# 2010 Houston Cougars football team

The 2010 Houston Cougars football team (also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH) represented the University of Houston in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 65th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by third-year head football coach Kevin Sumlin, and played its home games at Robertson Stadium—a 32,000-seat stadium on campus in Houston. The program is a member of Conference USA in its West Division. Although ranked favorably early in the season, the team finished with a 5–7 record, (4–4 in C-USA play) after season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Case Keenum and other key players.

## Pre-season
### Recruits

Houston's 2010 recruiting class was highly rated relative to its previous seasons. Rated as the No. 45 best recruiting class in the nation ahead of TCU and behind Oregon State by Rivals.com, the 2010 class was Houston's highest-ever ranking by the site. Scout.com ranked Houston as #54, which was the highest Houston had been ranked since 2003, and the 3rd-highest-ever ranking by the site.
This was also the highest-rated recruiting class in Conference USA by both sites for the season. In terms of position, Houston ranked No. 13 in the nation by Scout.com for best average ratings of quarterbacks recruited. This reinforced the team's depth in the position, as senior Case Keenum was scheduled to compete in his last season in 2010.
US college sports recruiting information for 2010 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Kenneth Bibbins TE | Sugar Land, Texas | Kempner | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 4.72 | Jul 14, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Eric Braswell DE | Killeen, Texas | Shoemaker | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 4.80 | Jul 24, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Terrance Broadway QB | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Capitol | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | 4.65 | Jul 24, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Kent Brooks DB | Humble, Texas | Atascocita | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.50 | Mar 8, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Sammy Brown LB | Perkinston, Mississippi | Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 236 lb (107 kg) | 4.60 | Dec 7, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Xavier Brown RB | Pearland, Texas | Dawson | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 4.50 | Dec 19, 2008 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Alton Demby DB | Galena Park, Texas | North Shore | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.50 | Mar 18, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Jeremiah Farley DE | Longview, Texas | Longview | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 4.70 | Apr 29, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Rowdy Harper OL | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma | Broken Arrow | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 268 lb (122 kg) | 5.20 | Sep 13, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Chris Hill OL | Houston, Texas | Yates | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 288 lb (131 kg) | N/A | Sep 13, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Aaron Johnson QB | Longview, Texas | Longview | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.60 | Aug 7, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Jordan Jolly WR | Missouri City, Texas | Elkins | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 169 lb (77 kg) | 4.55 | Jul 13, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| D.J. Jones DB | Cibolo, Texas | Steele | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 4.50 | Jul 24, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Darian Lazard QB | Pearland, Texas | Dawson | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | 4.58 | Dec 18, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Richie Leone K | Roswell, Georgia | Roswell | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 188 lb (85 kg) | 4.70 | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Austin Lunsford OL | Garrison, Texas | Garrison | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 293 lb (133 kg) | 5.00 | Jun 8, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Zach McMillian DB | Sugar Land, Texas | Dulles | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 155 lb (70 kg) | 4.49 | Jun 9, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Efrem Oliphant LB | Houston, Texas | Langham | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.60 | Apr 16, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| DeAndre Perry WR | Austin, Texas | Bowie | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.60 | May 1, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| David Piland QB | Southlake, Texas | Carroll | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.70 | Aug 8, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Bryce Redman OL | Longview, Texas | Longview | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | 4.90 | Jun 6, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Dominique Sanders ATH | Fort Worth, Texas | Dunbar | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 4.45 | Jan 23, 2010 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Matangi Tonga DT | San Mateo, California | C. of San Mateo | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | 4.67 | Jan 15, 2010 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Langston Williams WR | Arlington, Texas | Bowie | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | 4.40 | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Rodney Williams DT | Dallas, Texas | Skyline | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | N/A | May 28, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Austin Wilson LB | Tyler, Texas | Lee | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.60 | Sep 26, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Jon Witten LB | Houston, Texas | Clear Lake | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 209 lb (95 kg) | 4.64 | Mar 12, 2009 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 54 Rivals: 45 |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Houston Commit List for 2010". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010. "Houston: Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010. "Houston Football Recruiting 2010". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010. "2010 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010. |||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Alma mater (Year) |
| Kevin Sumlin | Head coach | Purdue (1986) |
| Jason Phillips | Offensive coordinator | Houston (1988) |
| Brian Stewart | Defensive coordinator | Northern Arizona (1992) |
| Tony Levine | Special teams | Minnesota (1996) |
| Kliff Kingsbury | Co-offensive coordinator | Texas Tech (2002) |
| Leon Burtnett | Linebackers | Southwestern College (1965) |
| Jim Jeffcoat | Defensive line | Arizona State (1982) |
| B.J. Anderson | Offensive line | Stephen F. Austin (1997) |
| Clarence McKinney | Running backs | Mary (1994) |
| Charles McMillian | Defensive backs | Utah State (1995) |
| Zac Spavital | Cornerbacks | Murray State (2004) |

### Top 25 rankings

During the pre-season, Houston was ranked in several notable top 25 polls. Sports Illustrated placed Houston at No. 21 in its power rankings list. Lindy's Sports ranked Houston as #23, and Phil Steele ranked the team as #24. Just outside the top 25, Sporting News ranked Houston as #26, and in the Coaches' Poll as #27.

