American college football rivalry
Locations of Houston and Tulsa
The Houston–Tulsa football rivalry is a college football rivalry game between the University of Houston Cougars and the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Series history.
Both schools previously competed together in the American Athletic Conference from 2014 to 2022, Conference USA from 2005 to 2012, and the Missouri Valley Conference from 1951 to 1959, as well as playing regularly while Houston was independent (1960–75). The rivalry was particularly heated during the Conference USA period, when the two teams dominated the C-USA West Division. Tulsa won the division title in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2012, while Houston won in 2006, 2009, and 2011. SMU in 2010 was the only other team to win the title during this period.
Tulsa is Houston's most played opponent in football, while Houston is Tulsa's third-most played active opponent.
Houston joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023, putting the future of the rivalry in doubt.
Notable games.
November 23, 1968: An infamous game in the rivalry, Tulsa traveled to the Astrodome to face No. 11 Houston despite the fact that most of the team, including 15 of 22 starters, were sick with the flu. The Cougars, who already boasted the nation's top scoring offense coming into the game, proceeded to win 100–6 after scoring 76 unanswered points in the second half. As of 2023, Houston remains the most recent NCAA Division I team to score 100 points in a game.
November 7, 2009: No. 13 Houston was 7–1 on the season when they traveled to face a Tulsa team that was on a 3-game losing streak. Hoping for a comfortable win, the Cougars ended up needing a game-winning, 51-yard field goal as time expired to escape with a 46–45 victory.
Game results.
Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
References.
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