CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2021 Sam Houston

11–⁠1 (3–⁠0 American West Conference).

Schedule and results

Sam Houston in 2021, game by game: won at Northern Arizona 42–16; won vs. Southeast Missouri State 52–14; won at Central Arkansas 45–35; won at Stephen F. Austin 21–20; won vs. Lamar 41–7; won vs. Jacksonville State 42–7; won at Tarleton State 45–27; won vs. Utah Tech 59–10; won vs. Eastern Kentucky 42–28; won at Abilene Christian 35–9; won vs. Incarnate Word 49–42; lost vs. Montana State 19–42+49−23Won 42–16 at Northern Arizona+26Northern ArizonaWon 52–14 vs. Southeast Missouri State+38Southeast Misso…Won 45–35 at Central Arkansas+10Central ArkansasWon 21–20 at Stephen F. Austin+1Stephen F. Aust…Won 41–7 vs. Lamar+34LamarWon 42–7 vs. Jacksonville State+35Jacksonville St…Won 45–27 at Tarleton State+18Tarleton StateWon 59–10 vs. Utah Tech+49Utah TechWon 42–28 vs. Eastern Kentucky+14Eastern KentuckyWon 35–9 at Abilene Christian+26Abilene Christi…Won 49–42 vs. Incarnate Word+7Incarnate WordLost 19–42 vs. Montana State-23Montana State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2atNorthern ArizonaW 42–⁠1667%
Sep 11vsSoutheast Missouri StateW 52–⁠1479%
Sep 25atCentral ArkansasW 45–⁠3564%
Oct 2atStephen F. AustinW 21–⁠2063%
Oct 9vsLamarW 41–⁠790%
Oct 23vsJacksonville StateW 42–⁠777%
Oct 30atTarleton StateW 45–⁠2777%
Nov 6vsUtah TechW 59–⁠1095%
Nov 13vsEastern KentuckyW 42–⁠2882%
Nov 20atAbilene ChristianW 35–⁠980%
Dec 4vsIncarnate WordFCS Championship – Second RoundW 49–⁠4275%
Dec 11vsMontana StateFCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP QuarterfinalL 19–⁠4267%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Montana State 42–⁠19 in the FCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP Quarterfinal; unranked in the final AP poll; American West Conference champions.

In program history: The 4th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 57 on file).

American West Conference champions3–⁠0 in the conference

Record
11–⁠1
Conference
3–⁠0 first in American West Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
492–⁠257
Coach
—
Elo
1540 +78 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−1.8 No. 6 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
No. 167
Offensive coordinator
Ryan Carty
Defensive coordinator
Clayton Carlin
Offense
No-huddle spread option
Defense
4–⁠2–⁠5

Player leaders are hidden for this season: our source’s player stats for Sam Houston are missing players (they add up to less than 85% of the team’s passing or rushing yards).

Top recruits in the 2021 class

Michael Murray WR★★★No. 1418
Cameron Plummer DE
Ryder Wall OL
C.J. Marsh OT
John Mathis DT

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2021 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Receivers13.00.842

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Drafted in 2022

The 2022 draft
Rd 5Zyon McCollum CBTampa Bay Buccaneers

Transfers in 2

The 2021 portal
Jacob Kainer TE★★★from Tulsa
Tim Hart LB★★★from Memphis

Transfers out 1

Jack Kristofek QBto Mississippi State

2021 American West Conference standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
Sam Houston3–⁠011–⁠1
Eastern Kentucky2–⁠17–⁠4
Central Arkansas1–⁠25–⁠6
Jacksonville State0–⁠35–⁠6

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.