After another respectable performance (albeit in defeat) vs SMU the Cougars' challenges don't lessen this week as they try to figure out how to beat the UCF Knights in Orlando. In previewing the Knights we also talked to good friend and Managing Editor of Black & Gold Banneret's Jeff Sharon.

Cougar soccer is 1 win away from their first AAC tournament appearance in the league's current format and volleyball has another 1-1 weekend with another good team/not so good team weekend (this time at home) on the horizon.

Despite the worst possible outcome occuring this week (Houston losing to SMU at anything) it wasn't all bad, as the Cougars showed plenty of reason for optimism. Between Marquez Stevenson's 1,024 yards after catch (pretty sure that number is correct), Clayton Tune braving the SMU pass rush to pile up 400 yards passing, and the Cougar defense holding SMU to a seaosn-low point total, we're feeling pretty optimistic.

Speaking of reasons for optimism, Quentin Grimes was ruled immediately eligible for Cougar men's hoops this week. We giddily broke down what that means for this year's team, and why you should be over-the-moon excited.

Plus Cougar swimming and diving got some SMU-related revenge by clobbering the Mustangs in the pool. We've got you covered on that, plus volleyball  and soccer coming down the home stretch.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With a compressed football week comes a compressed Pawdcast week.

The guys look at the daunting task that awaits Cougar football on Thursday night for an ESPN audience: the undefeated #16 SMU Mustangs, their high octane offense and swarming defense. No stone is un turned as we try to find any weaknesses in one of the country's few 7-0 teams.

Cougar volleyball and soccer get some road tests against that we also take a look at, along with Women's golf continuing their fall season.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The boys are back in tooooooooooooooooooooowwn to discuss a frighteningly competitive trip up to Hartford, Connecticut featuring the Cougars and nutmeg state flagship UConn Huskies. We try to find the positives and calmly discuss the negatives in what was undeniably, a much better result than certain teams from Missouri, Wisconsin and South Florida got this weekend.

Cougar volleyball had its biggest weekend in many years with ECU and fellow league leader Cincy on tap, which featured 2 dramatic contests with a high level of Volleyball throughout. Soccer bounced back and emphatically swept their final home weekend of the season.

And finally, we take a trip to a far away land to discuss Cougar basketball alums AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Like a multi-car pile up on the interstate or the eternally burning Darvaza gas crater in the Turkmenistan desert, we are horrified and somewhat transfixed by the depths University of [REDACTED] Huskies football program has reached. We bring on our longtime internet friend Aman Kidwai of TheUConnBlog.com to better understand this week's opponent and their uncertain future.

Houston Cougar volleyball has its biggest weekend in a long time as ECU and AAC juggernaut Cincy come to the Fertitta Center to challenge the red hot Cougars.

There's also week 8 AAC/college football talk, Cougar baseball's 2020 schedule getting announced and Cougar soccer's last home weekend of the season.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UH football's loss to Cincinnati leaves the Cougars with a 2-4 record, and leaves your favorite Pawdcasters feeling philosophical. We're not just recapping the 38-23 defeat, we're asking what it all means for 2020, including reasons why the outlook is better than you may fear.

Plus, have you caught volleyball mania yet??! The Cougars continued to roll, winning a pair of road matches to improve to 6-0 in AAC play and take a 2-game lead in the division!

We also have your full fall sports recap, and if you stick with us all the way to the end, ugh, yes, we'll give you our Justin Murphy hot takes.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A major fork in the road of the season approaches, as the Cougars are finally playing an FBS opponent in TDECU Stadium for the first time this year. We broke down a huge game against Cincinnati with some help from Enquirer beat reporter Fletcher Page.

Plus, Cougar volleyball can't stop and won't stop winning 5-set matches. We're gushing about Houston's run to a 4-0 conference record and sole possession of 1st place in the AAC West.

Not to mention Rob Gray and Corey Davis Jr are off to hot starts to their pro careers in Europe! We've got all that and your full fall sports recap.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's no Houston Cougar football this week, but if you thought that'd stop us from recording some more Cougar content you're sorely mistaken!

We talked with Houston Cougar men's basketball Director of Sports Performance Alan Bishop about the current Cougar team, how he got into coaching, basketball-specific strength & conditioning philosophy and much, much more!

There were also week 5 AAC/CFB games to get to, plus previewing this weekend's Cougar volleyball and soccer, PLUS PLUS Cougar softball and men's golf are in fall action!