Houston ? Houston coach Art Briles looks forward to the day when a visit from Miami is seen as more than a chance for the Hurricanes to sustain their recruiting pipeline into Texas.

“We’re going to have more kids than usual at the game,” Briles said. “What we’re trying to do is figure out how to make ourselves reach the level that (Miami) is at.”

The fourth-ranked Hurricanes (2-0) will roll into Houston tonight as four-touchdown favorites in a game many don’t expect to be even as competitive as some of their intrasquad scrimmages.

About once a year, Miami plays a game like this — a nationally televised showdown against a struggling program in some of the nation’s top recruiting spots. The Hurricanes had a game like that last year against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport.

This season, it was time for a return for Texas.

“Texas has been very good to us,” Miami coach Larry Coker said. “Texas ranks very, very high because … we’ve had a lot of success with Texas players.”

The Lone Star State has given the Hurricanes standouts like linebacker Jessie Armstead, defensive tackle Damione Lewis, tight end Bubba Franks and center K.C. Jones over the years.

Miami currently has 10 players from Texas on its roster, including three starters — left tackle Eric Winston (Midland), left guard Tony Tella (Houston) and tight end Kevin Everett (Port Arthur).

Not surprisingly, the Hurricanes will use their first game in Texas in seven years as a chance to woo some of the state’s best prep talent.

The Cougars (1-2) already have an idea of what Miami is about after watching film.

“Everybody who watches them recognizes their team speed,” said freshman safety Rocky Schwartz, one of two Florida natives on the Houston roster. “They’re big, fast and strong. It’s going to be big for us to play against them.”

Alas, the intimidating mystique of the Hurricanes usually is the biggest obstacle for most teams in lopsided nonconference matchups like these.

Briles, who was a receiver for the Cougars when they last beat Miami in 1976, recognizes the challenge of getting his team to believe it can hang with the ‘Canes. Especially after losing 63-13 at No. 2 Oklahoma two weeks ago.

“This game allows us to have to play at a high level against one of the best teams in the nation, and see where we stack up,” Briles said. “We’re at a point right now where we are trying to become the football team that we know we are.”