While Lane Kiffin waits in the wings for the Tigers, the Houston Cougars have already taken flight.
That contrast frames the Texas Bowl as LSU and Houston make their final preparations. One program arrives steeped in postseason familiarity. The other arrives as one of the quiet success stories of the season, reshaped in less than a year.
For Houston, the turnaround has been dramatic. A season ago, the Cougars limped to the finish line, dropping their final three contests by a combined margin of 77-31 and missing out on bowl season altogether. This December tells a different story. Back inside NRG Stadium, Houston gets its chance to flip the script and turn the building into the “Coogs House.”
Flying under the radar, as always, is head coach Willie Fritz. Bowl preparation has long been a strength for Fritz, whose teams tend to benefit from time, structure, and clarity of purpose. His résumé includes one of the most memorable postseason upsets of the last decade, a one point victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl, and once again his program enters December with belief and balance.
MORE: Craig Biggio’s legacy with the Houston Astros still defines the franchise
LSU’s perspective is far different. The Tigers won the Texas Bowl a year ago and are making their third appearance in the game in the last five seasons. December football is familiar territory, and expectations follow closely behind. The challenge Saturday night will be avoiding the sense of déjà vu against a Houston team playing with urgency and momentum.
ESPN play by play voice Tom Hart will call the game on December 27th and believes Houston’s rise starts at the top.
“Fritz is the best kept secret in college football. To borrow a phrase from the great American philosopher DJ Khaled, all he does is win. It doesn’t matter the level or the league.”
Hart also pointed to how quickly the foundation took hold in Houston.
“The concrete dried quickly in this Cougar foundation. Getting recruits to stay home is a sure fire pathway to continued success.”
On paper, LSU brings pedigree and recent bowl success. On the field, Houston brings momentum, confidence, and a coach who has made a career out of maximizing moments like this. In a familiar stadium with unfamiliar energy, the Texas Bowl sets up as a test of urgency versus expectation, and which one carries more weight when the lights come on.
More college football news:
- Brian Hartline sends a message to Chris Henry Jr. After choosing Ohio State
- Deion Sanders expected to lose key staff member to Group of Five school
- Tavita Pritchard comes home to Stanford with a message of ‘belief and brotherhood’