TDECU Stadium collectively rose to its feet as a nervous, but eager anticipation marinated through the October air. Houston was officially granted Big 12 membership on July 1, 2023, fostering in a new era of excitement within the fanbase, and a potential landmark moment for the program was excruciatingly close to ensuing.
An entire fanbase and sideline, equally starved for the Cougars’ first-ever Big 12 victory collectively watched as West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene fielded a snap on a do-or-die 4th and 10 from midfield for the visiting Mountaineers. Seconds later, the raucous crowd was stunned silent, and the internal heartbreak was louder than the noise that preceded the snap.