The Cougars rallied to beat UCF on Saturday, but the stands at their home field were nearly deserted. So few fans showed up that a tumbleweed could have rolled across one of the end zones.
Ranked No. 20, the 3-1 Cougars faced a UCF squad fresh off a strong win over TCU. Houston rolled out special space-themed helmets to try to draw fans in. The effort failed. TDECU Stadium was so sparsely populated that the rolling weed became the story.
Not a stellar look, but ticket sales don’t add points.
Early Struggles
In the opening half, UCF held the advantage, sending the Knights into the break with a 10-0 lead over Houston. The Cougars were unable to sustain drives in the red zone, and the home side found itself falling behind early and failing to recover.
Houston’s situation grew worse in the third quarter when the Knights scored again, adding another touchdown to their lead.
The Comeback Begins
Houston’s offense got going in the second half, with QB Conner Weigman carrying the ball into the end zone three times for rushing touchdowns. That run of scoring covered 21 unanswered points, which gave the Cougars the lead. They held onto it through the rest of the game, winning by a final score of 24-17.
The victory has kept Houston’s record at 1-1 in conference games and preserved their chances of competing for a spot in the Big 12.
Why the Seats Stayed Empty
Houston ranks among the nation’s top-25 teams, which usually means home games draw a full house. That hasn’t happened this time. The special space-themed helmets weren’t enough to convince fans to part with their cash.
One end zone at TDECU Stadium had room for a tumbleweed to blow across it without obstruction, since so few people were there. That is not the kind of image a franchise wants while working to build its identity.
Houston’s standing as a top-25 team should have drawn more spectators. Instead, the stadium sat nearly empty throughout the game. Even the space-themed helmets, designed to generate interest, failed to move enough people to buy tickets.
What Comes Next
The Cougars head out on the road next week to face Kansas State, and a win there could bring more fans into the seats for the game against Oklahoma State the week after.
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Next | Kansas State |
| After | Oklahoma State |
The Bottom Line
The outcome belongs to Houston, and that is what matters most. The score of 24-17 speaks for itself: a side that fell behind badly fought its way back to victory.
The stadium sat empty, which is a fixable issue. Winning games is what fills seats, and the Cougars accomplished that this week.
The victory has kept Houston’s chances of competing for the Big 12 title still in play. The coming fortnight will reveal if the stands remain quiet or begin to draw spectators.
The Cougars displayed resolve in their comeback, though they did so in front of a nearly empty stadium.
Source material: “Houston rallies for comeback victory over UCF in front of a painfully sparse home crowd,” Fox News.
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