Southern Miss Shocks Houston In 2011 C-USA Championship

Conference USA Championship 2011 Final Score: Southern Miss Ruins Everything

A good day for Southern Miss (and Michigan, TCU, and Kansas State) is a bad day for Houston (and all of Conference USA), as the Golden Eagles take the 2011 Conference USA crown. Two-touchdown underdogs coming in, the Golden Eagles mustered a 49-28 victory over the otherwise unbeaten Houston Cougars. 

That's UH's lowest point total of the year by more than a touchdown, by the way, and the last seven came in the closing seconds.

Case Keenum was far from his usual perfect self, throwing an end zone interception, while under harassment from Cordarro Law and friends. Austin Davis threw for 279 yards and kept chains moving with his legs, while Tracy Lampley was good for 196 total yards from scrimmage.

The loss costs Conference USA something like $11 million in BCS money and opens up a spot for those teams in the teens without a spot. Highly ranked outcasts Boise State and Houston aren't promised anything, as they failed to win their conferences. But TCU did, as did Southern Miss.

For more on this game, visit SB Nation Houston.

Southern Miss Vs. Houston Score Update: Coogs On The Ropes

The Houston Cougars looked set to close it up in the third quarter against Southern Miss, but Case Keenum threw an interception into the end zone. It's been that sort of afternoon in Houston. The ball moved up and down the field, and now it's 35-21, Golden Eagles, with 18 minutes to go. A Desmond Johnson touchdown countered a Michael Hayes rush, and here we are.

If Southern Miss can knock the Cougars out of a BCS bowl game, it will cost each Conference USA school approximately $1.4 million. SMU coach Larry Fedora, on the other hand, stands to make about that much for himself in raises, wherever it is he may end up at some point, so you'll forgive his lack of sympathy, Rice Owls.

It could be good news for the TCU Horned Frogs, who would be the highest-ranked non-AQ conference champion. There's still no guarantee they'd be able to sneak into a BCS game of their own, but let's just say this game is a big deal throughout Texas right now.

For more on this game, visit SB Nation Houston.

2011 Conference USA Championship Halftime Score: Upset Alert Still On

The Houston Cougars' path to the BCS won't be quite as easy as certain corners of Vegas had predicted -- the Coogs were favored over Southern Miss by two touchdowns -- but UH is still in respectable shape. The score at halftime of the 2011 Conference USA Championship Game is 21-14, Golden Eagles.

Wind-afflicted Case Keenum has only 152 yards on 22 attempts, though SMU's D deserves plenty of credit in keeping the nation's top offense contained for 30 minutes. With the ball to start the third quarter, the Eagles boast the momentum in addition to the lead.

Austin Davis has 39 yards rushing and 164 through the air, along with all three touchdowns. Dominique Sullivan is the box score star so far, having produced 85 yards worth of catches.

Very interested to see whether the SMU defense can keep holding on.

For more on this game, visit SB Nation Houston.

Houston Vs. Southern Miss Score: Golden Eagles Strike Quick, Retake Lead

Halfway through the second quarter, Case Keenum and the undefeated Houston Cougars finally got on the board in the Conference USA title game. Keenum hit Justin Johnson for a nine yard touchdown, capping an 11 play, 65 yard drive that got the Cougar crowd back into the game. The Cougars' quarterback hit Johnson in the middle of the field, and he fought through the defense to just break the plane. He bobbled the ball going to the ground but recovered the rock for the score.

Just two minutes later after a Southern Miss three-and-out, the Cougars evened it up at 14. The quick strike drive was highlighted by another big play to Justin Johnson. Keenum hit Johnson in stride in the middle of the field, and the Cougar wideout raced down the middle of the field to the one yard line. Just one play later, Michael Hayes would go over the top to tie the game.

Keenum is now 15 of 21 for 152 yards, and has hit on his last 11 throws as the Cougars look to get their high powered offense rolling after a silent first quarter. The Golden Eagles have managed to put pressure on Keenum for much of the afternoon, but the Cougars look like their back on track in the second quarter. 

The Golden Eagles, however, quickly responded to re-take the lead at 21-14. Quarterback Austin Davis hit Dominique Sullivan for a 75 yard touchdown. It was a career-long catch for Sullivan, and a quick response to quiet the Cougar crowd.

Southern Miss Vs. Houston Score: Cougars In Trouble

Conference USA Championship 2011 Score: Southern Miss Finally Cracks End Zone

Did you expect the Houston Cougars and Southern Miss Golden Eagles to combine for eleventy points in the first quarter of the 2011 Conference USA Championship Game? The two top-15 offenses have combined for seven points through the first quarter, a 14-yard touchdown pass from Austin Davis to Ryan Balentine.

Weather has been an issue, with a stern breeze disrupting UH's electric passing game somewhat. It's also rendered Houston's special teams useless -- Richie Leone is averaging 22.2 yards per punt.

Southern Miss' No. 25 defense could give Case Keenum and company its toughest task of the year, but don't expect the Cougars to be held out of the end zone for much longer. Houston has started out slow before, even trailing for much of the first half in Keenum's nine-touchdown game.

Still! We've got ourselves a competition here in Texas.

For more on this game, visit SB Nation Houston.

Houston Vs. Southern Miss, Conference USA Championship Game 2011: TV Schedule, Odds And More

The No. 7 Houston Cougars will put their unblemished record on the line this weekend as they take on the No. 24 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the Conference USA Championship Game from Robertson Stadium.

Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall Rap About Conference USA Football

Conference USA Championship 2011, Houston Vs. Southern Miss

Case Keenum and the undefeated Cougars put their BCS at-large hopes on the line against Southern Miss in the 2011 Conference USA Championship Game.