Game recap, analysis: Houston beats Utah in Big 12 college football matchup
The Houston Cougars and Utah Utes came into Saturday's Big 12 football matchup hoping to get their struggling offensives back on track.
That didn't happen, but the Cougars did enough to pull out a 17-14 victory.
The Cougars came into the game with the worst scoring offense in Division I-A college football (13.7 points per game) and the Utes were averaging just 12.0 points in their last three games. The offensive performance has been so bad for Utah that offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig stepped down on Sunday and was replaced by Mike Bajakian.
Read our full game recap below, including big-play highlights, in-game analysis and more from the Cougars victory over the Utes.
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Fourth Quarter Updates
Final score: Houston 17, Utah 14
Houston field goal! For the win! Jack Martin drills a 43-yard field goal at the gun to give Houston a 17-14 homecoming victory! Houston just won a game where they passed for 61 yards. The Cougars are now 3-5 and 2-3 in the Big 12.
Ice in his veins! ❄️@jack_martin0055 pic.twitter.com/xFm7cPbwSa
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 27, 2024
Houston is running out the clock and setting up for a potential game-winning field goal.
Houston interception! AJ Haulcy picks off Utah quarterback Brandon Rose to give Houston the ball at their own 46-yard line with 1:55 left in the game.
Houston touchdown! Zeon Chriss throws a strike to Joseph Manjack IV on a slant and he takes it 28 yards to the house to tie the game at 14-14 with 8:35 to play.
Quick strike ⚡️ Quick score @zeonchriss » @JosephManjack pic.twitter.com/UzjqgF0hOX
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 27, 2024
With 10 minutes left in the game, Houston trails 14-7 and has 33 yards passing. Again, if you took the under you're in great shape.
Third Quarter Updates
End of third quarter: Utah 14, Houston 7
Utah touchdown: Three plays after the interception, Micah Bernard explodes up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown run to give Utah a 14-7 lead with 5:05 left in the third quarter.
Utah interception: Johnathan Hall picks off a Zeon Chriss pass and returns it to Houston's 22-yard line.
Utah QB change: Isaac Wilson is out as Utah's quarterback and Brandon Rose is in. Wilson appeared to hurt his wrist in the first half.
Houston turnover on downs: The Cougars fail to score on another 1st-and-goal situation. This time J'Marion Burnette gets stuffed on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Utah takes over with 11:49 left in the third quarter. It's still Utah 7, Houston 7. If you took the under in this game, you're probably safe.
Houston big play! Ater Houston's defense forces a three-and-out, J'Marion Burnette busts loose for a 54-yard run to give Houston first-and-goal at Utah's 7-yard line.
Utah will start with the ball to begin the second half.
Halftime Stats
Houston has struggled to move the ball (99 total yards), but the Cougars' defense came up with a huge turnover that eventually led to their only touchdown. Zeon Chriss is 4-of-7 for 26 yards and a touchdown. Stacy Sneed has rushed 5 times for 28 yards and J'Marion Burnette has rushed 5 times for 27 yards.
Utah has moved the ball effectively (219 yards), but is only 1-of-7 on third down and has missed two field goals. True freshman QB Isaac Wilson has been efficient, going 12-of-18 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Utah's leading rusher, Micah Bernard, has struggled to find space (7 rushes for 23 yards).
Second Quarter Updates
Halftime score: Utah 7, Houston 7
Utah missed FG: Cole Becker misses another field goal, this one from 52 yards. It comes up just short with five seconds left in the first half.
Utah missed FG: Cole Becker misses a 46-yard field goal wide right. Houston takes over at its own 28-yard line with 4:20 left in the first half. Still 7-7.
Houston touchdown! Zeon Chriss throws a 21-yard dime to Stephon Johnson to tie the game at 7-7 with 12 minutes left in the first half.
Pinpoint accuracy 🎯@zeonchriss » @BoogieCO22 pic.twitter.com/NC6Q5yPl06
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 26, 2024
Houston turnover on downs: The Cougars can't capitalize on the turnover and great field position as Utah stuffs Houston on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Utes take over with 14:31 left in the first half. Utah still leads 7-0.
First Quarter Updates
End of first quarter: Utah 7, Houston 0
Houston fumble recovery! The Cougars defense makes a huge play as Latreveon McCutchin sacks Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson and forces a fumble that pops right into the arms of Keith Cooper Jr., who returns it to Utah's 29-yard line. Still 7-0 Utah.
Utah touchdown: After Houston goes three-and-out to start the game, Utah scores on its second play from scrimmage on a 71-yard TD pass from Isaac Wilson to Brant Kuithe. Utah leads 7-0 with 12:39 left in the first quarter. Good start for Utah's new offensive coordinator, Mike Bajakian.
Brant Kuithe. Know the name.#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/xHDBtdQ66u
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 26, 2024
Houston will start with the ball and Zeon Chriss is behind center.
Pregame Updates
It's safe to say TDECU Stadium is nowhere near capacity. Not a great homecoming crowd.
Sparse crowd for Utah-Houston. pic.twitter.com/xRpPzmmUos
— Joe Coles (@JoeAColes) October 26, 2024
It's homecoming week in Houston and the Cougars are hoping for a capacity crowd. We'll see what it looks like closer to the 6 p.m. CT kickoff. The weather is perfect with the temperature hovering around 86 degrees.
The Cougars have arrived at TDECU Stadium 🫡#GoCoogs | @budlight pic.twitter.com/jwLWmMajG6
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 26, 2024
More Houston & Big 12 Analysis
Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.