Houston Puts a Damper on Kansas State's Postseason Dreams

© Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images

Houston (4-5, 3-3 Big 12 Conference) pulled off the upset 24-19 against No. 17 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2) inside TDECU Stadium in Houston on Nov. 2. Kansas State's defense held Houston to 232 total yards with 10 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss was a perfect 11-of-11 for 103 yards passing and a touchdown. He added 75 yards of rushing and another touchdown that took the lead with 2:31 remaining in the game. The Houston defense shut down the second-best rushing team in the Big 12 giving up only 89 yards.

Turning Point for Houston

Kansas State had a 19-10 lead in the third quarter with the rain pouring down. Avery Johnson dropped back and fired the ball on a slant route that got intercepted by Jeremiah Wilson returning it to the Kansas State 9-yard line. Three plays later Chriss would complete his touchdown pass to Maliq Carr to cut the score to 19-17. Houston's defense would tighten up stopping the Kansas State offense on their next two drives setting up for Chriss' lead-changing 41-yard touchdown run.

Mistake-Filled Day for Kansas State

The first big mistake in this game for K-State was after their first touchdown going to tie the game up at 10-10. Instead, a bad snap led to the PAT being blocked leaving one point on the field. The next mistake came with another bad snap on a field goal attempt leading to a 10-yard loss and a turnover on downs.

After a 61-yard pass from Johnson to Jayce Brown the offense attempted to run the ball leading to a penalty on Keagan Johnson for a block in the back that stalled the drive forcing K-State to kick a field goal. After those mistakes, Johnson threw 2 interceptions, one of which led to Houston's touchdown to close the gap to two points. The other one allowed Houston to run the clock down to 45 seconds left.

What It Means

The hopes of making a bowl game for Houston are still alive. Coach Willie Fritz has the program on the right path after a rough start in Big 12 play. This Cougars program under Fritz is going in the right direction and will be a problem for anyone who faces them in the last few weeks of the season after winning three of four games.

Kansas State will need some help now if they are going to make the Big 12 Championship game and a shot at the College Football Playoff. They have fallen a game behind Colorado who they did beat 31-27 with three tough games remaining against Arizona State (5-2, 2-2), Cincinnati (5-3, 3-2) and at No. 11 Iowa State (7-1, 4-1). The team is heading to a bye week this upcoming week with a chance to clean up mistakes and make one final push to have a shot to make the first 12-team playoff.