Houston was one of four new teams in the Big 12 in 2024, and just like the other three, it failed to finish the season better than .500. Unlike the other schools, Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen got the boot after a disappointing 4-8 season, and the Coogs went out and got Tulane head coach Willie Fritz.
Now, entering his first season at the helm, Fritz will be charged with picking up the pieces left behind by Holgorsen’s regime and building a football team out of it. With just 10 total starters returning, that will be easier said than done.
But the cupboards aren’t totally bare, and Fritz has proven himself one of the top coaches in college football over the last several years with the Green Wave.
So, what should you expect from UH in 2024? Let’s take a look.
Houston Offense: Donovan Smith, Parker Jenkins Return in Backfield
The good news for the Houston offense is that Donovan Smith is returning at quarterback after putting up over 3,200 total yards and 28 scores in his first year with the Cougars. The bad news is that he’s likely going to be building new report with the weapons around him after losing several major pieces to the transfer portal.
The portal exodus after Dana Holgorsen was fired was profound, with names like Matthew Golden, Sam Brown, and Tyler Johnson all leaving significant holes for the Cougars to fill on the offensive side of the ball. The answer to their offensive woes may be portal additions like Mekhi Mews (Georgia), Maliq Carr (Michigan State), but returning skill talents like Parker Jenkings and Joseph Manjack should give Smith some familiar faces to gain confidence with.
Along the offensive line, Houston must overcome the loss of four starters, including three-time All-Conference left tackle Patrick Paul. Tank Jenkins returns at one of the guard spots, but the rest of the OL will be new starters and could take some time to gel.
Related: For Houston to Shock the Big 12, It Starts with Donovan Smith
Houston Defense: New Faces All Over the Field
Like the offensive side of the ball, Houston has some work to do after losing a majority of its production from an underwhelming unit in 2023.
Up front, the Coogs lost all four starters with Nelson Ceasar, Jamaree Caldwell, Chidozie Nwankwo, and David Ugwoegbu all gone. However, they do add some experienced pieces in the portal with Tulane DE Keith Cooper and JUCO transfer Xavier Stillman leading the way.
Jamal Morris returns after ranking third on the team in tackles a season ago, but the entire linebacker room around him is made up of new faces. Hershey McLaurin (West Virginia), Brandon Mack (Ole Miss), and Corey Platt (Tulane) appear to be the names most likely to flank Morris at the second level, but Kendre Gant and Michael Batton could be important additions as well.
In the secondary, Houston loses Isaiah Hamilton and several other players with starting experience, but added some big pieces in the portal like Bryan Massey (SMU), Kentrell Webb (Tulane), and Jeremiah Wilson (Syracuse). Latrell McCutchin should help after redshirting in ’23, plus AJ Haulcy is back after starting 12 games with 98 tackles a season ago.
The defense should be improved despite their losses, but it could take a bit to see the unit come together considering their start to the nonconference slate.
Houston Special Teams: Martin Returns, Aussie Arrives
Houston returns senior kicker Jack Martin and should get improved production from him after he went 8-14 (L/44) on field goals, 34-34 on XP, and has 21 touchbacks on 51 kickoff attempts. Meanwhile, the Coogs lose starting punter Laine Wilkens but have Australian punter Liam Doughtery coming in to take over duties at that position. The loss of Matthew Golden might hurt the return game, but otherwise, the Cougars should be improved on special teams.
Prediction: UH Finds Glimmers of Hope in 4-8 Campaign
Perspective is everything, and the Houston fan base is going to realize that at the end of the 2024 season. Last year, 4-8 got the head coach fired, but this year, it will give the folks in H-Town a lot to be excited about. Houston’s schedule is brutal, with Oklahoma in the non-con and a six-game stretch in Big 12 play that includes Iowa State, at TCU, at Kansas, Utah, Kansas State, and at Arizona. It’s going to be a rebuilding year for this program, but Willie Fritz’s group will be in some games late and could spring an upset or two somewhere down the line. Either way, I think this team is headed in an upward trajectory in 2024, even if its record at the end of the season doesn’t appear to indicate that.
Related: Predicting Every Game of the 2024 Big 12 Football Season
