The history here isn't close. Houston beat Southern 55-3 in 2008 and 62-13 in 2013, the only two meetings between the programs, and this will be their first matchup in over 15 years. Faulk brought in defensive coordinator Todd Lyght, a former NFL cornerback, and the Jaguars' defense was reportedly the bright spot of spring practice — which matters, because it's the unit that has to slow down a Houston offense that returns almost everything.
Senior quarterback Conner Weigman is back after throwing for over 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns against just 9 interceptions last season, while also running for 700 yards and 11 scores. Houston's staff has raved about his healthiest offseason yet — full go from January through spring ball — and the Cougars added the No. 1 overall recruit in the country, quarterback Keisean Henderson, to a room that already had Weigman entrenched as QB1.
For Southern, this is about survival and identity more than the scoreboard. Faulk opens his tenure against Alabama State in Birmingham before this trip to Houston, and by Week 2 the Jaguars will already be facing a Power 4 team with real conference aspirations. A quarterback battle still unresolved this deep into fall camp isn't the ideal setup for a defense that will need every bit of its spring momentum just to keep this one respectable.
None of this changes what Houston is building toward. Games like this exist to let a roster find its rhythm before Big 12 play gets serious, and a healthy, more explosive Weigman gives the Cougars every reason to lean into that script early on Saturday, September 12.