The Houston Cougars stare down the back half of their schedule after putting the rest of the Big 12 on notice and establishing themselves as real contenders for

Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars have reignited Houston’s basketball heartbeat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla., could also be an option, school officials favor a bowl close to home that would allow fans to attend the game. The only other could be the Alamo Bowl, held Dec. 30 in San Antonio. Of course, the Cougars (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) could be in line for a bigger postseason destination if they continue to win.

The Houston Coogs have gotten out to a 7-1 start with eyes on the Big 12 championship game, here's a look at one of the reasons behind the Coogs' success.

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia coaches and players have a lot to do during the week. They have to correct the past and then quickly prepare for the future. There are only a couple of days to do so. This is similar for journalists.

The Cougars are among 16 college teams that will be featured in the popular video game series early next year.

Kenny Dillingham doesn’t want his team reveling in the Texas Tech victory too long. With the Houston Cougars on deck, ASU has work ahead.

Cougars strength and conditioning coach Kurt Hester died on Oct. 25, just a few hours before Houston 's 24-16 win over No. 25 Arizona State. Hester was battling Stage IV melanoma, a fight that was featured on ESPN's "College GameDay" earlier this season.

For the Houston Cougars, it's impossible to overstate the importance of Saturday night's game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Both teams enter this game at a perfect 4-0, but their perception in the college football landscape is very different.

One of the biggest surprises in the Big 12, the Cougars moved into the top five of this week's power rankings for the first time this season after a road upset against Arizona State. In coach Willie Fritz's second season, the Cougars are 7-1 and ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls for the first time in more than three years.