No. 22 Houston routs Southern 77-6

Southern1-26
No. 22 Houston2-077Final
Sat, Sep 12 · TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas · Crowd 28,936ESPN+

No. 22 Houston routed Southern 77-6.

We had Houston favored. It won.

Top comment in the game thread

Texas power grid moment

Q2 2:39 · r/CFB game thread · Sat, Sep 12

How it swung

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Houston a 99% chance, and the closing betting line (Houston was a 51.5-point favorite) put it above 99%.

Houston led by 28 after the first quarter and by 49 at the half.

Q1Q2Q3Q40+71+71
79-yard TD passSouthern · Q3 4:38
FinalHouston 77-6 SouthernHouston wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4HoustonWon77-6Scores79-yard TD passChatter1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4HoustonWon77-6Scores79-yard TD passChatter1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q4HoustonLowest 0%Lost6-77Scores79-yard TD passChatter1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q4HoustonLowest 0%Lost6-77Scores79-yard TD passChatter1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute

No single play moved the chance by 20 points.

No single play moved the chance by 20 points.

What fans said, play by play

The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.

  1. Q2 2:39Houston fans joke about ERCOT power outages as Hebert scores a touchdownThis Hebert kid is alright lolr/CFB game threadQuoted at the top of the page.
  2. Q3 13:43Henderson runs 54 yards for a touchdown, making it 56-0OMG. Henderson. WOW !!!r/CFB game thread
  3. Q3 4:57Houston fans celebrate the 70-0 lead and predict a 105-point totalTexas Tech is leading Oregon State 14-7r/CFB game thread
  4. Q4 5:05Houston fans joke about using walk-ons and toddlers as the game winds downWe’re putting in people from the stands nowr/CFB game threadWe reached into the Sock drawerr/CFB game thread
Houston’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Houston -51.5), at 100% for Houston (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. Outlined diamonds mark rare plays. The gray band is r/CFB game-thread activity, its loudest stretches in gold. A gold diamond marks a play fans were reacting to.

Watch the plays

The bar and the arrow show Houston’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.

  1. Q1, 8:59Weigman 9-yd TD pass to OvermyerHouston goes ahead 7-0Q1, 8:59 · Houston 7, Southern 07-0score after the play7-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  2. Q1, 7:36Johnson sacked for a 10-yd lossfumblesQ1, 7:36 · Houston 7, Southern 07-0score after the play7-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  3. Q1, 6:52Sanford 9-yd TD runHouston leads 14-0Q1, 6:52 · Houston 14, Southern 014-0score after the play14-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  4. Q1, 0:28Weigman 8-yd TD pass to ThomasHouston leads 28-0Q1, 0:28 · Houston 28, Southern 028-0score after the play28-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  5. Q2, 10:57Weigman 43-yd TD pass to YoungHouston leads 35-0Q2, 10:57 · Houston 35, Southern 035-0score after the play35-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  6. Q2, 6:58Strother intercepted by Allen at the SU30Q2, 6:58 · Houston 35, Southern 035-0score after the play35-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  7. Q2, 6:10Henderson 7-yd TD pass to YoungHouston leads 42-0Q2, 6:10 · Houston 42, Southern 042-0score after the play42-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  8. Q2, 1:36Henderson 20-yd TD pass to HebertHouston leads 49-0Q2, 1:36 · Houston 49, Southern 049-0score after the play49-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  9. Q3, 13:43Henderson 54-yd TD runHouston leads 56-0Q3, 13:43 · Houston 56, Southern 056-0score after the play56-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  10. Q3, 9:39Butler 9-yd TD runHouston leads 63-0Q3, 9:39 · Houston 63, Southern 063-0score after the play63-0score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  11. Q3, 4:38McCauley 79-yd TD pass to Clark, blockedcuts it to 70-6Q3, 4:38 · Houston 70, Southern 670-6score after the play70-6score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football
  12. Q4, 5:56Carney 8-yd TD runHouston leads 77-6Q4, 5:56 · Houston 77, Southern 677-6score after the play77-6score after the playWatch from this playESPN College Football

Every drive

Houston scored on 11 of its 12 drives; Southern on 1 of its 12.

