Sam Houston sits at 0–1 after dropping a 24–21 road decision to Troy in Week 1, holding a rating of –26 and ranking 134th per GIE. The Bearkats haven't moved in the model's assessment week-to-week, suggesting the loss aligned with preseason expectations rather than signaling a sudden collapse. A red-zone TD rate of just 14% hints at execution lapses when opportunities matter most—a pattern worth monitoring as the season unfolds. Next up is a home matchup against Tulsa, a chance to reset before conference play intensifies. GIE projects 1.96 wins across the full season; the playoff probability reads 0%.