Sam Houston: 2026 Week 12 recap

Sam Houston sits at 1–8 and ranked 131st by GIE after a 47–14 loss at Jacksonville State last week dropped their rating to −20.7. The 2.7-point downgrade reflects a season-long struggle in critical moments: third-down conversion sits at 23%, and red-zone efficiency—just 14% for touchdowns—has been a persistent drain on scoring potential. The Bearcats rarely get second chances, converting only 36% of fourth downs, which compounds the margin-of-error problem in a league where execution matters. Sam Houston hosts Kennesaw State this week with a playoff probability of zero and an expected-win total of 1.9—indicating the model sees little path to salvage the season from here.