
| Boise State | 96th | 4th |
| Boston College | 20th | 80th |
| Buffalo | 8th | 88th |
| Central Michigan | 6th | 96th |
| Cincinnati | 88th | 15th |
| Clemson | 10th | 92nd |
| Coastal Carolina | 49th | 57th |
| Colorado | 15th | 86th |
| Colorado State | 88th | 30th |
| Delaware | 63rd | 40th |
| Duke | 74th | 8th |
| East Carolina | 24th | 77th |
| Eastern Michigan | 14th | 80th |
| Florida | 75th | 37th |
| Florida Atlantic | 72nd | 25th |
| Florida International | 2nd | 98th |
| Florida State | 64th | 44th |
| Fresno State | 56th | 52nd |
| Georgia | 92nd | 11th |
| Georgia Southern | 52nd | 40th |
| Georgia State | 77th | 36th |
| Georgia Tech | 30th | 70th |
| Hawai'i | 12th | 88th |
| Houston | 89th | 2nd |
| Illinois | 70th | 38th |
| Indiana | 85th | 18th |
| Iowa | 52nd | 53rd |
| Iowa State | 43rd | 62nd |
| Jacksonville State | 62nd | 41st |
| James Madison | 58th | 35th |
| Kansas | 28th | 66th |
| Kansas State | 48th | 44th |
| Kennesaw State | 23rd | 79th |
| Kentucky | 71st | 21st |
| LSU | 86th | 9th |
| Liberty | 78th | 29th |
| Louisiana | 27th | 69th |
| Louisiana Tech | 60th | 47th |
| Louisville | 94th | 19th |
| Marshall | 36th | 61st |
| Maryland | 17th | 85th |
| Massachusetts | 38th | 60th |
| Memphis | 87th | 20th |
| Miami | 100th | 0th |
| Miami (OH) | 68th | 31st |
| Michigan | 25th | 71st |
| Middle Tennessee | 37th | 60th |
| Minnesota | 4th | 95th |
| Mississippi State | 35th | 65th |
| Missouri | 54th | 49th |
| Missouri State | 40th | 64th |
| NC State | 69th | 28th |
| Navy | 57th | 51st |
| Nebraska | 59th | 32nd |
| Nevada | 1st | 99th |
| New Mexico | 39th | 68th |
| North Carolina | 48th | 45th |
| North Dakota State | 31st | 64th |
| North Texas | 99th | 1st |
| Northern Illinois | 12th | 89th |
| Northwestern | 93rd | 6th |
| Notre Dame | 97th | 5th |
| Ohio | 67th | 43rd |
| Ohio State | 79th | 23rd |
| Oklahoma State | 76th | 14th |
| Ole Miss | 80th | 8th |
| Oregon | 28th | 72nd |
| Oregon State | 92nd | 13th |
| Penn State | 47th | 48th |
| Pittsburgh | 44th | 50th |
| Purdue | 65th | 34th |
| Rice | 18th | 87th |
| Rutgers | 32nd | 76th |
| SMU | 81st | 16th |
| San Diego State | 5th | 94th |
| San José State | 13th | 84th |
| South Alabama | 64th | 27th |
| South Carolina | 55th | 54th |
| South Florida | 42nd | 56th |
| Southern Miss | 3rd | 97th |
| Stanford | 53rd | 55th |
| Syracuse | 24th | 74th |
| TCU | 21st | 75th |
| Temple | 56th | 56th |
| Tennessee | 45th | 42nd |
| Texas | 11th | 91st |
| Texas A&M | 16th | 78th |
| Texas State | 90th | 12th |
| Texas Tech | 50th | 46th |
| Toledo | 84th | 24th |
| Troy | 8th | 92nd |
| Tulane | 33rd | 73rd |
| Tulsa | 68th | 28th |
| UAB | 16th | 81st |
| UCF | 19th | 82nd |
| UCLA | 61st | 36th |
| UConn | 84th | 26th |
| UNLV | 44th | 67th |
| USC | 80th | 12th |
| UTSA | 72nd | 20th |
| Utah | 96th | 7th |
| Utah State | 0th | 100th |
| Vanderbilt | 26th | 76th |
| Virginia | 51st | 39th |
| Virginia Tech | 66th | 33rd |
| Wake Forest | 98th | 4th |
| Washington | 40th | 58th |
| West Virginia | 73rd | 24th |
| Western Kentucky | 4th | 96th |
| Western Michigan | 29th | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 22nd | 84th |
| Wyoming | 46th | 52nd |
Houston’s 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 69th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it drops to the 62nd — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Houston hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
87th percentile success on standard downs, 99th on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 98th | 23rd |
