On September 3rd at 11 A.M., Reliant Stadium will be painted red and white as the Houston Cougars and Oklahoma Sooners meet to kick of their seasons. With both teams coming off a conference championship season and both starting quarterbacks on multiple preseason award watch lists, the fireworks are sure to be flying from start to finish.
Oklahoma is coming off an impressive season in which they were able to produce their first ever College Football Playoff berth. Led by AP Second Team All American quarterback and Lake Travis grad Baker Mayfield, the Sooners were ranked 7th in total offense and 3rd in points per game in their 2015 campaign. Though the Sooners (and the rest of the Big 12) are typically known for these dynamic offensive performances, the Oklahoma defense was able to hold teams to a respectable 20.8 points per game; good enough to crack the top 25.
On the other side of the ball, the Cougars had their best season since Kevin Sumlin was at the helm in 2011. Behind the arm and legs of 2015 Ear Campbell Award winner and former John Tyler quarterback Greg Ward Jr., the Cougar offense scored 40.6 points per game, good enough for 20th in the nation in total offense. Their defense was strong in points per game allowed (20.5), but the real story was their ability to create turnovers. Houston forced 35 turnovers last year, which gave them the second best turnover margin in the country at +21.
While the Greg Ward Jr. versus Baker Mayfield story is sure to draw plenty of attention from football fans across the nation, there are other familiar faces that are sure to have an impact on the outcome of the game. Pflugerville Hendrickson product Semaje Perine has had an incredible first two years with Oklahoma. He’s posted 1,000+ yards rushing in each of his two seasons as Oklahoma’s starter, and he shows no signs on slowing down. The experienced back will play an important role, and will definitely make the Cougars worry about more than Mayfield’s throwing.
Oklahoma has some battle-tested veterans on their squad, but Houston has some big-time transfers that will be looking to make a difference come September 3rd. Former Eisenhower/UT running back Duke Catalon and former Dallas Skyline/Oklahoma State wide receiver Ra’Shaad Samples will be eligible for the Cougars this year, and both could make an immediate impact in this game.
The QBs are the headliners of this heavyweight fight, but the two defenses have a few stars of their own. Former Cedar Hill outside linebacker Steven Taylor is coming off a great season with the Cougars, and he still has a ways to go. After his impressive year, Taylor has been named to both the Nagurski and Butkus awards preseason watch lists. For Oklahoma, the most important thing will be rebuilding their run defense. Last year Oklahoma finished 9th in defensive pass efficiency, but wasn’t able to crack the top 50 in rush defense. Former South Garland standout and starting defensive lineman Charles Walker will need to be a force on the inside if the Sooners are going to succeed. Walker was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team last year and will be looking to pick up right where he left off.
While a loss won’t ruin either team’s season, this high-profile game is a perfect opportunity for both teams to make a statement to the College Football world.
