SMU Mustangs

Houston tapes SMU jerseys to floor to symbolize 'walking over' rival

Published Oct. 7, 2015 6:33 p.m. ET

foxsports

There are plenty of heated rivalries in college football: Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, Oklahoma-Texas, just to name a few.

Houston-SMU wouldn't normally be thought of in that conversation, especially with the Cougars having dominated the series in recent years; they've won eight of the past nine against the oft-struggling Mustangs. But Houston, unbeaten at 4-0 under new coach Tom Herman, has turned the thermostat up a bit this week in preparation for its game against SMU, which is 1-4 but has looked much more competitive this season under new coach Chad Morris.

According to Houston Chronicle reporter Joseph Duarte, the Cougars have taped Mustangs jerseys to the floor in the football facility this week to help visualize "walking over" their in-state, American Athletic Conference rivals.

Another SMU jersey taped to floor this week in @UHCougarFB complex pic.twitter.com/pk6iIDKZfo
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) October 5, 2015

Areas that @UHCougarFB will walk through (over) this week in preparation for Thursday game vs. SMU pic.twitter.com/MnFVGd9xRv
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) October 5, 2015

Houston hosts SMU on Thursday night, and if the Cougars' preparation is any indicator, this one might be more entertaining than a typical midweek AAC affair.