Houston Football’s alumni list had a little of everything this week: a long-awaited starting nod, two professional debuts, a pair of players on injured reserve, and several former Cougars making their mark in NFL action.
The headline belonged to Case Keenum, who got the start for Chicago and delivered a win in his first start in 1,009 days. In the Bears’ 27-7 victory over Philadelphia, Keenum went 24-for-34 for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing four times for six yards and a score.
That rushing touchdown made him the oldest player to score a rushing touchdown in team history, and he became the second-oldest quarterback to win a start. His first passing touchdown of the day was the 80th of his career, and his passer rating of 110.8 ranked as the fifth highest by a quarterback with at least 30 attempts.
Keenum was especially sharp when the pocket tightened, completing 11-of-11 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns when pressured or blitzed.
Two 2026 graduates also stepped onto the professional stage for the first time. Dean Connors made his debut with the Los Angeles Rams after being activated from the practice squad before the game.
In the Rams’ 30-26 loss at Denver, he played nine special teams snaps, which accounted for 30 percent of the team total, and returned the opening kickoff for 23 yards. Tanner Koziol made his pro debut for Jacksonville in the Jaguars’ 35-6 win over New England, logging three offensive snaps without a statistic.
Marcus Jones turned in one of the more complete performances among Houston alumni. In New England’s 35-6 loss at Jacksonville, he picked off his seventh career interception in the second quarter, added four tackles and three passes defended on 36 defensive snaps, and returned one punt for one yard. The three passes defended matched his career high.
On the defensive front, Ed Oliver was back in Buffalo’s starting lineup after missing last week with a pregame injury, and he made his presence felt in the Bills’ 24-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Oliver finished with one tackle and three quarterback hits, his most since he had three against Detroit on Dec. 15, 2024.
Logan Hall also contributed in a tight game, recording three tackles on 27 defensive snaps and seeing two more plays on special teams in Houston’s 19-17 loss at Indianapolis. Keith Cooper played four defensive snaps and five special teams snaps for Miami in the Dolphins’ 24-10 loss to Kansas City, and he logged a tackle on the final play of the first half. Patrick Paul started at left tackle for Miami and was one of six Dolphins to play every one of the team’s 73 offensive snaps, adding two special teams snaps.
Josh Jones saw limited work for Seattle in the Seahawks’ 33-31 loss at Washington, playing two offensive snaps without a statistic. Grant Stuard was active on special teams in the Rams’ 28-6 win over the New York Giants, handling 21 snaps and making one tackle on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Several other former Cougars were listed as unavailable. Tank Dell remained on injured reserve with the Houston Texans, while Payton Turner with the Detroit Lions and Eddie Walls III with the Los Angeles Rams were also on injured reserve.
In Other News...
Houston Finally Has A Big 12 Opportunity Fans Can Feel
Houstons climb into the AP top 20 after beating Georgia Southern has given the program something it has been waiting on since joining the Big 12: a chance to play the role of a real league contender with the rankings to back it up. The comparison to the 2021 season is hard to miss, but this version feels different because the Cougars have paired strong playmakers with a roster that has, for the most part, backed up the buzz with results.
The next stretch will say a lot about how real this opportunity is, especially with No. 19 Oklahoma State waiting on the schedule. Houstons pass defense remains the clearest concern, and in a league this deep, one vulnerable spot can quickly turn a promising run into a stressful one. If the Cougars are going to keep this momentum rolling, they will have to prove the ranking is a sign of something sturdier than a hot start. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman Is Turning Houstons Hot Start Into Something Bigger
Conner Weigmans debut stretch at Houston is already drawing national attention, and the senior quarterback picked up two weekly honors after powering the Cougars past Georgia Southern. He landed on the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey OBrien Great Eight lists, recognition that comes on the heels of one of the most productive outings of his college career.
Weigman was efficient and explosive all at once, completing 17 of 22 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns through the air while adding two more scores on the ground. For Houston, the bigger takeaway is what the hot start suggests about the ceiling of an offense that has quickly found a rhythm behind its new leader. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Big 12 Road Suddenly Looks Tougher Than Fans Expected
Houston finished out its non-conference slate with a 42-28 win over Georgia Southern, and the payoff was more than just a clean exit from September. The Cougars moved up from No. 25 to No. 20 in the AP poll, a sign that the early momentum is starting to carry real weight as they turn fully toward league play.
For UCF, the Big 12 road now looks a little steeper than it did a week ago. Oklahoma States 41-24 win over West Virginia pushed the Cowboys into the Top 25, while Georgia State answered its loss to UCF by beating Northern Illinois 35-14 behind a strong showing from quarterback Taron Dickens. The early results around the conference are starting to sort contenders from hopefuls, and the Knights are about to find out how much margin they really have. [Read more 🡒]