Houston quarterback Conner Weigman keeps showing up on preseason watch lists, and Thursday brought another one for the fifth-year passer: the Preseason Davey O’Brien Award Watch List.
It’s the second straight day Weigman has earned preseason recognition, following his placement on the Preseason Johnny Unitas Award Watch List on Wednesday. Earlier in August, he also landed on the Preseason Maxwell Award Watch List.
The numbers behind the honor explain why he’s drawing so much attention. Among returning Big 12 quarterbacks, Weigman’s 25 passing touchdowns are second in the league, his 11 rushing touchdowns are tied for the most, and his 2,705 passing yards rank third. He also leads returning conference quarterbacks with 700 rushing yards, owns a 65.2 completion percentage that tops the group, and sits second in the Big 12 with a 147.1 QB rating.
Weigman’s production went well beyond one category last season. He accounted for 36 total touchdowns, with 25 through the air and 11 on the ground, which led the Big 12 and ranked seventh nationally.
His 3,405 yards of offense were the most by a Cougar quarterback since 2021 and the 12th most by a Houston QB since 1996. His 700 rushing yards were the second most by a Houston quarterback since 1996, and his 36 total touchdowns were the seventh-most by a Cougar since 1996.
There’s also the win column. Weigman is 19-7 as a starter. Since 2020, the only quarterbacks with at least 25 starts and a better win percentage who did not start at least one playoff game are Jordan Travis, Kyle McCord and Spencer Sanders.
The Cypress, Texas native is part of a rare group, too. Since 2021, there have been 17 quarterbacks to win 10 games while putting up 3,000 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 or fewer turnovers. That list includes nine first-round draft picks, 11 Heisman finalists, five quarterbacks who played for a national title, and two active players: Weigman and Arch Manning.
Houston opens the season September 5 at TDECU Stadium against Oregon State.
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Among the names worth watching are wide receivers Trent Walker, Koby Young and Broussard III, along with cornerback Mayo and running back Butler, all of whom have a chance to make a real push in camp. The bigger takeaway is the depth Houston seems to have assembled, but the last few practices should show whether those pieces are ready to lock into larger roles as the Cougars build toward the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Is Getting Big 12 Buzz For One Reason Fans Know
Houston is earning a little more preseason attention than it has in recent years, and the reasons are easy enough to see if you have followed the program's climb. The Cougars show up in several early college football polls and power rankings for 2026, including No. 22 in ESPN analyst Mark Schlabach's list, with the roster continuity doing a lot of the talking. Quarterback Conner Weigman, receiver Amare Thomas and new running back Makhi Hughes give the offense a look that feels both familiar and upgraded, which is exactly the kind of profile that tends to draw national interest in the summer.
The defense is part of the conversation too, because Houston brings back enough production there to suggest this is not just about one side of the ball. Even so, the buzz still comes with a little hesitation, and the pass rush is the area that keeps showing up as the main question mark. For a team trying to turn preseason respect into something more lasting, that edge pressure could end up shaping whether the Cougars stay in the rankings or simply spend the fall trying to justify them. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Enters Final Camp Week With One Crucial Battle Still Open
Houston football is heading into the final week of fall camp with most of the heavy lifting already done. With 12 returning starters back and a wave of transfers in place, Willie Fritz has a clearer picture of his lineup than he did a few weeks ago, and the current starter alignments suggest a roster that is starting to take shape as the regular season approaches.
Still, a few spots remain worth watching as camp winds down. The kicker battle between Jonathan Dimas and Evan Noel is unresolved, wide receiver depth is being sorted out with several players in the mix for the No. 4 role, and the second-team offensive line is still developing behind a group of freshmen and sophomores. Those are the kinds of decisions that can matter later, even if most of the roster is already settled. [Read more 🡒]