USF Athletics

Louk's Closer Look: 7-0 Bulls Set for Tough Test at Houston

October 25, 2018

USF GAME NOTES
 
 
By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls
 
TAMPA, OCT. 25, 2018 - For the second consecutive year, the Bulls have started 7-0.  That's the best start (again) in program history.
 
In 2017, it was Houston that handed the Bulls their first loss, and USF will try to avenge that game this Saturday.
 
Again last week, there was some angst over how the Bulls won, as they played a close game against a one-win team. But once again, USF emerged victorious, and the Bulls are now one of five unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS.  Houston, at 6-1, will most likely be USF's toughest challenge of the season so far.  Saturday's game starts a five-game stretch against much more successful teams, so we'll start to find out quickly how the Bulls will respond.
 
Here are a few notes on Saturday's game, and the somewhat brief series history between the Bulls and the Cougars:
 

• Houston leads the all-time series, 3-2, and the Cougars have won the last three meetings. USF's wins came in Tampa in 2001 and at Houston in 2002.
• This will be the Bulls' third trip to Houston, and they will play at a third different venue.  In 2002, the teams played at the on-campus Robertson Stadium.  In 2013, the Bulls traveled to Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium) for a Halloween night matchup with the Cougars in the home of the Houston Texans. This year, the game is at the new Houston on-campus facility, TDECU Stadium. It's on the same plot of land that Robertson Stadium used to stand.
• If Jordan Cronkrite can run for 100 yards in this game, he'll set a new USF record. Cronkrite has five 100-yard games in a row, tying a school record shared by Marlon Mack and Quinton Flowers.
• Tyre McCants watch: He's now sixth in receptions at USF with 108, and needs four to tie Taurus Johnson for fifth place. His 1,674 receiving yards place him third all-time at USF, behind only Andre Davis and Rodney Adams.
• Houston's football program dates back to 1946. They Cougars have been in six different conferences, with the most obscure being the Lone Star Conference (1946-48). The Lone Star Conference still exists today as a Division-II league. Houston was an independent from 1960 to 1975.
• The Cougars almost joined the Bulls in the Big East. On Dec. 7, 2011, Houston announced a move to Big East membership, but the breakup of the league occurred before it officially joined.
• Houston has been to 26 bowl games, compiling an 11-14-1 record.
• The Bulls' running game continues to be impressive, with Johnny Ford averaging 9.4 yards per carry, and Jordan Cronkrite 7.8.  USF is 15^th in the nation in rushing, and 11^th in total offense.
• USF has been excelling on the road.  The Bulls are 13-2 in their last 15 games away from Tampa, and are averaging 40.8 points per game in that span.

 
ABC will be the television outlet for this game, or ESPN2 in selected markets. Our radio broadcast begins with the pregame at 1:30 p.m. EST. You can hear it on AM 820, as well as 96.7 FM in Hillsborough County and 98.3 FM in Pinellas County. And, we're available worldwide on USF Bulls Unlimited through the free iHeart app. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. (2:30 in Houston).  
 
We also now have a kickoff time for the next home game; USF vs. Tulane on Nov. 3 will be at 3:30 P.M. After that, it's back on the road for two straight, so don't miss the Bulls at the next home game.
 
Horns up!
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
 
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