It’s the middle of February.
We are in the throes of basketball season.
Major League Baseball pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training.
Right now, as I’m writing this, it’s below zero outside my window (Wisconsin winters are no joke).
But as I check my Twitter feed I’m reminded it’s always college football season!
— American Football (@American_FB) February 19, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Houston Cougars, riding a wave of publicity following the hiring of new coach Tom Herman, also got in on the act.
Looking to update your Twitter cover photo? We have the perfect photo here! #GoCoogs #PaintHoustonRed pic.twitter.com/STPPKGaNzg — Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) February 19, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Honestly no one has any idea what to expect from the Cougars in 2015.
Herman has barely had time to break in his new office chair. We know what kind of offense he likes to run, but who is the quarterback that will get the keys to this shiny new system? What about the defense? Many of the players are back from a very solid 2014 campaign, but the coaching staff is new on that side of the ball as well.
So many questions still need to be answered, but why should that stop us from taking an incredibly early look ahead by analyzing the schedule? OK, let’s go.
Houston, like pretty much every other team from a major or “mid-major” conference will start the season with a, um, cupcake. This year’s victim is Tennessee Tech. Yes, I know the Cougars didn’t fare so well against last season’s opening-game “gimme”, but that can’t happen two years in a row, right?
Herman’s Cougars don’t get a second lay-up, however, traveling to Louisville in week two. A loss would be expected and nothing to worry about. A win, however, could signal something special is happening in Houston.
After the Louisville trip is a stretch of five games Houston should be capable of winning; the types of games they need to win if the Cougars want to be involved in the AAC championship conversation. Yes, three of those games are on the road (Tulsa, Tulane, and UCF), but the Coogs showed last season they could be road warriors (just ask Memphis).
The UCF game begins the absolute teeth of the 2015 schedule. After a visit to Orlando, Houston dips out-of-conference for a home game against Vanderbilt. No, the Commodores are not the class of the SEC, but any time you play a team from the so-called “best conference in college football” you better be ready for a challenge. It’s on Halloween, and a win would be a real treat for Houston’s public perception.
Then Houston steps into two home games that could possibly determine the top of the AAC. Cincinnati and Memphis come into TDECU Stadium on back-to-back weekends in November. These have the potential to be amazing matchups… if Houston does a good enough job in October.
After running that gauntlet, the Cougars wrap up the regular season at UConn and back home against Navy. At this point those are both very winnable games, and they provide a nice soft landing spot for the Coogs.
What don’t you see? East Carolina. Also, unlike in 2014, most of the Cougars games are on Saturday. Last season the schedule was all over the calendar, which likely didn’t help the Coogs’ consistency. The SMU and Tulane games are on alternate days, but those are back-to-back weeks which is an advantage. The other non-Saturday game is against Navy the day after Thanksgiving. That is important because a lot of eyeballs will be on TV screens that weekend.
I’m not going to go make any predictions at this point, mostly because it’s February and there are far too many unanswered questions. Overall the schedule is challenging, but the biggest advantage will be having three of the four toughest AAC games (Cincinnati, Memphis, and Navy) at home.
There will be much to discover about these new-look Cougars over the next six-plus months, but at least we’re talking about college football – and that’s almost enough to make it feel a little warmer outside. Maybe I should talk to my editors about a trip to Houston to see the Coogs in person…
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
