ent team than we were last year, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. Right then we were trying to even find out who we are and what we were doing and everything was new to Lamar when he was out there ... just understanding the difference between high

HOUSTON -- Last season, Houston outlasted Louisville 34-31 thanks in part to miscues by Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson in his first career start.Things have changed.Jackson is now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and has No. 3 Louisville (9-1) in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff as the Cardinals visit Houston on Thursday night .Jackson threw for 168 yards and a touchdown against the Cougars last season. But also tossed two interceptions, and a late touchdown pass by Greg Ward helped Houston to the victory.Were a much different team than we were last year, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. Right then we were trying to even find out who we are and what we were doing and everything was new to Lamar when he was out there ... just understanding the difference between high school football and college football. So I dont think last years game will play into this game at all.This season, Jackson has thrown for 2,898 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has added 1,334 yards rushing and leads the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns.His performance has helped the Cardinals rise to No. 5 in the CFP rankings with two games remaining. But Petrino insists that they arent overly concerned with the rankings and are instead focused on the Cougars.They just have to understand that they need to go out and play well, and play the type of football we are capable of playing, Petrino said. Really, thats what we need to do our last two games, and then whatever happens, happens. We cant control any of that.The Cougars (8-2) will counter with Ward, their dual-threat quarterback. He has 2,608 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and 429 yards rushing and nine more scores. Coach Tom Herman said hell play on Thursday despite leaving Saturdays game against Tulane after aggravating a shoulder injury hes been dealing with for several weeks and being bothered by an ankle injury.He is pretty banged up, as he has been most of the year, Herman said. He still gets treatment three times a day on his ankle that really slowed him down in the SMU game and in that stretch in October ... (but) hes going to play.Some things to know about the Louisville-Houston game:STREAKINGThe Cougars have the second-longest home winning streak in the nation at 14 games. They havent lost at home since a 31-24 defeat by Tulane on Nov. 8, 2014. They have won five straight games over Top 25 teams and opened their 2016 campaign with a 33-23 win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma.THE `OTHER BACKSomewhat overshadowed by Jacksons running success is senior RB Brandon Radcliff, whose 141-yard, three-TD effort helped ignite Louisvilles comeback over Wake Forest last week. His first 100-yard performance in six games gave him 768 for the season and an outside chance at giving the Cardinals their first pair of 1,000-yard rushers.BACKING UP WARDWard will have a new backup on Thursday after Kyle Postma broke his arm last week. Postma had surgery to insert a plate and screws in his arm on Monday, leaving DEriq King to back up Ward for the rest of the season. The freshman was a high school quarterback, but has appeared in 10 games with four starts at receiver this season. He has 228 yards receiving and a touchdown.NOTHING DOINGLouisvilles defense has stiffened since losing to Clemson, yielding of average of just 14.2 points and under 246.4 yards in five games. The Cardinals held Wake Forest to 214 yards -- just 37 in the second half -- and rank sixth nationally in total defense at 285.2 yards per contest.BACK AND FEELING GOODHouston LB Tyus Bowser had a career-high 11 tackles, included a c