The Oklahoma Sooners will look to improve to 2-0 on the 2024 season when they host the Houston Cougars on Saturday night. The two programs have faced off twice in the last decade, splitting the matchups, but this time around is a little different. Oklahoma is in their first season as a member of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], while Houston, previously of the AAC, enters Year 2 in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag].
Back in 2016, the No. 15 Cougars upset the third-ranked Sooners in the Advocare Texas Kickoff game by a score of 33-23. The game was played at NRG Stadium in Houston. Though OU lost the season opener to fall to 0-1, the Sooners would bounce back with an 11-2 season, winning the Big 12 and the Sugar Bowl in [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]’ final year at the helm.
But the most recent matchup between these teams came just five years ago. Opening the 2019 season on a Sunday night at home, the No. 4 Sooners defeated the Cougars by a score of 49-31. The game marked the debut of [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] in Norman, as he broke onto the scene in a big way.
Hurts completed 20 of 23 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. He added 176 yards rushing on 16 carries and three more touchdowns on the ground. It was the beginning of an excellent season that ended with Hurts as the [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag] runner-up. A performance like that from current OU starter, [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], would certainly thrill Sooner fans everywhere and answer a few questions about the Oklahoma offense.
https://twitter.com/HoHighlights/status/1168361233902256128
Oklahoma would finish 12-2, win the Big 12, and make a trip to the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag], all beginning with that win over Houston.
The third matchup between the Sooners and the Cougars since 2016 will also feature the third different matchup of head coaches. Bob Stoops faced Tom Herman in 2016, [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] faced Dana Holgerson in 2019 and [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] will face Willie Fritz in 2024.
Oklahoma will kick things off against Houston at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in Norman.
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