Sep 14, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) walks off the field after a win over the Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State is riding high. Houston is down in the dumps. So it’s not remotely surprising the No. 18 Cyclones opened as 12.5-favorites in Saturday’s 6 p.m. (FS1) Big 12 season opener against the Cougars in their first-ever road trip to TDECU Stadium.
ISU is 3-0 for the second time in the past three seasons and Houston (1-3, 0-1) suffered a humbling 34-0 defeat last Saturday at Cincinnati.
First-year Houston head coach Willie Fritz — who built Tulane into a non-Power Four powerhouse — saw his team regress after taking No. 21 Oklahoma down to the wire in Norman and pounding Rice, 33-7. The Cougars are very much a work in progress, which makes them a team the Matt Campbell-led Cyclones should handle with relative ease.
“Should” is the operative word here, however.
Conference play reveals hidden flaws and unexpected perils — and ISU hasn’t started a season with a 4-0 mark since 2000. So with that in mind, here are five key Houston players to know in advance of Saturday’s game:
QB Donovan Smith
Cyclone fans will likely remember Smith from his freshman season at Texas Tech. And those aren’t fond memories, as Smith recorded the first 300-yard passing game of his four-year career in a 41-38 setback in Lubbock in 2021. It’s been a mercurial ride for the 6-5, 235-pound senior from Los Vegas ever since. He transferred to Houston last season and threw for 225 or more yards in all but three games, but this season, he’s thrown for more than 200 yards just once — in the Cougars’ 16-12 loss at Oklahoma. Smith completed 24 of 28 passes for 260 yards in that game, so he tends to be at his best on the big stage and will be eager to reprise his role as a villain against ISU.
WR Joseph Manjack IV
According to his bio, Manjack IV’s sports hero is former Pittsburgh Steelers great (and shampoo ad icon) Troy Polamalu, so toughness is clearly one of the Tomball, Texas native’s positive traits. But Manjack’s game hinges on his speed and elusiveness, which he’s showcased for three seasons as a Cougar after spending one season at USC. The 6-3, 205-pound junior is Houston’s top playmaker at receiver and averages 14.2 yards per catch. He’s caught two of Smith’s three touchdown passes, including a 44-yard scoring strike at Oklahoma that gave the Cougars a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed. Manjack also caught a 52-yard pass in last week’s blowout loss at Cincinnati.
LB Michael Batton
The 6-1, 220-pound senior describes himself as “relentless,” and it’s easy to see why. Batton’s journey to Houston wound through three other FBS programs and a stint in junior college, as well. The Katy, Texas native leads the Cougars in tackles this season with 29 and he also leads the team in quarterback sacks (two) and fumble recoveries (one). Batton amassed a career-high 10 tackles in last week’s loss to Cincinnati and both of his sacks came in the narrow loss against the Sooners in Norman. His strength is stopping the run, but the Cyclones will be well aware of his presence when opportunities to blitz arise.
RB Stacy Sneed
The 5-11, 180-pound junior from suburban Dallas is the only Cougar running back to rush for a touchdown this season. His one scoring run came in the rout of Rice. Sneed averaged a robust 11.7 yards per carry in that game, but he’s been held to 3.3 yards per tote or fewer in Houston’s other three games. His bookend in the backfield, Re’Shaun Sanford II, leads the Cougars in rushing yards with 156, but Sneed’s not far behind with 142. They’re both strong downhill runners hampered by uneven offensive line play.
DB A.J. Haulcy
Haulcy’s shined as a safety for his hometown Cougars since transferring in last season and earning honorable mention Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year honors. The 6-0, 215-pound junior ranks second on the team in tackles with 28 and leads Houston with three passes defended. He returned his lone interception this season 48 yards.
