Willie Fritz's University of Houston football team drops three spots to No. 19 in the Coaches Poll. Both its losses being one score games on the road to ranked teams seems to help Conner Weigman and Co. from falling too far. Undefeated Utah jumps up four spots to No. 5 in the country, while Texas Tech plummets nine spots to No. 14 after its own loss.

Houston comes off the field after its season-altering 21-13 loss to Utah. Quarterback Conner Weigman keeps his helmet on all the way into the tunnel. Javion White slams his down on the turf in frustration. Assistant head coach Shawn Bell circles back to scoop up some of inside padding of helmet off the field. Just a heartbreaking reality for the Cougars with the repercussions of what this loss means for Willie Fritz's team. And what was right there to be grabbed. Utah is undefeated and four other Big 12 teams are 3-1. While Willie Fritz's team is 3-2 in the Big 12. UH has to hope for more Big 12 madness going forward now.

Willie Fritz's University of Houston football team walking into Rice-Eccles Stadium for one of the biggest games of the entire Big 12 season. The winner of UH v. Utah will have a great chance to make the College Football Playoffs.

With the Lakers in town to play the Utah Jazz tomorrow afternoon, former University of Houston basketball star Quentin Grimes is here on the UH sideline.

University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson on his team heading into Sunday's exhibition game against defending national champion Michigan: "Time, it takes time. (Point guard) DJ (Thomas)'s got to learn (7-foot freshman center) Arafan (Diane). It's going to take a while for that. JoJo (Tugler). Recco (Gillespie). We're playing more guys than we have. "Only because we have more depth. When have good depth, you're playing more people. Which in some ways slows you down because you've got more people that's got to learn. When you're only playing six or seven, you can get them to play a little quicker."

Inside Wes and Willie Fritz’s Next Level Houston Roster Building — How a young son’s never-ending questions grew into a rising college football power @PaperCityMag papercitymag.com/culture/wes…

University of Houston's basketball practice ended around 5:45 pm today, but transfer guard Corey Hadnot II was still on the court, completing extra shooting drills after 7:10 pm. Getting through the drills that assistant coaches Hollis Price, Anthony Goldwire and development coach Ryan Elvin prefer is not always for the faint of heart. With Hadnot going through what guys like Marcus Sasser and Quentin Grimes have gone through in the years before him. So when Hadnot finally finished, Price, Goldwire, Elvin and all the managers staying late celebrated with the last guy in the gym for a moment.

Kevin Durant on how different the Houston Rockets are with Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart: "Last year we started in our backcourt, Twin (Amen Thompson) and Josh Okogie. And a lot of time those guys are being left at the 3-point line. And their men are helping guard guys in the paint. So when we've got Fred and Marcus Smart out there who can keep the defense honest at the 3-point line and then Twin just roaming around just doing everything. Grabbing offensive rebounds, making assists, dunks, floaters, everything. "That put everybody into a good position. That settle everybody into what they do best. You've seen how efficient Alpe (Sengun) was tonight. Bari (Smith Jr.). Everybody's just more efficient when they're just in their roles, doing what they do. "Everybody had to play point guard by committee last year. And I think having a few natural point guards on our team, that's going to help everybody."

Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet on turning to Texans QB C.J. Stroud, who was sitting court side, after one of his assists: "It was a nice pass. But I didn't get my full proper form. Saw him out there. Me and C.J. have developed a great relationship over the last few years. "He's playing at an all-time level right now. So I just wanted to see what he thought of my quarterback pass." Stroud's verdict? "He said it was good. He gave me two thumbs up."

Marcus Sasser finished with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in his return to Houston, the most points he's scored in an NBA game since last January 1st. A big season for Sasser, the final year of his rookie contract, is off to a promising start in his first game with the Mavericks.

Hall of Fame Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich tells @PaperCityMag that people have been asking him about when a Rudy T's diner is going to open since those commercials teasing the new uniforms first aired. "It's a great idea and very creative," Tomjanovich says. "Then people started asking when it's going to open. Where it's going to be. My grandson called me up and said, 'Grandpa, how come you didn't tell us about this diner?' "Now it's real. And here it is."

Championship Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich himself serving burgers and Dream Shakes at the new Rudy T's diner concession stand at Toyota Center for opening night. Tomjanovich has his diner hat and red Rudy T's apron on to the delight of the fans.

Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris on Houston coach Willie Fritz: "Just a ton of respect for how he does it. Just reminds me of my dad - a little bit of an old school coach - just growing up like that. He's a guy that sticks to his guns. "(Fritz)'s teams are tough. They're gritty. They know what their plan is and they go out there and they execute. Really well coached on all three sides of the ball." Eric Morris' dad is longtime Texas high school basketball coach Ray Morris who retired with nearly 600 wins and won the state championship in 2004 with Eric Morris as one of his star players. Morris was responding to a @PaperCityMag question on Fritz.

Houston basketball guard Mercy Miller is a veteran of a program that's won 65 games and made a run to the national championship game during his first two seasons with the Coogs. But even Miller found himself caught up in the excitement of the UH football weekend: "It's major," Miller tells @PaperCityMag. ". . . I feel like Houston being one of the best Top 25 teams in the nation, there's no reason why we shouldn't sell out these games. I'm just excited to see all the buzz and everybody here gathering in the community."

University of Houston coach Willie Fritz on UH wearing an Unbreakable patch on its uniforms for this Saturday's game vs. Utah in memory of beloved strength coach Kurt Hester, who passed away last October 25: "Our great strength coach, great friend and great person. So we're going to honor him at the game. "Because he's just such a great influence on our football program."

Kelvin Sampson's University of Houston basketball team comes in at No. 10 in the first AP College Basketball Preseason Poll of the season. Sampson's Cougars have finished in the Top 7 of the final AP Top 25 for four straight seasons. And everyone in the program is quietly very excited about this revamped, more vintage Kelvin team. 📷 @fcarters

One of the best postgame moments of Houston's win over Oklahoma State was UH wide receiver Koby Young running up the stairs into the stands to celebrate with the student section. Young even borrowed a few students' phones and filmed videos of him and the college kids having fun, leaving some unforgettable memories on those devices. "He's a special dude," UH quarterback Conner Weigman says of Young. "Special personality. Special talent. I can't say enough good things about Koby. He was a captain for us this week. What an honor it was for him when he got named the captain. "I don't think he stopped smiling for 30 minutes." It turned out to be a special night for Young in many ways. And he made sure the UH students felt like a big part of it.

Conner Weigman Wants His Respect, Houston Football Earns It On a National College GameDay Level and Willie Fritz Loves the “90 Percent Houston” Crowd Fever. @PaperCityMag papercitymag.com/culture/con…

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman when I ask if it motivates him that he never seems to be NFL mentioned while other QBs are touted and fawned over; "A little bit. It would be cool to just get a little bit of respect. I know I put myself behind the eight ball a few years ago. But if the eight ball doesn't go in the cup, you've got a puncher's chance and you just got to keep punching until y'all can't deny this ship."

Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris on the atmosphere at Houston's TDECU Stadium: "Yeah, it was awesome. Back in the day this was my first job (as a grad assistant under Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury). It wasn't in this stadium, but over st old Robertson Stadium. I played in some great atmospheres here. Enjoyed it. "That's what college football should be. That's what this town, they should come out and support this team. They've got a really good team here. And they're well coached. And they play extremely hard. That's great entertainment for everybody."