Houston Eliminated

Now only Boise State remains of the have nots. The Houston Cougars headed to the West Texas town of El Paso and came back with a "L" as UTEP prevailed 58-41. Cougar fans, say good bye to your BCS dreams.

Hey the game was entertaining. Both Houston and UTEP combined for 99 points and while the Cougars have held it's own in shootouts, including a pair of win over Big 12 teams, the Miners had more fire power and came up with the big defensive play when Roddray Walker recovers a bad snap by Houston and raced 70-yard for the touchdown with 3:28 left in the game, sealing UTEP's first win over a ranked opponent in 12 years.

"It was a blast," UTEP head coach Mike Price told the El Paso Times "We haven't had enough fun. I told the players were going to have fun, and it was fun.

It may have been fun for the Miners but the Cougars have to think what might have been. QB Case Keenum posted career highs in completions (51), attempts (76) and threw for a career best 536 yards but even he couldn't do it all. UTEP just simply outgunned Houston.

Expect Houston to free-fall in the college football polls because a loss on the road to a conference opponent that was 1-3 going into the game means the Cougars have lost a lot of credibility.

Or maybe the Cougars were looking ahead to their game next Saturday at Stark-vegas against Mississippi State of the SEC. That game looms large now.

Here's partial highlights from KTSM-TV with bonus coverage of the New Mexico State/San Diego State game. http://www.ktsm.com/sports/utep-shocks-12-houston-sun-bowl

Here's the UTEP fans storming the field after the win. (Thanks Youtube.com)

Photo Courtesy: Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle