For the first time since joining the Big 12, the Houston Cougars are accompanied by a number next to their name.
Houston (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) checks in at No. 22 in the AP Poll after a wire-to-wire 24-16 road victory at Arizona State, which held a No. 24 ranking at the time of the matchup. The Saturday night triumph — where Houston led by as many as 24 points — marked Houston’s first road victory over a Top 25 opponent since 2017 and second ranked win since joining the Big 12 in 2023.
At No. 22, Houston
is ranked for the first time since Week 2 of the 2022 season and features its highest ranking since the conclusion of 2021 when it finished No. 17. The Cougars check in at fourth among the five Big 12 teams in the AP Top 25, joining No. 10 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 17 Cincinnati, and No. 24 Utah. This is the first time Houston is ranked under head coach Willie Fritz, and now each of Houston’s last four coaches earned an appearance in the AP Poll.
Houston carries its ranking into a home matchup against West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 1, looking to extend its three-game win streak. Zero currently-ranked opponents remain on the Cougars schedule, as they embark on a quest to qualify for their first-ever Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, TX.
