Mandatory Credit: Photo by Eric Gay/AP/Shutterstock (13400651w) Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs against UTSA during an NCAA college football game, in Austin, Texas UTSA Texas Football, Austin, United States – 18 Sep 2022
Taylor McHargue: 3 things to look out for in college football this weekend
- Houston Opens Conference Play – A 2-2 start to the season would have created frustration from Houston fans either way, but the way the Cougars have arrived at this point is what is driving UH fans crazy. Houston currently sits at 43 total penalties through 4 games which puts them dead last in all of college football. They were also a 4th and 20 in OT away from winning at Texas Tech before ultimately losing that game, followed by their home loss to Kansas. The win this past week against Rice certainly did not put the concerns from the first three games to bed as Houston was again plagued by penalties, so much so that it almost allowed Rice to tie the game on the last play. Even with all of that, the Cougars have a chance Friday night on national television to get their first conference win of the season against a Tulane team that just lost to Southern Miss at home. A convincing win Friday night would go a long way to easing the early season doubt cast on the Cougars in the month of September.
- Texas Needs a Win – The loss in Lubbock was, predictably, so on brand for Texas we should have all seen it coming. There were multiple opportunities for the Horns to put this game to bed late in the second half, but virtually everything went Texas Tech’s way en route to their overtime win. This week Texas plays host to West Virginia in what is an early season must-win for the Longhorns. I know that may sound dramatic, but a second straight loss headed into the Red River Rivalry and we may be looking at another season of the Horns battling to get to .500.
- How Real is TCU? – If you watched the first half in the Horned Frogs opener against Colorado you would have had serious doubts about their ability to score on anyone. Fast forward three weeks and TCU looks to have made significant strides on that side of the ball, specifically with Max Duggan back at QB. TCU jumped all over SMU early before totaling nearly 500 yards of offense for the game. Now we get a look at just how serious this TCU team will be in 2022 as they play host to Oklahoma fresh off the Sooners loss to Kansas State. If TCU were to win this game (TCU currently is almost a touchdown underdog) it would vault them into consideration as a legitimate contender in the Big 12 in Sonny Dykes first year in Ft. Worth.
