“They’re going to go for the ball, like dogs to meat,” Applewhite said. That competition, even at half-speed, might cause heads to collide and puts players at risk for concussions. Houston, along with in-state schools including Texas, Texas A&M, and TCU, have all purchased soft-shell headgear to protect players. Houston and Texas could be among the teams wearing the equipment this preseason. This year, the NCAA eliminated two-a-day practices but allowed teams to use a ball during a walkthrough.