From the press box: SMU at Houston

HOUSTON – Special teams wins football games. Houston returner Marcus Jones proved that again on Saturday night when his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the game provided Houston with a 44-37 win over the previously undefeated SMU Mustangs. Both teams are now 7-1 on the season. SMU had tied the game with 30 seconds left after a field goal by Blake Mazza. It was Jones’ fourth special teams touchdown of 2021 and the ninth of his career. 

The Houston Cougars must have felt some déjà vu when SMU erased an early 14-0 lead to go up 27-23 after Bryan Massey returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Houston’s only loss of the season entering the matchup with SMU was in Week 1 when Texas Tech erased an early 14-0 lead en route to a victory. Houston won six straight following that loss and learned from its mistakes by overcoming the comeback to beat SMU and move to 7-1 on the season.