2008 Houston Cougars football team

2008 Houston Cougars football
Armed Forces Bowl champion
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionWest
Record8–5 (6–2 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDana Holgorsen (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorJohn Skladany (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumRobertson Stadium
(Capacity: 32,000)
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →
2008 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
East Carolina x$   6 2     9 5  
Memphis   4 4     6 7  
Southern Miss   4 4     7 6  
UAB   3 5     4 8  
UCF   3 5     4 8  
Marshall   3 5     4 8  
West Division
Tulsa xy   7 1     11 3  
Rice x   7 1     10 3  
Houston   6 2     8 5  
UTEP   4 4     5 7  
Tulane   1 7     2 10  
SMU   0 8     1 11  
Championship: East Carolina 27, Tulsa 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 63rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first-year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin whose previous position was as co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners. He replaced Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. Competing against the Air Force Falcons in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl, the Cougars won their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.