Dana Holgorsen names Donovan Smith as Houston starting quarterback

The Houston Cougars have their starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Head coach Dana Holgorsen announced on Saturday that Donovan Smith has been named the starter, according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.

Smith transferred to Houston this offseason, after spending the previous three years at Texas Tech.

During his time with the Red Raiders, Smith appeared in 21 games. He passed for 2,686 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 261 yards and 10 scores during that time.

Smith will replace Clayton Tune, who was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft following an incredible college career.

“Donovan has had an incredible June, an incredible July. And a really, really, really good two-and-a half weeks of camp,” Holgorsen told reporters. “He’s the clear cut starter, you know. Whether that’s breaking news or not I don’t know. Our team knows it. Our team’s felt it.”

Smith beat out sophomore Lucas Coley, who appeared in three games in 2022. Coley was the backup to Tune by the end of last season.

He also beat out fellow sophomore Ui Ale, who transferred in from Golden West College.

“Lucas Coley’s battled. He’s done well. Uia Ale is somebody to keep an eye one. He’s young; he’s talented. He’s caught our attention,” Holgorsen said. “So I feel good about where our quarterback room is right now, but look, this is Donovan’s team at this point.”

Dana Holgorsen addresses possibility of Houston-SMU rivalry returning

Donovan Smith will be the starter for Houston this season but he won’t get to play longtime Cougars rival SMU.

With Houston jumping from the American Conference to the Big 12, its long-standing rivalry with SMU has been put on ice. That doesn’t mean the rivalry is gone for good, though. There’s still a chance that the two teams can face off as nonconference opponents in the future. Dana Holgorsen, addressed the possibility of the two teams facing off in the near future this offseason.

“I don’t even know what our nonconference stuff’s gonna look like, based on we don’t know what the Big 12 is gonna look like in ’24, ’25,” said Holgorsen. “I know we’re gonna have to cut some nonconference stuff right now based on what’s scheduled. The Big 12 model has always been; play one Power-5, one Group of 5, (and) one FCS. So that’s the model that we’re looking towards trying to get to.

“How does SMU fit into that? I don’t know. That’s all nonconference stuff that is years in advance. I’d be all about it. I’ve been a part of that game for a long time. That’s a pretty wild game most of the time. So if it fits, it’s good. But it’s gotta fit within that model.”