Houston’s drives are teal, Southern’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1Southern: Punt, from 75 yards out to 67PuntHouston: Touchdown, from 62 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Fumble, from 75 yards out to 78FumbleHouston: Touchdown, from 22 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Fumble, from 75 yards out to 78FumbleHouston: Touchdown, from 22 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Punt, from 35 yards out to 29PuntHouston: Touchdown, from 60 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Turned over on downs, from 88 yards out to 49DownsQ2Houston: Touchdown, from 51 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Interception, from 87 yards out to 73InterceptionHouston: Touchdown, from 25 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Punt, from 75 yards out to 71PuntHouston: Touchdown, from 72 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: End of half, from 75 yards out to 75End of halfQ3Houston: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Punt, from 75 yards out to 73PuntHouston: Touchdown, from 46 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Punt, from 75 yards out to 75PuntHouston: Touchdown, from 52 yards out to 0TouchdownSouthern: Touchdown, from 79 yards out to 0TouchdownHouston: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownQ4Southern: Punt, from 75 yards out to 80PuntHouston: End of game, from 55 yards out to 2End of game
“Yup. Went up 35-0 then put in Keisean.”
A Houston fan

When fans got loud

Busy

The second quarter is when fans got loud.

Jump to the loudest stretch

The jump was busy; the crowd was quiet.

FirstSecondThirdFourthHouston fansSouthern fansusual

Box score

Houston 77, Southern 6

Houston covered −51.5 by 19.5. The total, 83, went over 61.5.

SouthernHoustonTotal yardsSouthern 121Houston 591121591Passing yardsSouthern 127Houston 203127203Rushing yardsSouthern -6Houston 388-6388First downsSouthern 4Houston 34434TurnoversSouthern 3Houston 030Time of possessionSouthern 21:42Houston 38:1821:4238:18
Team totalsSouthernHouston
Total yards121591
Passing10 of 20, 127 yds15 of 19, 203 yds
Rushing22 for -6 yds45 for 388 yds
First downs434
Third down1 of 138 of 8
Fourth down0 of 10 of 0
Turnovers30
Penalties6 for 44 yds5 for 45 yds
Time of possession21:4238:18

Southern leaders

  • Passing Wyatt McCauley 2 of 3, 85 yds, 1 TD
  • Rushing Amariyon Asberry 3 for 6 yds; Champ Davis 1 for 4 yds
  • Receiving Wydell Clark Jr. 1 for 79 yds, 1 TD; Daejawn Smith 2 for 13 yds

Houston leaders

  • Passing Conner Weigman 9 of 12, 120 yds, 3 TD
  • Rushing Zane Smith 10 for 69 yds; John Hebert 5 for 65 yds, 1 TD
  • Receiving Koby Young 3 for 54 yds, 2 TD; Trent Walker 2 for 35 yds

Feels like 94° to 103° through the game

91° at kickoff · feels like 94° to 103° · no rain recorded

A feels-like 103° is hotter than the peak in 99% of games since 2018.

Every game's peak, with this game markedtypical game 71°This game: 103°0120°
Every game's peak, with this game markedtypical game 71°This game: 103°0120°

Each gray tick is one game. The black line is the typical game.

Warmer than 9 in 10 of the 56 other games played at TDECU Stadium since 2016 (airport temperature during the game window).

September game-day temperatures at TDECU Stadium

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Houston favoredSouthern favored100%Win chanceHoustonRaininches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airportTemperature and feels likedegrees F75°110°feels like 94°air 84°Thunder reported
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Houston favoredSouthern favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airportTemperature and feels like · degrees F75°110°feels like 94°air 84°Thunder reported

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

First quarter, 14:51 left6:03 p.m.
Southern 0, Houston 0 · Houston 100% to win
no rain · 91°, feels like 101°
Johnson 5-yd pass to Davis
Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Houston Dunn airport, 2.8 miles away, and Houston/will Hobby airport, 7.1 miles away. The paler thunder bar is thunder reported in the vicinity of an airport. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last two games

Southern · 1-1

Rated 201st in our preseason ratings, 217th now.

1-1 in its last two — but nothing on this résumé beats a top-40 team yet.

Last three games · 2025 season

Houston · 10-3

Rated 20th in our preseason ratings, 22nd now.

2-1 in its last three, including a 7-point win over Baylor as a 2.5-point underdog.

W 38-35 vs LSUTop 25 #38 of 667

won by 3 as a 1.5-point favorite

Houston won 38-35 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 36%, low 28%, high better than 99%.

W 31-24 @ Baylor #63 of 667

won by 7 as a 2.5-point underdog

Houston won 31-24 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 32%, low 31%, high 96%.

L 14-17 vs TCUTop 25 #46 of 667

lost by 3 as a 1.5-point underdog

Houston lost 14-17 vs TCU. Chance to win started at 51%, low 6%, high 61%.

W 30-27 @ UCF #59 of 667

won by 3 as a 1.5-point underdog

Houston won 30-27 at UCF. Chance to win started at 38%, low 14%, high 77%.

L 35-45 vs West Virginia #83 of 667

lost by 10 as a 12.5-point favorite

Houston lost 35-45 vs West Virginia. Chance to win started at 85%, low 2%, high 85%.

W 24-16 @ Arizona StateTop 25 #43 of 667

won by 8 as a 7.5-point underdog

Houston won 24-16 at Arizona State. Chance to win started at 24%, low 23%, high better than 99%.

W 31-28 vs ArizonaTop 25 #69 of 667

won by 3 as a 2.5-point underdog

Houston won 31-28 vs Arizona. Chance to win started at 57%, low 19%, high better than 99%.

W 39-17 @ Oklahoma State #153 of 667

won by 22 as a 14.5-point favorite

Houston won 39-17 at Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 80%, low 59%, high better than 99%.

L 11-35 vs Texas TechTop 25 #20 of 667

lost by 24 as an 11.5-point underdog

Houston lost 11-35 vs Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 26%, low under 1%, high 26%.

W 27-24 @ Oregon State #91 of 667

won by 3 as an 11.5-point favorite

Houston won 27-24 at Oregon State. Chance to win started at 74%, low 5%, high better than 99%.

W 36-20 vs Colorado #44 of 667

won by 16 as a 3.5-point favorite

Houston won 36-20 vs Colorado. Chance to win started at 71%, low 58%, high better than 99%.

W 35-9 @ Rice #125 of 667

won by 26 as a 13.5-point favorite

W 27-0 vs Stephen F. Austin #125 of 667

won by 27 as a 23.5-point favorite

Houston won 27-0 vs Stephen F. Austin. Chance to win started at 95%, low 93%, high better than 99%.

Week by week

Houston

  • Wk 1Wvs Oregon State33-20

Southern

Wk 1: L 17-30 at Alabama State▼13Alabama StateWk 1: W 34-15 vs Kentucky State▲19Kentucky State
  • Wk 1Lat Alabama State17-30
  • Wk 1Wvs Kentucky State34-15

The series

Houston leads the series 2-0

2 meetings since 2008 · Houston has won the last 2

  • 2013Houston 62-13
  • 2008 · neutral siteHouston 55-3

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Our model and the betting line agree on Houston’s chances here.

50-50Model 99% · Line 100%SouthernHouston

Houston favored by 51.5 · Total 61.5

How games like this usually go

Houston by 51.5, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 411 games since 2025 with a favorite of 21.5 points or more.

The market

The total rose 1 point.

opened 60.5now 61.5

Total: 60.5 → 61.5

Weather at kickoff

Hot and dry. Feels like 99° at kickoff.

Southern at Houston · Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 · TDECU Stadium, Houston

  • 99°feels like at kickoff
  • Dryno rain at kickoff
  • 49weather score, Harsh

Weather score: 0 to 100, higher is better, for the first 3 hours and 20 minutes of the game. Ideal is 100, Comfortable 90 to 99, Mixed 75 to 89, Rough 50 to 74, Harsh under 50.

Kickoff times that Saturday

Games in this time zone used 5 kickoff times that day, local time (kickoffs within 30 minutes of each other count as one). This game is ringed. At TDECU Stadium that day, a 6:45 pm kickoff would have scored 55, against 49 at 6 pm.

  • 11 am: 49, Harsh
  • 2:30 pm: 28, Harsh
  • 3:15 pm: 27, Harsh
  • 6 pm: 49, Harsh (this game)
  • 6:45 pm: 55, Rough

Weather score at each kickoff time.

Tap a dot to read that kickoff time.

Home field

Houston has had no measurable home edge since 2018 — −0.7 points (±3.6), home against road — 0th percentile of FBS.

55% at home, 57% on the road against FBS opponents (24-20 home, 27-20 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads -3.1 at home vs. away over 96 games — inside the ±5.9 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

Night kickoff — historically worth about half a point more to the home side against the number, and not much more than that. The visitors travel about 255 miles to get here.

Where next