College Football Blitz, Week 12: Louisville losses, Colorado can play
By John Buhler
Defensive Players of the Week: Houston Cougars LB Steven Taylor, DT Ed Oliver
With the Houston Cougars dropping a pair of games in the American Athletic Conference to the Navy Midshipmen and the SMU Mustangs, Tom Herman’s Cougars fell out of the College Football Playoff conversation in a hurry.
His team handled the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium in Houston on opening weekend. Had the Cougars taken care of business in conference play, they would have had their shot to reach the College Football Playoff. That Thursday night home game against the Louisville Cardinals would have been that stepping stone for the strong Group of 5 program.
Well, that Thursday night game did not disappoint, as the Cougars throttled Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals, 36-10. The Heisman front-runner Jackson was sacked 11 times. Houston’s defensive front-seven completely devoured the poor sophomore signal caller for Louisville.
Leading the charge up front for the Cougars were senior linebacker Steven Taylor and true freshman defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Taylor had 14 tackles, eight solo, and 2.5 sacks. Oliver had six tackles, five solo, two sacks, and two passes defended. It was like they were playing to keep Herman in Houston or something. Outside of Louisville, it was an awesome Thursday night football game to watch.