1981 Houston Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 Houston Cougars football Southwest Conference SWC 7–4–1 5–2–1 Bill Yeoman 20th Don Todd 10th Grady Turner Houston Astrodome Sun Bowl L 14–40 vs. Oklahoma The 1981 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 20th-year head coach Bill Yeoman and played their home games at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The team competed as members of the Southwest Conference, finishing in third. Houston was invited to the 1981 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, where they lost to Oklahoma, 40–14. Schedule 1981 AP September 5 w y New Mexico Houston Astrodome Houston, TX ESPN 21–10 26,435 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-uh-whips-new-mex/158242337/ The Tyler Courier-Times UH whips New Mexico September 6, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 l y y Miami (FL) 16 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL 7–12 32,586 https://www.newspapers.com/article/mount-vernon-argus-miami-nips-houston-1/158216833/ Mount Vernon Argus Miami nips Houston, 12–7 September 20, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w y Utah State Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 35–7 27,462 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paris-news-houston-rolls-over-utah-s/158291458/ The Paris News Houston rolls over Utah State, 35–7 September 27, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w Baylor Houston Astrodome Houston, TX rivalry ABC 24–3 28,118 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-houston-shuts-down-baylor-2/158277480/ Tulsa World Houston shuts down Baylor, 24–3 October 4, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 l y Texas A&M Kyle Field College Station, TX ESPN 6–7 66,569 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kilgore-news-herald-aggies-edge-coug/158279094/ The Kilgore News Herald Aggies edge Cougars, 7–6 October 11, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 l y SMU 10 rivalry Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 22–38 36,892 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-smu-rolls-past-coogs/158291513/ The Victoria Advocate SMU rolls past Coogs, 38–22 October 18, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y Arkansas 12 War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 20–17 54,618 https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-college-station-eagle-houston-nips/158291221/ Bryan-College Station Eagle Houston nips 17th-ranked Hogs by 3 October 25, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w y TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX ABC 20–16 13,257 https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-wilson-coogs-drop/158276602/ Longview News-Journal Wilson, Coogs drop TCU, 20–16 November 1, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 t Texas 5 Houston Astrodome Houston, TX ESPN 14–14 52,589 https://www.newspapers.com/article/del-rio-news-herald-horns-rally-to-tie-c/158291595/ Del Rio News Herald Horns rally to tie Coogs November 8, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w Texas Tech Houston Astrodome Houston, TX rivalry 15–7 25,169 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-texas-tech-hou/125751972/ San Angelo Standard-Times Houston edges Texas Tech, 15–7 November 22, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 w y Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX rivalry 40–3 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/del-rio-news-herald-houston-cougars-bury/158278675/ Del Rio News Herald Houston Cougars bury Owls, 40–3 November 29, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com December 26 l y y Oklahoma Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 14–40 33,816 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-watts-this-a-fumble-helps/158291675/ The El Paso Times Watts this? A fumble helps Sooners win December 27, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/houston/1981-schedule.html 1981 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results Sports-Reference.com August 1, 2018 References Houston Category:Houston Cougars football seasons Houston Cougars football Houston Cougars football