### Awards & award watch lists

Case Keenum
* Davey O'Brien Award watch list
* Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list
* Manning Award watch list
* Maxwell Award
* Walter Camp Award watch list
* Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
* Conference USA Preseason offensive first team selection
Jamal Robinson
* Conference USA Preseason defensive first team selection
James Cleveland
* Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list
* Conference USA Preseason offensive first team selection
Marcus McGraw
* Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
* Lombardi Award watch list
* Conference USA Preseason defensive first team selection
Patrick Edwards
* Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list
Tyron Carrier
* Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list
* Paul Hornung Award watch list
* Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
* Conference USA Preseason special teams first team selection

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Texas State* | | Robertson StadiumHouston | | W 68–28 | 32,119 |
| September 10 | 9:15 p.m. | UTEP | | Robertson StadiumHouston | ESPN | W 54–24 | 32,119 |
| September 18 | 9:30 p.m. | at UCLA* | No. 23 | Rose BowlPasadena, California | FSN | L 13–31 | 54,407 |
| September 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Tulane | | Robertson StadiumHouston | CBSCS | W 42–23 | 32,007 |
| October 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Mississippi State* | | Robertson StadiumHouston | CBSCS | L 24–47 | 32,067 |
| October 16 | 2:30 p.m. | at Rice | | Rice StadiumHouston (rivalry) | CSS | L 31–34 | 26,342 |
| October 23 | 2:30 p.m. | at SMU | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas (rivalry) | CBSCS | W 45–20 | 20,741 |
| October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at Memphis | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, Tennessee | CSS | W 56–17 | 19,731 |
| November 5 | 7:00 p.m. | UCF | | Robertson StadiumHouston | ESPN2 | L 33–40 | 32,008 |
| November 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Tulsa | | Robertson StadiumHouston (rivalry) | CBSCS | L 25–28 | 30,046 |
| November 20 | 6:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, Mississippi | | L 41–59 | 32,606 |
| November 27 | 7:00 p.m. | at Texas Tech* | | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, Texas (rivalry) | FSN | L 20–35 | 53,461 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
* ^A Denotes the largest crowd to have watched a football game at Robertson Stadium in its current capacity, and the largest Houston had ever hosted on-campus. This broke the record set during last season versus Texas Tech.
* ^B Denotes a tie for largest crowd to have watched a football game at Robertson Stadium in its current capacity, and a tie for the largest Houston had ever hosted on-campus. This matched the attendance of the previous week.

## Game summaries
### Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texas State | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Houston | 20 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 68 |
As a season opener, Houston met with Texas State of the Southland Conference (a Division I FCS conference) for the fourth time in history. However, the two teams had not competed against each other in over six decades, with the last game being in 1948. Texas State had been undefeated against Houston, and were led by fourth-year head coach Brad Wright.
Attendance was at an all-time high for Robertson Stadium, as 32,119 fans watched the game. The record-setting crowd at the stadium surpassed the previous season record against Texas Tech. This marked the largest home-opening crowd to watch the Cougars play since 37,652 fans watched Houston face California at the Astrodome on September 6, 1997. Quarterback Case Keenum set school records for both career passing yards and career pass attempts, surpassing then-current Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.

### UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UTEP | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Houston | 14 | 17 | 6 | 17 | 54 |
Conference USA foe UTEP traveled to Robertson Stadium to face-off against Houston for the eighth time in history. Prior to UTEP's defeat, Houston's record against the team stood at 3–4. During the previous season, UTEP defeated No. 12 Houston to knock the team out of the national rankings for a period of time. The team was led by sixth-year head coach Mike Price who had previously served as head coach for Washington State with Kevin Sumlin as a graduate assistant. Attendance for the game was again at an all-time high, as the 32,119 fans in attendance tied the previous record from the game prior. The matchup was nationally televised on ESPN.
The Cougars' offensive strategy appeared to be more focused on rushing rather than the passing game Houston was known for. It was the first time the team had achieved 300 rushing yards in a game since compiling 377 yards against Texas Southern on November 24, 2007. After an interception thrown by senior Case Keenum to UTEP's Trauvan Nixon in the third quarter of the game, the quarterback attempted to tackle the opposing player. Keenum suffered a blow to the head, and was removed from the game. Back-up quarterback Cotton Turner took his place to carry on the win. It was later reported that Keenum was exhibiting symptoms of a mild concussion, but was showing dramatic improvement two days after the game. His condition was listed as being "day-to-day".
Following the game, Houston became nationally ranked for the first time since the previous season, as the Cougars entered both the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll as #23. Junior running back Bryce Beall was named the Conference USA offensive player of the week. Houston's record at 2–0, made it the only team in its conference division to remain undefeated overall, and allowed the team to take the number one spot in the standings.

### UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #23 Houston | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
| UCLA | 7 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
Matt Hogan kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Cougars the first quarter lead. Johnathan Franklin answered with an 11-yard run for a Bruins 7–3 lead. The Bruins scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. Kevin Prince ran for a 2-yard touchdown and Franklin added a 1-yard run touchdown.
In the third quarter, UCLA had a 42-yard field goal by Kai Forbath, the 2009 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner, and a touchdown again by Franklin (12 yards). Houston scored twice in the fourth quarter, on James Cleveland's 10-yard pass from Terrance Broadway and on Matt Hogan's 31-yard field goal.
Two Houston quarterbacks, Case Keenum and Cotton Turner, were injured in the game and are out for the season.
UCLA's Patrick Larimore, who had a career-high and team-high 11 tackles (10 solos), including three for loss, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in the game was named Pac-10 Conference defensive player of the week. He was also named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 0 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 23 |
| Houston | 7 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
First quarter scoring: Houston – Bryce Beall (3-yard run).
Second quarter scoring: Tulane – Cody Sparks (13-yard pass from Kevin Moore), Devin Figaro (36-yard pass from Moore); Houston – Beall (1-yard run, 1-yard run), Michael Hayes (1-yard run).
Third quarter scoring: Tulane – Cairo Santos (29-yard field goal).
Fourth quarter scoring: Tulane – Payten Jason (9-yard run); Houston – Beall (25-yard run), Loyce Means (42-yard interception return).

## Poll rankings

Week-to-Week Rankings Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. RV=receiving votes. :
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Coaches | RV | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |