SALT LAKE CITY - University of Houston coach Willie Fritz was on the way to his radio show Thursday when he stopped at home to let the dog out. He turned on ESPN and saw the Cougars being discussed ahead of Saturday's game at Utah.
It was only October, but the segment was a reminder of how much is at stake.
"It's going to be a big ballgame," Fritz said.
The No. 14 Cougars meet No. 10 Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a matchup with significant Big 12 and College Football Playoff implications. For UH (6-1, 3-1 Big 12), it is an opportunity to strengthen its résumé against a top-10 opponent, take another step toward a conference title and bolster its playoff hopes before the selection committee releases its first rankings Tuesday.
Hours before kickoff, ESPN's "College GameDay" will be on the Utah campus, setting the stage for a Saturday nightcap between ranked teams.
Over the last decade, ESPN's buzz on UH has usually come during basketball season. Not anymore.
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For the second week in a row, and the third time this season, the Cougars are part of a significant matchup. First came the Big 12 opener against Texas Tech, when the Cougars came within an inch of forcing overtime in a two-point loss. Then came last week's 35-32 win over No. 18 Oklahoma State.
Now, the Cougars have climbed to their highest ranking since 2016 and are in a five-team race to reach the Big 12 championship game in Arlington.
"It's meaningful football," said UH linebacker Sione Fotu, who returns to the place where his college career began. "A lot is on the line. A lot is at stake."
As November approaches, the Big 12 enters the weekend as the only conference with three unbeaten teams: No. 2 BYU (6-0), No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0) and Utah. A second loss would effectively eliminate the Cougars from the Big 12 race.
But a win? That would get plenty of people talking, something that hasn't seriously happened on this scale since the H-Town Takeover seasons in 2015 and 2016.
The game caps the toughest stretch of UH's schedule, which included consecutive ranked matchups for the first time since 1977. The Cougars then have an open date before closing the regular season against Cincinnati, Colorado, West Virginia and Baylor.
Entering the weekend, UH has a 30% chance to make the CFP field, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
"It's still early," quarterback Conner Weigman said. "We've got a big stretch coming up. It's always cool to get noticed and stuff like that, but it's all about consistency. You've got to do it week in and week out. You're only as good as your last game."
Weigman has delivered consistently. He matched a career high with five touchdown passes in the win against Oklahoma State, two of them to All-Big 12 receiver Amare Thomas, and the victory made the Cougars bowl eligible for the second consecutive season.
"I don't know if you make him uncomfortable," Utah coach Morgan Scalley said when asked about the approach to disrupting Weigman. "You may just need to force him into bad things - bad throws, throws he doesn't want to make."
That has been difficult to do this season. Weigman has thrown 20 touchdowns and only two interceptions, earning mention among the nation's top quarterbacks. In two games against ranked teams, he has completed 71.8% of his passes for 626 yards, with eight touchdowns and one interception.
"You want to play the best of the best," Weigman said. "To be able to play one of the best in the Big 12, and one of the best teams in the nation, is a big opportunity for us."
Utah (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) is off to its best start since 2015 and is one of five remaining unbeaten FBS teams. The Utes, however, have yet to face a team with a winning record, and their strength of schedule ranks 101st nationally.
That makes UH the toughest test Utah has faced this season. Last week, the Utes blew a 13-point lead before surviving a Hail Mary attempt in the final seconds to beat Colorado 27-24.
Still, Utah has the Cougars' attention. Fritz has been preparing for an offense he described as "complex," one that uses two quarterbacks and mixes formations, some triple option and four-back sets. The Utes also feature an unusual personnel package that includes "Rhino" - 5-foot-11, 317-pound tight end Semi Taulanga.
Behind quarterback Devon Dampier, Utah averages 40.2 points and 486.5 yards per game, both in the top 10 nationally. Running back Wayshawn Parker has eclipsed 170 rushing yards twice this season.
"I was sitting in our meetings and we're obviously trying to simplify it as much as we can, but they do a lot of stuff," Fritz said. "If you watch some of their games, you'll see them in all sorts of different formations and sets and run a bunch of option and halfback passes, double passes. The main thing is you got to line up right. If you line up right, you got a chance. If you don't line up right, there's going to be some problems."
UH can match Utah's offensive firepower, ranking 12th in points (39.3) and 10th in total yards (485.1). The Cougars feature a balanced attack that includes receivers Koby Young, Trent Walker, Thomas, and tight end Patrick Overmyer, and a 1-2 punch of Makhi Hughes and Re'Shaun Sanford II in the backfield.
A sellout is expected for the 100th consecutive game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, giving the Cougars another challenging road environment. UH is battle-tested with trips to Texas Tech and Kansas State.
Fotu, who played three seasons for the Utes from 2020 to 2024, had some advice for his teammates.
"It's the same as the hard places we've played so far this year," Fotu said. "Just don't let the crowd have an effect on us and play our game, whether it's at night time. They like to talk about Rice-Eccles at night. It's the same as anywhere else at night. You've just got to play your game and stick to the plan."
Cornerback Jalen Mayo said the Cougars' preparation hasn't changed despite another ranked opponent, and it doesn't matter if anybody is talking about them.
"Nah, not really," Mayo said. "We're just focused on the next moment. Same preparation, same mentality.
"I want people to keep sleeping on us."
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at As nation sees more of UH, Cougars have chance to boost CFP odds against No. 1-0 Utah.