Houston is a Mess and I Don’t Know How to Fix It
I’ve been trying to write something positive about Houston for twenty minutes and I can’t do it.
They went 4-8. They won two conference games. Their biggest win of the season was against my own team, which I’m still not over, so maybe I’m biased. But even setting that aside… Houston is in trouble.
This was supposed to be the Big 12’s dream addition. Fourth-largest city in America. Good recruiting territory. History of success with Dana Holgorsen before he imploded. Tom Herman won 33 games in three years there. It’s not like the program is incapable of winning.
But something is deeply broken right now.
The roster is thin. The depth isn’t there. When you play against Big 12 teams that rotate players and keep everyone fresh, Houston starts fading in the fourth quarter because they don’t have the bodies.
The quarterback situation never stabilized. Donovan Smith, who transferred from Texas Tech (Jake’s guy, but whatever), had flashes but also had too many turnovers. The offensive line couldn’t protect anyone. The running game was inconsistent at best.
Willie Fritz is trying. I believe that. He did good things at Tulane. But the hole he inherited is deeper than anyone realized, and 4-8 in Year 2 isn’t progress.
Jake’s note: Look, I’m not going to pretend I feel bad for Houston. They beat OSU by 30 and that loss basically ended Gundy’s career. But even I have to admit — 4-8 in the fourth-largest city in America is not acceptable. Something’s gotta change.
Here’s the path forward, if there is one: portal, portal, portal.
Houston needs to hit the transfer market hard. They need experienced players who can compete immediately. They can’t wait for three-star recruits to develop over four years. The timeline doesn’t allow for that.
Find a quarterback. Find offensive linemen. Find defensive tackles. Build the core positions through the portal and supplement with recruiting.
It’s going to be ugly for at least another year. Maybe two. Houston fans need to brace themselves.
— Mike