Serving as offensive coordinator was John Jenkins, who succeeded Pardee as head coach following the season.

These Cougars boasted the first squad to have a 4,000-yard passer (Andre Ware), 1,000-yard rusher (Chuck Weatherspoon), and 1,000-yard receiver (Manny Hazard) in FBS history, finishing the season ranked as No.

[1] Junior quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy and Davey O'Brien Award following the conclusion of the season.

Under probation by the NCAA from rules violated in prior seasons, Houston was ineligible for participation in a bowl game and could not be listed in the Coaches Poll.

Ware became the first Black quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy when he threw for 4,699 yards, 46 touchdowns, and set 27 NCAA records.