They say football is a game of inches, and Houston QB Connor Weigman could have used a couple of them late in the fourth quarter as he lunged to score a two-point conversion that would have tied the game with 49 seconds remaining. Alas, the ball was ruled down just short of the goal line, and Houston fell to Texas Tech in Lubbock, 26-28.
The Good: Weigman passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns. TE Patrick Overmeyer caught eight passes for 72 yards and a TD, while WR Amare Thomas caught seven balls for 72 yards and a score. WR Koby Young made a ridiculous 42-yard circus catch, while DB Jalen Mayo made an incredible one-handed interception.
If you look at the stat sheet, the Cougars had a great game. They had more total yards, more first downs, more third-down conversions, a greater time of possession, and fewer turnovers than the Red Raiders. Unfortunately, the only stat that matters is the final score.
The Bad: I was rather disappointed in the defense, especially their inability to tackle or put pressure on Texas Tech QB Will Hammond. Weigman had a good day but not a great one, as 11 of his 38 passes fell incomplete. He also fumbled while attempting a scramble.
The Ugly: Aside from the poor tackling, the Cougars did not do themselves any favors by committing seven penalties for 60 yards. Special teams play wasn't stellar, either; the Cougars gave up a lot of yards by not fielding punts.
What It Means: This was the biggest game on Houston's schedule, and the Cougars could have come away with a statement win had they played just a little better: fewer incomplete passes, better tackling, fewer penalties, better special teams play. As Ryan notes, "the Cougars had plenty of chances to win, but Texas Tech was the better team when it mattered most."
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