The Texas football team will close out its nonconference schedule this upcoming weekend when Sam Houston comes to town.
This will be the second straight week that UT hosts a Conference USA team. Last Saturday, Texas (2-1) recorded a 27-10 win over UTEP (1-2). Now Sam Houston (0-3) will be the Longhorns’ guest at Royal-Memorial Stadium. After Saturday, Texas will get a week off before SEC play begins.
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Here are five things to know about the Bearkats:
1. Sam Houston is struggling with its new coach
Having lost to Western Kentucky, UNLV and Hawaii, Sam Houston is winless. In fact, Sam Houston’s only second-half lead has lasted less than four minutes. The Bearkats were on a bye last week.
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This is Sam Houston’s first year with head coach Phil Longo, who was hired after K.C. Keeler left for Temple. Longo previously ran the La Salle program from 2004-05, but his most recent gig was coordinating the Wisconsin offense until he was fired last November. Before Wisconsin, Longo worked for Mack Brown at North Carolina from 2019-22.
2. QB carousal has been ongoing at Sam Houston
Mabrey Mettauer and Hunter Watson have both earned starts at quarterback this season, and both Mettauer and Landyn Locke attempted at least 10 passes in the Bearkats’ last game. Watson leads Sam Houston this season with 108 rushing yards and two touchdown runs; Mettauer was once a four-star recruit who was signed by Longo at Wisconsin, and Locke is a freshman.
As a team, Sam Houston has thrown two touchdowns in 2025.
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Emon Allen, Vista Ridge
Paul Knight for Statesman
3. Austin product Emon Allen is living up to preseason hype
Before the season, five Bearkats landed on Conference USA’s preseason watch list: wide receiver Michael Phoenix II, offensive lineman James Dawn II, defensive lineman Zeiqui Lawton, defensive back Emon Allen and kicker RJ Lopez.
Among that group, Allen has had the biggest impact. He has returned three punts for Sam Houston, forced a fumble and his 18 tackles rank second on the defense. One of his two interceptions was a 66-yard pick-six against Hawaii. Allen is an Austin native who was an All-Central Texas honoree at Vista Ridge.
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4. Sam Houston still adjusting since FBS move
Veteran running back Adrian Murdaugh is one of the last remaining ties to the Sam Houston team that won the FCS championship during the spring of 2021. Sam Houston transitioned to the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2023, and it has gone 13-15 since. The Bearkats, though, finished in a second-place tie in the Conference USA standings in 2024 and played in the New Orleans Bowl.
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5. How often has Texas played Sam Houston?
Texas has only met the Bearkats once on a football field. Back in 2006, Texas coasted to a 56-3 win in Austin. That was UT’s first game against a sub-FBS school since 1992, and the Longhorns haven’t played another one since.