# 2012 Houston Cougars football team

The 2012 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 67th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the last for the Cougars as a member of Conference USA as they moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2013. In addition, it was the final season for the team to host its home games at Robertson Stadium as the university announced plans to begin construction on TDECU Stadium in December 2012—following the conclusion of the season. The 2012 season was the first full season under head coach Tony Levine as he took over for Kevin Sumlin after his departure following the 2011 Conference USA Football Championship Game.
At one time it was believed that the 2012 season would be the last for the foreseeable future with a Bayou Bucket Classic matchup against the Rice Owls. Both teams had relied on the game being on their respective conference schedules. However, with the American Athletic Conference move in 2013 for the Cougars, the matchup would have had to have been scheduled as a non-conference game. At the time of the Big East Conference announcement, Rice had its non-conference schedule completely booked for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In April 2012, the two schools announced that they had come to an agreement to extend the series through the 2013 season. The 2012 and 2013 Bayou Bucket Classics were hosted at Reliant Stadium.

## Pre-season
### Recruits

US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Jacob Abels OG | Sugar Land, Texas | Austin HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Apr 9, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Steven Aikens OLB | Arlington, Texas | Seguin HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | N/A | Mar 28, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Rex Dausin QB | San Antonio, Texas | Warren HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.70 | Jan 28, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Deontay Greenberry WR | Fresno, California | Washington Union HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 29, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Blake Herman OT | Needville, Texas | Needville HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.10 | Mar 9, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Donald Hopkins DT | Lago Vista, Texas | Lago Vista HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | 4.90 | Jan 15, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Jarrett Irving WR | Spring, Texas | Dekaney HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.45 | Jul 8, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Ryan Jackson RB | Angleton, Texas | Angleton HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.50 | May 28, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| William Jackson S | Houston, Texas | Wheatley HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 27, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Thaddeus LaGrone OLB | Allen, Texas | Allen HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | 4.53 | Jan 25, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Mac Long OT | Edna, Texas | Edna HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 276 lb (125 kg) | N/A | Apr 21, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Cameron Malveaux DE | Hamshire, Texas | Hamshire-Fannett HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.80 | Aug 16, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Tomme Mark DT | Lufkin, Texas | Lufkin HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | 4.85 | Nov 22, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Xavier Maxwell WR | Humble, Texas | Blinn (JC) | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 177 lb (80 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 30, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Adrian McDonald CB | Lawton, Oklahoma | Eisenhower HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 67 |||||||
| Larry McDuffey WR | Galena Park, Texas | North Shore Senior HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 4.45 | Sep 15, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Devin Parks RB | Edna, Texas | Edna HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 166 lb (75 kg) | 4.40 | Nov 9, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Andrew Rodriguez WR | Allen, Texas | Allen HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 28, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Bryan Singleton DE | Destrehan, Louisiana | Destrehan HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 248 lb (112 kg) | 4.80 | Dec 1, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Trevon Stewart CB | Patterson, Louisiana | Patterson HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.50 | Jul 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Steven Taylor MLB | Cedar Hill, Texas | Cedar Hill HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.70 | Jan 21, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Terrence Taylor RB | Diboll, Texas | Diboll HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.50 | Mar 10, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Davonte Thomas S | Houston, Texas | Eisenhower HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 4.50 | Mar 24, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Jontrey Tillman WR | Baldwin, Louisiana | West Saint Mary HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | 4.40 | Jan 29, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| ‡ 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: "2012 Houston Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. |||||||

### Awards & award watch lists

Jacolby Ashworth
* Lombardi Award watch list
D. J. Hayden
* Jim Thorpe Award watch list
Richie Leone
* Ray Guy Award watch list
Charles Sims
* Maxwell Award watch list

