The 2022 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the American Athletic Conference (The American). They were led by 4th-year head coach Dana Holgorsen. In September 2021, Houston and fellow conference members Cincinnati and UCF accepted bids to join the Big 12 Conference. The schools had been contractually required to remain with The American through 2024, but all reached a separation agreement that allowed them to join the Big 12 in 2023. Accordingly, the 2022 season was the program's final season as a member of The American.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Maxwell Award Clayton Tune QB Sr. Nathaniel Dell WR Jr. Davey O'Brien Award Clayton Tune QB Sr. Fred Biletnikoff Award Nathaniel Dell WR Jr. John Mackey Award Christian Trahan TE Sr. Butkus Award Donavan Mutin LB Sr. Jim Thorpe Award Gervarrius Owens S Sr. Outland Trophy Patrick Paul OT So. Bronko Nagurski Trophy Gervarrius Owens S Sr. Ray Guy Award Laine Wilkins P So. Wuerffel Trophy Donavan Mutin LB Sr. Chuck Bednarik Award Gervarrius Owens S Sr. Lombardi Award Patrick Paul OT So. Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Clayton Tune QB Sr. Manning Award Clayton Tune QB Sr. Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Clayton Tune QB Sr.
AAC preseason media poll The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 28, 2022. The Cougars were picked to win the conference, edging defending conference champion Cincinnati by one vote.
Schedule
Schedule Source:
Game summaries
At UTSA
Statistics HoustonUTSA First downs 20 24 Plays–yards 76–346 73–441 Rushes–yards 44–140 28–104 Passing yards 206 337 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–0 28–43–1 Time of possession 35:27 24:33 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/32, 206 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Clayton Tune 15 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nathaniel Dell 5 receptions, 50 yards, 2 TDsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 28/43, 337 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Frank Harris 8 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD
At Texas Tech
Statistics HoustonTexas Tech First downs 16 35 Plays–yards 68–354 103–468 Rushes–yards 29–88 44–117 Passing yards 266 351 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–39–1 36–59–3 Time of possession 22:42 37:18 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 20/39, 266 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Brandon Campbell 16 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nathaniel Dell 7 receptions, 120 yardsTexas Tech Passing Donovan Smith 36/59, 351 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Tahj Brooks 18 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Myles Price 5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
Kansas
Statistics KansasHouston First downs 24 26 Plays–yards 66–438 70–446 Rushes–yards 43–280 39–174 Passing yards 158 272 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–23–0 22–31–1 Time of possession 31:27 28:33 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Jalon Daniels 14/23, 158 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Jalon Daniels 12 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Torry Locklin 1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TDHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Clayton Tune 16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ta'Zhawn Henry 5 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD
Rice (Bayou Bucket Classic)
Statistics RiceHouston First downs 22 19 Plays–yards 65–424 58–427 Rushes–yards 25–90 32–178 Passing yards 334 249 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–40–1 19–26–1 Time of possession 29:55 30:05 Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing T. J. McMahon 25/39, 334 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kobie Campbell 1 carry, 34 yards Receiving Bradley Rozner 5 receptions, 123 yardsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 19/26, 249 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Ta'Zhawn Henry 17 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nathaniel Dell 7 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD
Tulane
Statistics TulaneHouston First downs 14 22 Plays–yards 54–273 81–383 Rushes–yards 28–84 48–175 Passing yards 189 208 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–0 22–33–0 Time of possession 23:05 36:55 Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Kai Horton 11/21, 132 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Tyjae Spears 14 carries, 54 yards Receiving Tyjae Spears 6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TDHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/33, 208 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Brandon Campbell 19 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nathaniel Dell 8 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
At Memphis
Statistics HoustonMemphis First downs 25 25 Plays–yards 80–463 75–438 Rushes–yards 23–97 41–156 Passing yards 366 282 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–57–1 21–32–0 Time of possession 26:22 33:38 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 36/57, 366 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Brandon Campbell 12 carries, 53 yards Receiving Sam Brown 9 receptions, 116 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 21/32, 241 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jevyon Ducker 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Gabriel Rogers 5 receptions, 71 yards
At Navy
Statistics HoustonNavy First downs 23 16 Plays–yards 64–441 63–326 Rushes–yards 34–180 50–201 Passing yards 261 125 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–0 6–13–2 Time of possession 28:12 31:48 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 21/30, 261 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Stacy Sneed 20 carries, 100 yards Receiving Nathaniel Dell 8 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 6/13, 125 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Daba Fofana 20 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayden Umbarger 2 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
South Florida
Statistics South FloridaHouston First downs 25 23 Plays–yards 65–429 64–490 Rushes–yards 31–154 25–103 Passing yards 275 387 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–34–0 33–39–0 Time of possession 29:53 30:07 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Florida Passing Katravis Marsh 24/34, 275 yards, 1 TD Rushing Brian Battie 12 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Xavier Weaver 7 receptions, 84 yardsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 31/37, 380 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Stacy Sneed 10 carries, 60 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Nathaniel Dell 9 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TDs
At SMU
Statistics HoustonSMU First downs 34 31 Plays–yards 71–710 83–642 Rushes–yards 17–182 46–263 Passing yards 528 379 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 37–54–3 28–37–0 Time of possession 28:28 31:32 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 36/53, 527 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Clayton Tune 12 rushes, 111 yards, 1 TD Receiving Nathaniel Dell 13 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TDsSMU Passing Tanner Mordecai 28/37, 379 yards, 9 TDs Rushing Tyler Lavine 25 rushes, 146 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dylan Goffney 3 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Temple
Statistics TempleHouston First downs 33 25 Plays–yards 85–533 66–485 Rushes–yards 26–47 26–196 Passing yards 486 289 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 42–59–0 29–40–1 Time of possession 31:44 28:16 Team Category Player StatisticsTemple Passing E.J. Warner 42/59, 486 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Darvon Hubbard 4 carries, 26 yards Receiving Jose Barbon 8 receptions, 128 yardsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 29/40, 289 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Stacy Sneed 11 carries, 143 yards Receiving Nathaniel Dell 12 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD
At East Carolina
Statistics HoustonEast Carolina First downs 27 13 Plays–yards 68–515 57–315 Rushes–yards 24–80 22–118 Passing yards 435 197 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–44–1 17–35–0 Time of possession 30:42 29:18 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 32/44, 435 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Clayton Tune 6 carries, 43 yards Receiving Nathaniel Dell 9 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TDEast Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 15/30, 182 yards Rushing Keaton Mitchell 14 carries, 129 yards Receiving Jsi Hatfield 2 receptions, 68 yards
Tulsa
Statistics TulsaHouston First downs 19 24 Plays–yards 75–431 70–506 Rushes–yards 32–115 23–120 Passing yards 316 386 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–43–0 26–47–1 Time of possession 29:37 30:23 Team Category Player StatisticsTulsa Passing Braylon Braxton 25/43, 316 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Braylon Braxton 11 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD Receiving JuanCarlos Santana 6 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 26/47, 386 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Ta'Zhawn Henry 9 carries, 54 yards Receiving Nathaniel Dell 9 receptions, 161 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Louisiana (Independence Bowl)
Statistics HoustonLouisiana First downs 21 21 Total yards 363 323 Rushing yards 139 129 Passing yards 224 194 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 30:19 29:41
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 19/28, 224 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Clayton Tune 11 carries, 55 yards Receiving KeSean Carter 4 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 17/25, 169 yards, 1 TD Rushing Chris Smith 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Lance Legendre 5 receptions, 56 yards
Awards and milestones
Rankings
References