Houston–Tulsa_football_rivalry
Houston–Tulsa football rivalry
American college football rivalry
The Houston–Tulsa football rivalry is a college football rivalry game between Houston and Tulsa.[2][3]
| First meeting | December 2, 1950 Tulsa, 28–21 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | November 26, 2022 Tulsa, 37–30 |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 46 |
| All-time series | Houston leads, 26–20[1] |
| Largest victory | Houston, 100–6 (1968) |
| Longest win streak | Houston, 5 (1968–1973) |
| Current win streak | Tulsa, 1 (2022–present) |
Both schools previously competed together in the American Athletic Conference from 2014 to 2022, Conference USA from 2005 to 2012, and the Missouri Valley Conference from 1951 to 1959, as well as playing regularly while Houston was independent (1960–75). The rivalry was particularly heated during the Conference USA period, when the two teams dominated the C-USA West Division.[3][4] Tulsa won the division title in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2012, while Houston won in 2006, 2009, and 2011. SMU in 2010 was the only other team to win the title during this period.
An infamous game in the rivalry occurred on November 23, 1968, when Tulsa traveled to the Astrodome despite the fact that most of the team, including 15 of 22 starters, was sick with the flu. Houston, which already boasted the nation's top scoring offense coming into the game, proceeded to win 100–6 after scoring 76 unanswered points in the second half.[5][6] As of 2023, Houston remains the most recent NCAA Division I team to score 100 points in a game.
Tulsa is Houston's most played opponent in football, while Houston is Tulsa's third-most played active opponent.
Houston joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023, putting the future of the rivalry in doubt.[7]
Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
| Houston victories | Tulsa victories |
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- Murphy, Michael (November 9, 2007). "UH, Tulsa meet with West football title on line". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- Bailey, Eric (November 12, 2010). "In lopsided rivalry, Houston needs a reason to hate TU". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
So back to the original question. Is this a rivalry Current fans for both schools can debate this question, but there probably is no debate from the gray-haired followers of Tulsa and Houston.
- McDonald, Mark (September 8, 1985). "17 Years Later, Tulsa Fans Still Feel Houston Ran Up Score In 100–6 Loss". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- "Gatlin was strumming triple-digit tune 45 years ago in Century City". Fox Sports. November 21, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- Barron, David (June 10, 2022). "UH to join Big 12 sooner than expected after AAC exit fee agreement". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
