What Is 1968 Houston Cougars football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1968 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston during the 1968 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 6–4 record under head coach Bill Yeoman. They competed in the Southwest Conference and played home games at Rice Stadium.

Key Facts

The 1968 Houston Cougars finished the season with a 6–4 overall record
They were members of the Southwest Conference and had a 4–2 conference record
Head coach Bill Yeoman led the team in his 5th season at Houston
The Cougars played home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas
Quarterback Doug Johnson was a key offensive leader during the season

Overview

The 1968 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Competing in the Southwest Conference (SWC), the team was led by head coach Bill Yeoman in his fifth year at the helm. The Cougars finished the season with a 6–4 overall record and a 4–2 mark in conference play, showcasing steady improvement under Yeoman’s leadership.

Playing their home games at Rice Stadium, the Cougars faced a challenging schedule that included several ranked opponents. The team was known for its disciplined offense and developing defensive strength, though it narrowly missed a bowl game due to tiebreakers and selection criteria of the era. Despite the lack of postseason play, the 1968 season laid groundwork for future success in the program.

Record: The team finished with a 6–4 overall record, including a 4–2 performance in Southwest Conference games.
Coach: Bill Yeoman was in his fifth season as head coach, continuing to build a competitive program in the SWC.
Stadium: All home games were played at Rice Stadium, a shared venue with Rice University located in Houston, Texas.
Key Player: Quarterback Doug Johnson led the offense, demonstrating improved passing efficiency compared to previous seasons.
Season Outcome: The Cougars did not qualify for a bowl game, finishing just outside the postseason picture in the SWC standings.

How It Works

The structure and operation of college football teams in 1968 followed a well-defined model of recruitment, training, scheduling, and competition within NCAA guidelines. For the Houston Cougars, this meant adhering to Southwest Conference rules while developing talent under head coach Bill Yeoman’s system.

Recruiting:Recruiting was conducted regionally, focusing on Texas high school talent to build a competitive roster within NCAA limits.
Offensive Scheme:Veer offense was not yet implemented; the 1968 team used a pro-style attack before Yeoman’s later innovation.
Practice Schedule:Practices were held six days a week, peaking at two-a-day sessions during preseason camp in August.
Game Day:Home games at Rice Stadium drew average crowds of 35,000, reflecting strong local support despite no bowl berth.
Conference Play:Southwest Conference competition required travel to cities like Austin, College Station, and Fort Worth for key matchups.
Player Eligibility:Eligibility rules in 1968 required student-athletes to maintain academic standards and not exceed four seasons of play.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1968 Houston Cougars season compares to adjacent years in program history:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Bowl Game
1966	3–7	2–5	Bill Yeoman	No
1967	4–6	3–4	Bill Yeoman	No
1968	6–4	4–2	Bill Yeoman	No
1969	5–5	3–4	Bill Yeoman	No
1970	6–4	4–3	Bill Yeoman	No

The 1968 season marked a peak in wins during this stretch, showing clear progress from the 3–7 record in 1966. Though the Cougars did not go to a bowl game in any of these years, the 1968 team achieved the best conference record of the five-year span. This consistency helped establish a foundation for later breakthroughs under Yeoman, including the advent of the Veer offense in the 1970s.

Why It Matters

The 1968 Houston Cougars season is significant as a transitional year that demonstrated the program’s upward trajectory under Bill Yeoman. While not nationally renowned at the time, the improvements in win-loss record and conference performance signaled growing competitiveness.

Program Growth: The 6–4 record in 1968 was the best since 1964, indicating positive momentum under Yeoman.
Conference Relevance: A 4–2 SWC record showed Houston could compete with traditional powers like Texas and Texas A&M.
Coaching Development: Bill Yeoman refined his strategies this season before revolutionizing college football with the Veer offense.
Recruiting Base: Strong local recruiting in Houston and East Texas began yielding more consistent on-field results.
Stadium Legacy: Playing at Rice Stadium kept costs low and maintained a historic venue for fan engagement.
Foundation for Success: The 1968 season helped build credibility that led to greater success in the 1970s and beyond.

Though overshadowed by later eras, the 1968 team played a crucial role in the evolution of Houston football, setting the stage for national prominence in the decades to come.