| Akron | 58th | 34th |
| Alabama | 77th | 57th |
| App State | 33rd | 49th |
| Arizona | 76th | 94th |
| Arizona State | 38th | 61st |
| Arkansas | 71st | 24th |
| Arkansas State | 85th | 59th |
| Army | 93rd | 58th |
| Auburn | 14th | 69th |
| BYU | 86th | 35th |
| Ball State | 31st | 52nd |
| Baylor | 15th | 46th |
| Boise State | 77th | 92nd |
| Boston College | 63rd | 28th |
| Bowling Green | 43rd | 21st |
| Buffalo | 9th | 11th |
| California | 11th | 20th |
| Central Michigan | 36th | 9th |
| Charlotte | 18th | 41st |
| Cincinnati | 68th | 83rd |
| Clemson | 7th | 39th |
| Coastal Carolina | 23rd | 64th |
| Colorado | 16th | 65th |
| Colorado State | 66th | 95th |
| Delaware | 59th | 64th |
| Duke | 21st | 67th |
| East Carolina | 37th | 19th |
| Eastern Michigan | 16th | 30th |
| Florida | 61st | 70th |
| Florida Atlantic | 67th | 87th |
| Florida International | 20th | 53rd |
| Florida State | 30th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 25th | 84th |
| Gardner-Webb | 5th | 23rd |
| Georgia | 98th | 89th |
| Georgia Southern | 60th | 71st |
| Georgia State | 68th | 66th |
| Georgia Tech | 53rd | 40th |
| Hawai'i | 48th | 29th |
| Houston | 87th | 99th |
| Illinois | 73rd | 91st |
| Indiana | 55th | 44th |
| Iowa | 79th | 13th |
| Iowa State | 18th | 31st |
| Jacksonville State | 82nd | 80th |
| James Madison | 45th | 77th |
| Kansas | 52nd | 18th |
| Kansas State | 64th | 68th |
| Kennesaw State | 61st | 16th |
| Kent State | 5th | 21st |
| Kentucky | 90th | 51st |
| LSU | 86th | 98th |
| Liberty | 93rd | 78th |
| Louisiana | 36th | 66th |
| Louisiana Tech | 26th | 79th |
| Louisville | 95th | 72nd |
| Maine | 0th | 86th |
| Marshall | 69th | 32nd |
| Maryland | 34th | 26th |
| Massachusetts | 35th | 38th |
| Memphis | 92nd | 93rd |
| Mercyhurst | 2nd | 34th |
| Miami | 99th | 95th |
| Miami (OH) | 50th | 43rd |
| Michigan | 10th | 89th |
| Michigan State | 23rd | 55th |
| Middle Tennessee | 27th | 64th |
| Minnesota | 32nd | 4th |
| Mississippi State | 66th | 59th |
| Missouri | 34th | 41st |
| Missouri State | 52nd | 30th |
| NC State | 62nd | 77th |
| Navy | 89th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 46th | 85th |
| Nevada | 28th | 27th |
| New Mexico | 55th | 48th |
| New Mexico State | 14th | 36th |
| Norfolk State | 7th | 0th |
| North Carolina | 89th | 73rd |
| North Dakota State | 30th | 45th |
| North Texas | 95th | 84th |
| Northern Illinois | 51st | 14th |
| Northwestern | 88th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 100th | 43rd |
| Ohio | 82nd | 42nd |
| Ohio State | 84th | 80th |
| Oklahoma | 4th | 50th |
| Oklahoma State | 96th | 86th |
| Old Dominion | 1st | 36th |
| Ole Miss | 81st | 94th |
| Oregon | 39th | 26th |
| Oregon State | 97th | 70th |
| Penn State | 20th | 47th |
| Pittsburgh | 65th | 50th |
| Purdue | 57th | 82nd |
| Rice | 59th | 14th |
| Robert Morris | 2nd | 5th |
| Rutgers | 42nd | 81st |
| SMU | 91st | 82nd |
| Sacramento State | 13th | 6th |
| Sam Houston | 11th | 37th |
| San Diego State | 8th | 54th |
| San José State | 17th | 2nd |
| South Alabama | 44th | 74th |
| South Carolina | 70th | 56th |
| South Florida | 84th | 57th |
| Southern Miss | 48th | 7th |
| Stanford | 40th | 9th |
| Syracuse | 57th | 39th |
| TCU | 70th | 10th |
| Temple | 50th | 68th |
| Tennessee | 75th | 12th |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 46th | 55th |
| Texas State | 74th | 100th |
| Texas Tech | 64th | 76th |
| Toledo | 73rd | 52nd |
| Troy | 39th | 15th |
