On January 21, 2025, the Houston Cougars made history by holding the Utah Utes to just 36 points in a regular-season game, marking a first in Big 12 history.

The final score of the game was Houston 70, Utah 36, with Houston showcasing dominance by never trailing and leading by as much as 37 points.

Houston's defense was particularly impressive, allowing only 13 baskets on 43 field goal attempts, which translates to a mere 30.2% shooting percentage for Utah, while forcing the Utes into 26 turnovers.

Despite Houston's strong overall record of 15-3 and a perfect 7-0 in the Big 12, their ranking at 17th is largely due to a lack of victories in Quadrant 1 (Q1) games, a critical factor for NCAA tournament seeding.

This season, Houston has had only three Q1 opportunities, in stark contrast to Auburn, which leads the nation with 11 such chances.

Looking ahead, the Cougars have upcoming games against Kansas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech, all projected as Q1 opportunities that could bolster their ranking and tournament prospects.

According to KenPom.com, Houston is favored to win each of their next three games, which could significantly enhance their resume in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.

With this victory, the Utes improved their record to 15-3 overall and maintained a perfect 7-0 record in the Big 12, further solidifying their position in the conference.

The Big 12 Conference, founded in 1994 and commencing its games in 1996, continues to be a competitive league with teams vying for top rankings.