Tyron Carrier News

Cougars co-offensive coordinator Jason Phillips is one of six finalists for the Sam Houston State head coaching job.

The Houston Cougars football banquet came and went Saturday night without any program-shaking announcements.

Houston , Nov. 27 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Fresh off a dominating win, the 20th-ranked University of Houston football team wraps up its 2009 regular season at 7 p.m., Saturday, when it plays host to Conference USA- and crosstown-rival Rice on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.

The first three turnovers killed the Cougars' momentum and led to scoring drives for East Carolina.

Fifty-two seconds remaining on the clock and Cougar ball on the East Carolina 32-yard line.

The Cougars had only one option on Saturday night. To advance to the C-USA title game, the Cougars had to defeat Rice.

East Carolina s back in the Conference USA championship game for a second straight season and look to defend their conference superiority.

The journey had the makings of a suicide mission. The Houston Cougars, losers of three games in a row with a rookie head coach in charge, headed into the hostile home of the nation's No.

Two weeks ago, Houston needed help just to reach the Conference USA championship game.

There was the sweetest of moments midway through the first quarter Saturday night at Robertson Stadium when University of Houston cornerback Brandon Brinkley intercepted a pass and sailed 45 yards down the sideline to score a touchdown.

Kevin Sumlin kept wanting to talk about the next game. Those presumptuous people outside the Houston Cougars program kept insisting on talking about an unbeaten season and busting into the Bowl Championship Series.

Case Keenum threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another in the first half and No.

Case Keenum and Houston appeared to hit a major bump in their road to the Conference USA title game, but another superb passing performance coupled with a fortuitous loss by a rival put them back in control of the West Division.

Realistically, there never was any doubt. An injury-depleted University of Memphis defense was facing the nation's passing leader, Case Keenum, with a chip on his Heisman Trophy candidacy.

Joe Webb, QB, UAB: Accounted for 430 yards, including 378 passing, and was in on every touchdown in a 31-21 win over Memphis that puts the Blazers a win away from bowl eligibility.

Last meeting: 2006, Houston 23-20, OT. What's At Stake At 4-2 in Conference USA play after a 37-32 loss to Central Florida on Saturday, Houston has to win its final two games for a shot at West division title.

The 24th-ranked Houston Cougars open a regular- season ending two-game homestand this weekend, as they try to bounce back against the Memphis Tigers in Conference USA play at Robertson Stadium.

Central Florida not only found a way to slow down Case Keenum and No. 13 Houston, the Knights didn't give the nation's most prolific passer a chance to pull off another improbable comeback.

Cruising along the inside track to the Conference USA West title, the Houston Cougars derailed themselves.

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