QB Smith adept at finding open target
MANHATTAN, Kan. — A week after going toe-to-toe with seventhranked Texas, the University of Houston faces its next challenge: defending Big 12 champion Kansas State.
“Welcome to the Big 12,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “This is what we signed up for.”
A crowd of 50,000 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and wet and cold temperatures in the lowto-mid 40s will greet the Cougars for Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff.
Since a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 6, Kansas State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) is averaging nearly 40 points in back-to-back wins over Texas Tech and TCU. The Wildcats were dominant last week in a 41-3 blowout over the Horned Frogs, a College Football Playoff finalist a year ago.
“They’re playing as good as anybody in the country right now,” Holgorsen said.
After needing a Hail Mary to beat West Virginia, securing the first Big 12 win in school history, the Cougars rallied from a 21-point deficit but came up short in a 31-24 loss to Texas.
“We need to build on our performance from last week, which I think we will,” Holgorsen said.
At 3-4, UH must win three of its final five games to reach bowl eligibility.
Here are five things to watch Saturday:
Avoid a letdown
After a pair of emotional games, Holgorsen said the Cougars must guard against a letdown. For the second straight week, the Cougars are more than a two-touchdown underdog.
“You talk about Big 12 is what you do,” Holgorsen said. “You think the next one’s not going to be just as hard going to Waco or the next one just as hard playing Cincinnati. We have five in a row that are all going to be hard. It’s the Big 12. It’s what we signed up for. It’s what our players came here for.”
Holgorsen said the sellout crowd of 42,812 for the UT game at TDECU Stadium is “a glimpse of what we are going to see” in the Big 12.
“That’s what we are striving for, what we are building for,” Holgorsen said. “It’s why we want to be in this conference to get used to this every week. It’s just reality of what we’ve got to face.”
Might the Cougars catch K-State looking ahead to next week’s showdown against Texas in Austin?
K-State’s two QBs
Coach Chris Kleiman was tight-lipped this week about his quarterback plans for UH. Does he plan to continue a rotation of Will Howard and Avery Johnson?
“I really don’t know,” Kleiman said. “We will have to wait until Saturday.”
Two weeks ago, Johnson, a true freshman, ran for a school record five touchdowns in a win over Texas Tech.
Last week, Howard threw for 154 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout victory over TCU.
Spread it around
A big difference this season has been the Cougars’ ability to spread the ball around in the passing game.
In the previous two seasons, it was no secret All-American wide receiver Tank Dell was the primary target. Through seven games, Sam Brown leads the Big 12 with 41 catches and 629 yards and the Cougars have received major production from Joseph Manjack IV (35 catches for 435 yards and four TDs) and Matthew Golden (34 catches for 383 yards and six TDs). Stephon Johnson caught the Hail Mary against West Virginia, and walk-on Dalton Carnes has emerged as a go-to option with big catches in three straight games.
UH has been one of the nation’s top passing teams this season, averaging 291 yards per game.
What has made the Cougars so effective is how quarterback Donovan Smith has gone through his progressions to find open receivers. In his last four games, Smith has completed 78% of his pass attempts for 1,261 yards with 12 touchdowns and one interception.
“Donovan’s really good and comfortable from a progression-based passing game,” Holgorsen said. “I don’t see him saying, ‘OK, I know my guy is there, I’m not going to throw it to him, I’ll probably throw it to him.’ He just goes through the progression, and it doesn’t matter who the people are. He’s comfortable with everybody.”
Targets have been evenly spread out among UH’s Big Three with Brown (59), Golden (57) and Manjack (41) getting the most looks, according to Pro Football Focus.
The passing attack again will likely be a central part of the Cougars’ game plan with Kansas State allowing an average 254.3 per game.
It should be noted: Smith threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns (two interceptions) for Texas Tech in a nine-point loss to K-State last season.
Don’t forget the run
Holgorsen said getting the running game going continues to be a priority. The Cougars only ran 19 times against UT’s stout defensive front, and it’s going to be a similar story this week against Kansas State, which is third in the Big 12 in fewest rushing yards allowed (108.9).
On defense, the Cougars will face the Big 12’s top rushing attack. Behind D.J. Giddens and Treshaun Ward, K-State averages 232.7 yards per game. The Wildcats had 343 rushing yards against TCU.
Avoid a slow start
UH has trailed after the first quarter four times this season, including 14-0 last week. For the season, the Cougars have been outscored 80-41 in the opening quarter. Another slow start on the road could be disastrous.