The Houston Cougars were finished Friday night against the Memphis Tigers.
Memphis led 32-19 with fewer than 90 seconds remaining, and that should have done it. ESPN gave the Tigers a 99.9 percent chance of winning.
Houston was down 32-19 with two minutes left, scored two TDs in the final 1:17 to win.
Looked like UH's season was about to careen off a cliff. Crazy comeback, Memphis blows one and that's huge in the AAC race. pic.twitter.com/ZZgNGoEo96
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 8, 2022
But Houston somehow smashed those 1-in-1,000 odds, scoring two late touchdowns in an incredible comeback to win, 33-32.
How could this happen? Houston quarterback Clayton Tune hit KeSean Carter with a 13-yard TD pass with 1:17 remaining. After the Cougars (3-3) recovered the onside kick, Tune connected with Carter for a game-winning 2-yard TD with only 18 seconds remaining.
WHAT A COMEBACK‼️
Houston rallies from 19 down in the 4th and scores two TDs in the final 1:17 to win at Memphis 😤 pic.twitter.com/d5g9Jc6Eey
— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2022
Tune, who passed for 366 yards and three touchdowns, clearly never gave up. According to the Houston Chronicle, Tune told his teammates in the fourth quarter, “Don’t stop believing.”
The Cougars’ victory spoiled a great effort by the Tigers, who fall to 4-2. Wide receiver Gabriel Rogers threw a beautiful 41-yard touchdown strike to Asa Martin to open the fourth quarter to give Houston a seemingly insurmountable 26-7 lead. Rogers actually threw the ball on a line more than 50 yards.
Memphis WR Gabe Rogers might be a better passer than your school's QB. pic.twitter.com/51pqaFTKBL
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 8, 2022
But that wasn’t enough as it turned out. College football fans lit up Twitter talking about the improbable finish. Ralph D. Russo perhaps summed it up best, tweeting, “Amazing, Houston. Brutal, Memphis.”
Amazing, Houston.
Brutal, Memphis.— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 8, 2022
Clayton Tune finished the game by completing 11 of his last 13 passes for 100 yards and two TDs in the last four minutes.
He finished the night 36-of-58 for 366 and three TDs.#AmericanFB x #GoCoogs https://t.co/9nikUFpU61
— American Football (@American_FB) October 8, 2022
When you had Memphis -2.5. pic.twitter.com/xeRKa5V5rx
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) October 8, 2022
That Houston vs Memphis game (no matter what side you were on this particular game) is exactly why all of us gamble. And Twas a beautiful thing
— TheUnitSports (@TheUnitSports) October 8, 2022
WHAT AN OVER IN HOUSTON/MEMPHIS!
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) October 8, 2022
Who knew that the unbelievable effort Houston QB Clayton Tune exhibited on that fourth-and-long scramble from deep in his territory down 13 with about 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter would be the turning point against Memphis? Incredible comeback by the Cougars.
— Guerry Smith (@Guersmith) October 8, 2022
What a win for Houston. Clayton Tune just saved everybody’s job
— Scott Reichel (@ReichelRadio) October 8, 2022
Houston coach Dana Holgorsen told reporters after the game, “Just when you think it can’t get any crazier …” (via the Chronicle).