| Tulane | 12th | 8th |
| Tulsa | 49th | 7th |
| UAB | 24th | 62nd |
| UCF | 29th | 45th |
| UCLA | 80th | 60th |
| UConn | 72nd | 73rd |
| UL Monroe | 47th | 11th |
| UNLV | 41st | 19th |
| USC | 79th | 97th |
| UT Martin | 6th | 3rd |
| UTEP | 9th | 1st |
| UTSA | 91st | 33rd |
| Utah | 94th | 98th |
| Utah State | 3rd | 76th |
| Vanderbilt | 41st | 32nd |
| Virginia | 83rd | 2nd |
| Virginia Tech | 43rd | 91st |
| Wake Forest | 75th | 96th |
| Washington | 56th | 16th |
| Washington State | 19th | 5th |
| West Virginia | 54th | 75th |
| Western Kentucky | 22nd | 25th |
| Western Michigan | 32nd | 27th |
| Wisconsin | 25th | 22nd |
| Wyoming | 78th | 48th |
Houston by half
1st-half offense ranks 78th percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 95th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
How much of Houston’s number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 10 is 0.33; 95th percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.12. The widest gap came in week 3: 0.54 raw vs. 0.07 adjusted.
Tendency drift
How Houston’s current staff calls plays, year over year
Pass defense by zone
What this team throws, and gives up, by depth.
On short throws (≤19 air yards), Houston’s passing game completes a completion rate above the FBS mean (67.4% vs 67.0% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 214-play sample) — mid-pack, 74 of 136 qualifying offenses.
On short throws (≤19 air yards), Houston’s defense allows a completion rate above the FBS mean (67.4% vs 66.3% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 204-play sample) — mid-pack, 93 of 137 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball (20+ air yards) leaderboard here, on either side of the ball: even a full season of charted plays gives most teams well under 30 deep attempts — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess. Same refusal for yards-after-catch allowed and where a team’s attempts land by zone: both measured and both came back statistically indistinguishable from season-to-season noise.
Havoc & trenches
Disruption, run-blocking, and down-and-distance efficiency.
Turnover luck
56% recovery rate on their own fumbles — well above the ~52% league baseline.
5 of 9 own fumbles recovered themselves; 4 of 8 forced fumbles recovered, 2026 only.
Takeaways
17% of tipped/broken-up passes have turned into picks — about the ~18% league average.
8 interceptions of 47 disrupted passes (39 deflected, 8 intercepted), 2026 only.
Penalties
51 penalties committed, 52 drawn on opponents — a near-even trade all season.
449 penalty yards committed vs. 425 drawn on opponents, 2026 season total.
Ratings and comparisons
Ratings
Comparable teams
Most similar programs · Houston
Reads like
Matched on how the programs are built — tier, prestige band, kind of fanbase, conference, voice and roster size — not on this season's stats. A calibration, not a prediction.
Weather
TDECU Stadium, Houston, TX
Usual during the game around Nov 7: 69°, between 58° and 80° in about 7 in 10 games (32 games since 2016).
Road games since 2016: the middle game was 68°, and 8 in 10 ran between 49° and 85° (50 of 54 road games, at stadiums we cover).
What a usual Saturday feels like here, by kickoff time
Airport readings near each stadium during the game, not on the field. How we measure
Weather observations: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet at Iowa State University. Rain: NOAA MRMS radar and CoCoRaHS volunteer gauges (CC BY 4.0). Game data: CollegeFootballData.com.