#23 (FCS) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (0-0) VS. HOUSTON (0-0)

WHEN: AUG. 28 (THURS.) 7:00 P.M.

WHERE: HOUSTON, TEXAS (TDECU STADIUM)
MEDIA: ESPN+/JACKS RADIO NETWORK

SERIES:

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

FROM NOVEMBER 9, 1946 - NOVEMBER 6, 1948

SFA leads the series 2-1 and have won the last two meetings, with SFA winning the last matchup 21-13 in 1948 (SFA with Bum Phillips went 7-2-1 that season)

The Houston Cougars are lead by second year Head Coach Willie Fritz who looks to improve off of his 4-8 inaugural season in the BIG XII Conference.

Coach Willie Fritz is no stranger to building programs and winning, Fritz has turned things around in just his second season at every stop he has made, such as the two JUCO Championships at Blinn, 11-winnings seasons at Central Missouri, two National Championship Game appearances at Sam Houston State, two winning seasons in two years at Georgia Southern, and taking a 4-8 Tulane program, to 5-winning seasons, 5 bowl games, and 3 conference Championships, highlighted by a Cotton Bowl victory over #10 USC, and a Top 10 finish in the final polls at #9 in 2023.

Fritz and staff brought 30 new incoming transfers from the portal, highlighted by Texas A&M transfer Conner Weigman, the 6-3; 220 pound junior out of Cypress, Texas (who reportedly will be making just over $1 million on his NIL deal with the Cougars) where he was a 5-star recruit out of Bridgeland High, rated as the #3 QB in the nation, and #22 overall player in the 2022 class by 247Sports.

At A&M in three seasons, Weigman recorded 2,694 yards passing with 19 TD's and 7 INT's. An injury though set him back and cost him his starting job that he never recovered.

The Cougars will also be breaking in two new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and a completely new over hauled offensive line.

SFA returns a high powered offense with plenty of FBS caliber speed, could this be one of those special seasons?

Can SFA finally end the 25 year FBS drought?

It's the $400,000 question.

Axe'Em

This will be a homecoming for many on the SFA roster, with 31 players from the greater Houston area.

There should be a good gathering of family and SFA Alumni at this game.

I'm gonna keep saying this until either the game is out of reach or we lose, this is the best FBS matchup we've had in a very long time at SFA.

The amount of talent we have returning will be a huge plus. Take into account this is basically an entirely new UH team with new coordinators, they're not gonna be firing at 100%.

I'm not delusional. If we lose bad, I won't be surprised nor disappointed unless we just look helpless. But I think if we can come out with even close to the fire we had a few years ago against Texas Tech, we have a really good chance to be going back to Nacogdoches with a Cougar scalp, being led home by some purple lights.

If we can establish a short yardage game and not make boneheaded mistakes in key situations, the game should at least be within reach going into the 4th.

I agree. Hopes are high, but will not be disappointed if we lose. We have a chance for sure.

SFAXE93 said:

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UH has its depth chart for opener against Stephen F. Austin. Five positions to watch

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/college/article/uh-football-sfa-depth-chart-21014152.php

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I think we can take advantage of there DB's