Listed in the order that they were released
The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Cougars predicted to finish in second place in the AAC West Division.[ 13]
Media poll (West)
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Memphis
171 (23)
2
Houston
146 (4)
3
Navy
129 (3)
4
SMU
72
5
Tulane
68
6
Tulsa
44
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 11:00 a.m. at Rice * CBSSN W 45–2726,390
September 8 11:00 a.m. Arizona * ABC/ESPN2 W 45–1832,534
September 15 3:00 p.m. at Texas Tech * FOX L 49–6353,484
September 22 7:00 p.m. Texas Southern * ESPN3 W 70–1429,970
7:00 p.m. Tulsa ESPN W 41–2629,823
October 13 6:00 p.m. at East Carolina CBSSN W 42–2029,851
October 20 2:30 p.m. at Navy CBSSN W 49–3633,924
October 27 2:30 p.m. No. 21 South Florida ABC/ESPN2 W 57–3631,631
November 3 6:00 p.m. at SMU ESPNU L 31–4523,654
November 10 6:00 p.m. Temple CBSSN L 49–5930,862
7:00 p.m. Tulane ESPN W 48–1724,209
11:00 a.m. at Memphis ABC L 31–5227,790
December 22 2:30 p.m. vs. Army * ESPN L 14–7044,738
Schedule Source: [ 14]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
3
14
14
14
45
Owls
7
17
3
0
27
[ 15]
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
0
10
8
18
Cougars
21
10
7
7
45
[ 16]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
21
7
14
7
49
Red Raiders
14
21
14
14
63
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
0
0
7
7
14
Cougars
14
28
7
21
70
1
2
3
4
Total
Golden Hurricane
13
0
10
3
26
Cougars
7
10
0
24
41
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
14
7
7
14
42
Pirates
0
3
3
14
20
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
7
14
14
14
49
Midshipmen
10
14
0
12
36
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 21 Bulls
0
21
15
0
36
Cougars
14
14
15
14
57
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 17 Cougars
0
14
3
14
31
Mustangs
10
21
7
7
45
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
14
14
21
10
59
Cougars
7
7
21
14
49
1
2
3
4
Total
Green Wave
6
3
0
8
17
Cougars
14
17
10
7
48
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
7
14
10
0
31
Tigers
3
14
14
21
52
Vs. Army (Armed Forces Bowl)
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
0
7
0
7
14
No. 22 Black Knights
14
28
14
14
70
Players drafted into the NFL
edit
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV RV RV — — — — RV RV RV 17 RV — RV — — Coaches RV RV RV RV — — — RV RV RV 17 RV — — — CFP Not released — — — — — Not released
^ "Army West Point dominates en route to 70-14 victory" . Armed Forces Bowl . Retrieved December 28, 2018 .
^ Sallee, Barrett. "Houston fires coach Major Applewhite after just two seasons with the Cougars" . cbssports.com . Retrieved December 30, 2018 .
^ "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best" . lottimpacttrophy.org . Retrieved July 17, 2018 .
^ "Rimington Trophy Press Release" . May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018 .
^ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List" . July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018 .
^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List" . July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018 .
^ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List" . July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018 .
^ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED" . July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018 .
^ "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled" . July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018 .
^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List" . July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018 .
^ Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List" " . Retrieved July 30, 2018 .
^ "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF) . August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018 .
^ "UCF Tabbed as Favorite in 2018 Preseason Media Poll" . TheAmerican.org . Retrieved July 24, 2018 .
^ "2018 Houston Cougars Football Schedule" . FB Schedules. Retrieved April 27, 2018 .
^ "Houston vs. Rice - Game Summary - September 1, 2018" . ESPN . Retrieved September 8, 2018 .
^ "Arizona vs. Houston - Game Summary - September 8, 2018" . ESPN . Retrieved September 8, 2018 .