Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Brett Davis

Houston has to run the table to have a shot at the playoff, given it's a non-Power 5 program, which means beating Oklahoma and Louisville, and then it needs both of those teams to have good seasons independent of a loss to the Cougars. That's not likely, but it is possible. For starters, both of those games are in Houston (the opener against Oklahoma is technically a "neutral site" game at NRG Field, home of the Texans), and the Cougars do return the talent to play with anyone. Quarterback Greg Ward is coming off a season in which he accounted for over 3,300 yards of total offense and nearly 40 touchdowns, while the defense should again be stout. The question again: Can they beat the two Power-5 schools in front of them, starting with Oklahoma in Week 1?