Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 30-18 win over Houston

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between BYU and Houston. Check back for updates throughout the game.
BYU 30, Houston 18
It may have been ugly, but the Cougars got the job done in defeating Houston to notch a 10-2 regular season.
BYU coughed up three turnovers but forced four on defense, coupling such an effort with 356 total yards of offense to win by a 30-18 margin.
Jake Retzlaff went 8 of 19 in passing for 167 yards, but ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns — giving him 26 total scores on the season. The Cougars ran for 189 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per play.
LJ Martin logged 22 carries for 87 yards, while Chase Roberts and Keelan Marion combined for six catches and 118 yards.
On defense, Jack Kelly had a sack, interception and forced fumble, Tanner Wall had 13 tackles, Tyler Batty picked off a pass, Isaiah Glasker got a sack and John Nelson jarred a ball loose as well.
BYU will now wait until Dec. 8 to find out where it will be playing its bowl game.
BYU 30, Houston 18
2:32 — BYU forces another turnover.
John Nelson forced a fumble on Zeion Chriss, with Logan Lutui recovering it right away on the Houston 21-yard line. BYU 30, Houston 18.
2:52 — Jake Retzlaff may have just called game.
The BYU quarterback scampered into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, putting his Cougars ahead by two scores. BYU 30, Houston 18.
A minor brawl broke out following the score, with Houston’s A.J. Haulcy and BYU’s Darius Lassiter each being ejected.
Retzlaff now has six rushing touchdowns on the season, the most for a BYU quarterback since Zach Wilson had 10 in 2020.
5:23 — BYU’s defense finally came through in the clutch.
On a major fourth down, Jack Kelly sacked QB Zeon Chriss and caused him to fumble, with the ball being recovered by Blake Mangelson for a 38-yard BYU gain. BYU 24, Houston 18.
Another BYU score should put the game away for the Cougars in blue.
8:34 — Houston is making things interesting.
The red Cougars drove 69 yards downfield across 12 plays for a Zeon Chriss touchdown, notching a two-point conversion afterward to cut the deficit to six points. BYU 24, Houston 18.
With Houston refusing to go down quietly and BYU suddenly playing some of its sloppiest football of the season, this contest sure feels far from over. Can Kalani Sitake’s Cougars put this one away?
BYU 24, Houston 10
0:17 — A 22-yard Will Ferrin field goal puts BYU ahead by two touchdowns. BYU 24, Houston 10.
The kick marks Ferrin’s 21st made field goal of 2024, tying him for the program record for makes in a season.
6:11 — BYU’s sloppiness continues.
Parker Kingston muffed a punt, allowing Houston to recovery at its own 44-yard line. BYU 21, Houston 10.
8:20 — Tough red zone mistake for BYU.
Jake Retzlaff fumbled at the Houston 6-yard line, with Kentrell Webb coming up with the recovery. BYU 21, Houston 10.
Retzlaff has now lost three fumbles this season as part of 13 total turnovers compared to a combined 25 passing and rushing scores.
11:38 — Make that 20 interceptions for this BYU defense.
Jack Kelly snatched his first pick of the season, giving the Cougar offense the ball back at Houston’s 42-yard line. BYU 21, Houston 10.
Kelly is the 12th different BYU defender to record an interception this season.
BYU 21, Houston 10
What a wacky half of football.
A pair of defensive linemen accounted for a 52-yard fumble return and an interception. An onside kick was brought back untouched for a touchdown. BYU’s awkward offense somehow came alive in the final minute for an 80-yard touchdown drive.
You’ve got to credit the Cougars. They may be out of the Big 12 championship running, but they’re still putting in the effort to keep things interesting.
Jake Retzlaff went 6-12 in passing for 110 yards before halftime, adding another 40 and a score on the ground. BYU as a team has racked up 235 yards of offense at an average of 7.6 yards per play.
Tyler Batty grabbed an interception, Isaiah Glasker got a sack and Tanner Wall has flown around everywhere for nine tackles already.
Houston will receive the second half kickoff trailing by 11 points, having posted 182 total yards in the first 30 minutes of play.
BYU 21, Houston 10
0:09 — BYU returns to life just before halftime.
Jake Retzlaff orchestrated a six-play, 80-yard drive over 50 seconds, culminating with his own rushing touchdown to put his Cougars ahead by two scores. BYU 21, Houston 10.
Retzlaff’s touchdown came on a scamper of 13 yards, preceded two plays prior by a 52-yard strike to Chase Roberts.
7:55 — Sione I Moa is back in business.
BYU’s freshman running back found the end zone for the first time in over two months to cap a 73-yard scoring drive put his team back ahead. BYU 14, Houston 10.
The Cougars in blue have now piled up 138 total yards on the night, averaging 6.4 yards per carry on the ground.
11:48 — Houston pulls ahead once again with a 26-yard field goal. Houston 10, BYU 7.
BYU 7, Houston 7
1:40 — Redemption is a beautiful thing.
Last week at Arizona State, Talan Alfrey muffed an onside kick which resulted in a Sun Devils recovery. Tonight, Alfrey calmly collected a Houston squib attempt and ran it back 58 yards for a game-tying return touchdown. BYU 7, Houston 7.
BYU has now returned three kicks for touchdowns in 2024 — two by Keelan Marion and one from Alfrey.
1:47 — Houston draws first blood in the battle of the Cougars.
Quarterback Zeon Chriss found the end zone on a short keeper to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive for the visitors in red. Houston 7, BYU 0.
8:57 — The Cougars strike back with a defensive takeaway of their own.
Houston’s own reverse attempt was quickly snuffed out and resulted in an interception by BYU defensive end Tyler Batty, who ran 14 yards to his own 37-yard line before being brought down. BYU 0, Houston 0.
BYU has now recorded an interception in every game this season, with 11 different Cougars picking off 19 total passes.
9:48 — And just like that, BYU coughs up perhaps its most unique turnover of the season.
Houston immediately blew up an attempted reverse play, with defensive lineman Carlos Allen snagging the loose fumble out of midair and returning it 57 yards to the Cougars’ 14-yard line. BYU 0, Houston 0.
BYU had traveled 46 yards into Houston territory prior to the miscue.
BYU’s road showdown with Houston will be televised on ESPN and can also be streamed on the ESPN app.
Here are a few stories to get you ready for BYU’s game against Houston.