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 7:00 pm | Texas State* | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | CSS | L 13–30 | 32,207 |
| September 8 | 7:00 pm | Louisiana Tech* | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | CBSSN | L 49–56 | 29,142 |
| September 15 | 9:30 pm | at No. 22 UCLA* | Rose BowlPasadena, CA | Pac-12 Network | L 6–37 | 53,723 |
| September 29 | 2:30 pm | vs. Rice | Reliant StadiumHouston, TX (rivalry) | FSN | W 35–14 | 32,718 |
| October 6 | 6:00 pm | North Texas* | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | CSS/CSNH | W 44–21 | 25,476 |
| October 13 | 11:00 am | UAB | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | FSN | W 39–17 | 25,242 |
| October 18 | 7:00 pm | at SMU | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX (rivalry) | FSN | L 42–72 | 16,459 |
| October 27 | 3:30 pm | UTEP | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | CSS/CSNH | W 45–35 | 27,433 |
| November 3 | 11:00 am | at East Carolina | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | FSN | L 28–48 | 45,455 |
| November 10 | 4:00 pm | Tulsa | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX (rivalry) | CBSSN | L 7–41 | 25,827 |
| November 17 | 11:00 am | at Marshall | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | CSS/CSNH | L 41–44 | 18,831 |
| November 24 | 2:30 pm | Tulane | Robertson StadiumHouston, TX | FSN | W 40–17 | 25,402 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Alma mater (Year) |
| Tony Levine | Head coach | Minnesota (1995) |
| Travis Bush | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | Texas State (2000) |
| Jamie Bryant | Defensive coordinator | Ohio Wesleyan (1993) |
| Jamie Christian | Special teams coordinator/Inside receivers | Central Washington (1999) |
| Lee Hays | Offensive line | Texas A&M–Kingsville (1996) |
| Ricky Logo | Defensive line | North Carolina State (1992) |
| Carlton Hall | Defensive line | Vanderbilt (1998) |
| Ken McClintock | Running backs | Minnesota (1993) |
| Brandon Middleton | Outside receivers | Houston (2004) |
| Zac Spavital | Cornerbacks | Murray State (2004) |
| Brian Odom | Co-director of sports performance | Southeastern Oklahoma State (2004) |

## Game summaries
### Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 14 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
| Cougars | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Statistics | TXST | HOU |
| First downs | 23 | 15 |
| Total yards | 444 | 326 |
| Rushing yards | 248 | 115 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 43:09 | 16:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Shaun Rutherford | 19/25, 196 yards, TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Marcus Curry | 14 rushes, 131 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Isaiah Battle | 5 receptions, 75 yards |
| Houston | Passing | David Piland | 17/44, 211 yards, TD, INT |
| Houston | Rushing | Charles Sims | 13 rushes, 77 yards |
| Houston | Receiving | Larry McDuffey | 2 receptions, 73 yards, TD |

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 56 |
| Cougars | 6 | 14 | 7 | 22 | 49 |
| Statistics | LT | HOU |
| First downs | 38 | 40 |
| Total yards | 598 | 693 |
| Rushing yards | 245 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 353 | 580 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:07 | 31:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Colby Cameron | 34/52, 353 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Tevin King | 13 rushes, 112 yards, 3 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Myles White | 5 receptions, 74 yards |
| Houston | Passing | David Piland | 53/77, 580 yards, 4 TD |
| Houston | Rushing | Charles Sims | 21 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD |
| Houston | Receiving | Daniel Spencer | 7 receptions, 157 yards, TD |

### At No. 22 UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| No. 22 Bruins | 14 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 37 |
| Statistics | HOU | UCLA |
| First downs | 14 | 29 |
| Total yards | 388 | 567 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 247 |
| Passing yards | 249 | 320 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 18:40 | 41:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston | Passing | David Piland | 28/60, 249 yards, 5 INT |
| Houston | Rushing | Kenneth Farrow | 13 rushes, 74 yards |
| Houston | Receiving | DeWayne Peace | 10 receptions, 103 yards |
| UCLA | Passing | Brett Hundley | 27/42, 320 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UCLA | Rushing | Johnathan Franklin | 25 rushes, 110 yards |
| UCLA | Receiving | Steven Manfro | 7 receptions, 78 yards |

### Vs. Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Owls | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |
| Rice | Passing |
| Rice | Rushing |
| Rice | Receiving |

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Cougars | 17 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 44 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |

### UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blazers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Cougars | 10 | 6 | 20 | 3 | 39 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UAB | Passing |
| UAB | Rushing |
| UAB | Receiving |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |

### At SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Mustangs | 14 | 14 | 31 | 13 | 72 |
| Statistics | HOU | SMU |
| First downs | 30 | 20 |
| Total yards | 560 | 384 |
| Rushing yards | 115 | 119 |
| Passing yards | 445 | 265 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 41:18 | 31:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston | Passing | Crawford Jones | 17/33, 252 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Houston | Rushing | Charles Sims | 17 rushes, 54 yards, 2 TD |
| Houston | Receiving | Charles Sims | 7 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| SMU | Passing | Garrett Gilbert | 23/38, 265 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Zach Line | 22 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Darius Johnson | 9 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD |

### UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
| Cougars | 14 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 45 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |

### At East Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Pirates | 14 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 48 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |
| East Carolina | Passing |
| East Carolina | Rushing |
| East Carolina | Receiving |

### Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Hurricane | 3 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 41 |
| Cougars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Tulsa | Passing |
| Tulsa | Rushing |
| Tulsa | Receiving |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |

### At Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 0 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 41 |
| Thundering Herd | 10 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 44 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |
| Marshall | Passing |
| Marshall | Rushing |
| Marshall | Receiving |

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Green Wave | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Cougars | 17 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 40 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Tulane | Passing |
| Tulane | Rushing |
| Tulane | Receiving |
| Houston | Passing |
| Houston | Rushing |
| Houston | Receiving |