Conner Weigman is walking into Saturday with a chance to change the conversation around Houston.
After the Cougars let a statement opportunity slip away at undefeated Utah, the focus now shifts to how Weigman and company respond against Cincinnati. Houston had control for much of that game, even taking a 10-0 lead in the third quarter, but the offense hit a wall and the defense eventually cracked in a 21-13 loss. That result still hangs over the program, and it makes this week a real test of whether Houston can reset and finish the regular season strong.
The Bearcats make that challenge even trickier because they’ve shown two very different faces. One version is the group that stunned undefeated Texas Tech 37-24 a couple of weeks ago.
The other is the team that got routed 34-7 by Arizona and then lost 49-25 to Utah. Houston has no way of knowing which Cincinnati team will show up, so the Cougars have to be ready for both.
That’s where Weigman comes in.
He has been one of the biggest reasons Houston’s offense has been so difficult to slow down. The Cougars lead the nation in third-down offense at 56.7%, and Weigman’s legs, his arm, and the help he gets from the running back room have all played a role in that success. If Houston is going to get back on track, that formula has to show up again against Cincinnati.
Weigman wasn’t bad against Utah, either. He finished with 302 total yards, including 282 through the air, and he didn’t throw an interception. He went 19 for 35, though a late fumble deep in Houston territory helped turn a one-point game into an eight-point hole in the fourth quarter.
Before that, Weigman had started to draw more national attention with strong performances against Oklahoma State and Kansas State. The buzz around him has been building, but not enough, at least not yet. A big showing against Cincinnati would only strengthen the case that he belongs in the Heisman conversation.
There’s also a wider opening right now, with Malachi Toney’s recent injury and Julian Sayin’s injury, which has also affected superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. If Weigman keeps producing, there’s a path for him to break into that discussion.
The NFL Draft picture is just as unsettled, with QB1 still far from decided and several quarterbacks turning in uneven performances. If Weigman can lead Houston to a win and push the Cougars toward a CFP run, his name will keep coming up in those conversations too.
For now, though, the assignment is simpler: bounce back against Cincinnati. Weigman has 2,053 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and only two interceptions, and those numbers have already made a strong case. The final stretch is where quarterbacks separate themselves, and Houston needs him to do exactly that.
In Other News...
Houston Faces A Big 12 Test It Cant Afford To Waste
Houston comes out of its bye week with a homecoming stage and a Big 12 game that carries real weight. Ranked No. 17 and sitting at 6-2 overall, 3-2 in conference play, the Cougars are in position to keep building toward the Big 12 Championship picture, but only if they take care of business against Cincinnati at home.
The Bearcats arrive at 5-3 and 2-3 in the league, which makes this more than just a feel-good campus weekend. Houston also knows the matchup has been a problem for years, with the program still trying to turn the page on a stretch that has made Cincinnati one of the more frustrating opponents on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]