2024 Sam Houston
10–3 (6–2 Conference USA), coached by K.C. Keeler, then Brad Cornelsen (interim, bowl game). Share
Schedule and results
- Biggest winBeat Rice 34–14Aug 31
By 20 points, its widest win.
- Most excitingBeat Texas State 40–39Sep 28
The win probability swung the most, by CollegeFootballData.com’s excitement index.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Elo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | at Rice | W 34–14 | 33% |
| Sep 7 | at UCF | L 14–45 | 28% |
| Sep 14 | vs Hawai’i | W 31–13 | 58% |
| Sep 21 | vs New Mexico State | W 31–11 | 50% |
| Sep 28 | vs Texas State | W 40–39 | 39% |
| Oct 3 | at UTEP | W 41–21 | 63% |
| Oct 16 | vs Western Kentucky | L 14–31 | 46% |
| Oct 22 | vs Florida International | W 10–7 | 68% |
| Oct 29 | vs Louisiana Tech | W 9–3 | 71% |
| Nov 16 | at Kennesaw State | W 23–17 | 78% |
| Nov 23 | at Jacksonville State | L 11–21 | 31% |
| Nov 29 | vs Liberty | W 20–18 | 37% |
| Dec 19Bowls & playoff | vs Georgia SouthernNew Orleans Bowl | W 31–26 | 42% |
Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.
How it ended: Beat Georgia Southern 31–26 in the New Orleans Bowl; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 2nd in the Conference USA.
In program history: The 9th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 57 on file).
- Record
- 10–3
- Conference
- 6–2 tied for 2nd in Conference USA
- AP final
- Unranked
- Points
- 309–266
- Coach
- K.C. Keeler, then Brad Cornelsen (interim, bowl game)
- Elo
- 1514 +132 this season
- SP+ rating
- -6.9 No. 98 of 134; offense No. 117, defense No. 46, special teams No. 130
- SRS
- −6.2 No. 94 of 134 in FBS
- Returning
- 43% of last season’s EPA, No. 74 of 133
- Recruiting class
- No. 124 roster talent No. 114 in FBS
- Offensive coordinator
- Brad Cornelsen
- Defensive coordinator
- Skyler Cassity
- Offense
- Spread
- Defense
- 3–4
How good, play by play
| EPA per play | Success | Explosiveness | FBS rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | 0.06 | 39% | 1.16 | 91st of 134 |
| Defense | -0.00 | 42% | 1.02 | 16th of 134 |
| Opponent-adjusted | 0.05 off 0.05 def | 38% off 44% def | — | 102nd off 33rd def |
How these are measured
Play-weighted averages over games against FBS opponents; raw numbers, not adjusted for the strength of the opponent. EPA (expected points added) measures how much each play changed the expected score; success rate counts plays that kept the offense on schedule; explosiveness is the average EPA on successful plays. Lower is better on defense. Ranked by EPA per play among teams that were FBS that season. The opponent-adjusted row (offense / defense) is CollegeFootballData.com’s WEPA, which accounts for who each team played.
Drives and havoc
| Points per trip inside the 40 | Average start | Havoc | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | 3.3 | own 31 | 15% allowed |
| Defense | 3.5 | own 28 | 17% caused |
CORE rating 2.7, 59th of 134 (offense -3.8, defense -6.5).
A trip inside the 40 is a drive that reaches the opponent’s 40-yard line; points per trip is how many it scored on average (allowed, on defense). Average start is where drives began (the defense’s line is where its opponents started). Havoc is the share of plays ending in a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception or a pass broken up. CORE is CollegeFootballData.com’s context- and opponent-adjusted rating (points better than an average team; lower is better on defense). From CollegeFootballData.com.
Leaders
| Passing yards | Hunter Watson QB | 1,811 yds |
| Passing touchdowns | Hunter Watson QB | 12 TD |
| Rushing yards | Jevyon Ducker RB | 745 yds |
| Rushing touchdowns | Hunter Watson QB | 9 TD |
| Receiving yards | Simeon Evans WR | 559 yds |
| Receiving touchdowns | Simeon Evans WR | 6 TD |
| Tackles | Caleb Weaver S | 97 tkl |
| Sacks | Chris Murray DL | 5.5 sacks |
| Interceptions | Caleb Weaver S | 4 INT |
Top recruits in the 2024 class
| Dravon Wilson S | ★★★ | No. 1769 |
| Fatu Mukuba S | ★★★ | No. 2046 |
| Railyn Adams CB | ★★★ | No. 2114 |
| Karson Maynard WR | ★★★ | No. 2461 |
| Cooper Stevens TE | ★★★ | No. 2577 |
247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.
The 2024 class by position
| Signed | Stars | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks | 1 | 3.0 | 0.812 |
| Receivers | 3 | 3.0 | 0.820 |
| Defensive line | 1 | 3.0 | 0.816 |
| Linebackers | 2 | 3.0 | 0.813 |
| Defensive backs | 3 | 3.0 | 0.839 |
| Whole class | 10 | 3.0 | 0.823 |
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.
Roster 118
The 2024 roster118 players, with numbers, heights, hometowns and each player’s 2024 line; 60 have a stat line. See the roster
Transfers in 12
The 2024 portal Jase Bauer QB | ★★★ | from  Central Michigan |
 Fernando Garza TE | ★★★ | from  Texas A&M |
| Jaylon Jimmerson S | ★★★ | from  Liberty |
 Austin Smith TE | ★★★ | from  Memphis |
 Dylan Frazier DL | ★★★ | from  SMU |
| Chatavies Johnson LB | ★★★ | from Memphis |
| Jevyon Ducker RB | ★★★ | from Memphis |
 Joe Swen S | ★★★ | from  Oregon State |
 Marcus Moore DL | ★★★ | from  North Texas |
 Ny’Quee Hawkins S | ★★★ | from  Virginia Tech |
| Quincy Wright DL | ★★★ | from Oregon State |
| Denver Warren DL | from  New Mexico State |
Transfers out 5
 Da’Marcus Crosby S | ★★★ | to New Mexico State |
| Dakerric Hobbs CB | ★★★ | to New Mexico State |
| Xavier Ward QB | ★★★ | to  San José State |
| Zach Session OL | ★★★ | to  McNeese |
| Da’Marcus Cosby II CB | no new school on file |
2024 Conference USA standings
Conference page| Team | Conf. | Overall | AP final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 7–1 | 9–5 | |
| Sam Houston | 6–2 | 10–3 | |
| Western Kentucky | 6–2 | 8–6 | |
| Liberty | 5–3 | 8–4 | |
| Louisiana Tech | 4–4 | 5–8 | |
| Florida International | 3–5 | 4–8 | |
| UTEP | 3–5 | 3–9 | |
 Middle Tennessee | 2–6 | 3–9 | |
| New Mexico State | 2–6 | 3–9 | |
| Kennesaw State | 2–6 | 2–10 |
Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.