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Houston Cougars prepare for interception opportunities against Utah

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 22, 2026, 8:59 PM

Last updated Oct 22, 2026

Houston Cougars prepare for interception opportunities against Utah

Summary

The Houston Cougars, led by defensive back Will James, will face the 10th-ranked Utah Utes on Saturday in Salt Lake City. Houston's defense has tallied six interceptions this season but has missed 15 additional opportunities, according to coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars rank third in the Big 12 and emphasize the need to capitalize on turnovers to avoid extending drives for opposing offenses. This week, the team has focused on improving their takeaways in practice, which have increased over the past three games. James noted his frustrations with missed chances earlier this season and expressed relief after finally securing an interception against Oklahoma State.

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Status Watch

•Houston holds a 6-1 record, tied for third in the Big 12.
•Utah is currently 6-0, ranked 10th in the nation.
•Houston's defense needs to finish more plays to increase interception counts.
•James aims to turn frustrations into on-field performance against Utah.
•Cougars have improved their interception tally with half coming in recent games.

Latest Updates

8:59 PMYahoo Sports — Will James, UH defense looking to make most of its chances for interceptions against Utah

What they're saying

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Houston has six interceptions and says it missed 15 others. The Cougars face Utah's top-10 offense and veteran quarterback Devon Dampier.
— Yahoo Sports

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