Houston-Cincinnati Capsule

No. 6 Houston (2-0, 0-0 American Athletic) at Cincinnati (2-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).

Line: Houston by 8.

Series Record: Houston leads 14-10.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Houston has more riding on a matchup between two schools campaigning to get into the Big 12. The Cougars are ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1980. Cincinnati is looking for a signature win that would get the Bearcats back in the national conversation coming off a 7-6 season.

KEY MATCHUP

Redshirt sophomore QB Hayden Moore vs. the Houston defense: Moore regrouped from a sloppy opening game and accounted for five touchdowns during a 38-20 win at Purdue. He's never faced a defense like the Cougars' unit, which hasn't allowed another team to rush for 100 yards in the last four games and leads the nation with 111 forced turnovers since 2013.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston: QB Greg Ward Jr. sat out a 42-0 win over Lamar with a sore shoulder. He has grown from more of a running threat into a complete quarterback, completing 23 of 40 passes for 321 yards and a pair of TDs in an opening 33-23 win over No. 3 Oklahoma.

Cincinnati: S Mike Tyson. He had three of Cincinnati's five interceptions in the win at Purdue, including one in the end zone and one at the Cincinnati 15-yard line. The Bearcats have seven interceptions in the first two games. It took them nine games last season to get that many.

FACTS & FIGURES

The last three games in the series have been decided by 18 points total, with Houston winning 33-30 last season. ... Cincinnati has won six straight over Houston at Nippert Stadium, where the Cougars haven't won since 1971. ... Cincinnati's last win over a top 10 team came against Rutgers in 2006. ... The Cougars held Lamar to 73 total yards, a school-record low for their defense. Lamar didn't cross midfield. ... In the last four games, Houston has held Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma and Lamar to a combined 199 yards rushing.

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AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org