HOUSTON (AP) -Through the big wins and high rankings of this season, the Houston Cougars remained focused on a goal of winning the West division of Conference USA.
After their latest surprising loss, a 37-32 defeat by Central Florida, that goal is in serious jeopardy and reaching it is no longer strictly up to them. No. 24 Houston is in second place in the C-USA West with two games remaining, starting with Saturday's contest against Memphis.
The Cougars (8-2, 4-2 CUSA) will have to win Saturday and next week against Rice to have a chance to play in the conference title game. They would still need division leader SMU to lose at least one of its last two games.
``There's still a lot of football to play and who knows what's going to happen,'' Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. ``We can't be concerned with speculating or worrying about what other people do. We have to worry about the games that we play and winning those games, then we'll see what happens.''
Quarterback Case Keenum echoed Sumlin's sentiments and said his job is to keep the team focused this week.
``If you get worried about who is playing who and who has to win then you get thinking about things that aren't important,'' he said. ``It all doesn't matter if we don't go out and win Saturday.''
Next up is a Memphis team that is simply trying to get through a difficult season that has already led to the dismissal of coach Tommy West. He was fired Nov. 9 but agreed to finish the season. The school said it wanted to go in a different direction after the season and West said Memphis (1-5, 2-8) needs to dedicate more money to the football program or shut it down.
This week, West is burdened with finding a way to slow down Keenum and the Cougars' prolific passing game with an injury-depleted secondary. Keenum leads the nation with 419.4 yards passing a game and Memphis is allowing 255 yards passing a game, 105th in the country.
``They are as good of an offensive team as I have seen in the nine years I have been in the league,'' West said. ``We'll have to put together a good plan to give our guys a chance to compete. This isn't a very good matchup for us being the way we are in the secondary right now and with them being a passing team.''
The Tigers lost safety Akeem Davis to a season-ending knee injury early in the season and will likely be without fellow safety Marcus Ball because of a foot injury. Ball leads the team with two interceptions.
``I never figured out how to cover people without secondary people,'' West said. ``We have worked some miracles through the years. I told our players how good (the Cougars) are. But ... to have a chance we have to try to limit their big plays.''
West hopes to control the Cougars passing game by making running easier for the team.
``We have to invite them to do some things and take them away,'' West said. ``I have never been in a game where I've invited a team to run the ball, but this may be it. We will get the defense playing. We will see what we can do. It's a heck of a challenge, I will say that.''
Despite its problems, Sumlin knows they can't overlook Memphis.
``All of our focus right now is on Memphis and what we need to do to win this game,'' he said. ``When I look at Memphis, I see a big, talented athletic team. There's been a lot of controversy this year particularly with Tommy (West) being let go. He has a tremendous amount of pride and so does that program.''
Keenum is looking forward to playing at home after two tough weeks on the road. The Cougars stay at home next week to finish the regular season against crosstown rival Rice.
``It's always nice coming home after an away stretch and have some people cheering for you instead of people booing and heckling you - that's never fun,'' he said. ``I do enjoy playing at home.''
