Houston’s offense has been one of the early stories of the 2026 season, and senior quarterback Conner Weigman keeps giving it a bigger spotlight.
The Cougars are sitting as the Big 12’s No. 1 scoring offense and No. 2 total offense, and Weigman has been the engine behind that surge. A healthy offseason and a second straight year with the same offensive coordinator have clearly helped him settle in, and he’s looked sharper, more comfortable and more dangerous as a passer.
That was on full display in Week 4 at Georgia Southern, where Weigman put together a six-touchdown performance that earned him two national weekly honors on Monday. He was named to the Manning Award Stars of the Week list and the Davey O’Brien Great Eight.
Against Georgia Southern, Weigman completed 17 of 22 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns. He also added two rushing scores and 14 yards on the ground. It was the first time in his career that he had multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in the same game, and it also marked the first time in his collegiate career that he has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three straight games.
For Houston, it was probably the best outing of Weigman’s career outside of the Texas Bowl against LSU. The six total touchdowns were a career high. His previous high was five, which he reached against West Virginia last year and against New Mexico in 2023 while at Texas A&M.
The Cypress, Texas native posted a 93.1 passer rating in Week 4, which led the Big 12 and ranked third among FBS quarterbacks. His six touchdowns were the most by any FBS player last week. Through four games, Weigman has 14 total touchdowns, tied for the third most in FBS.
He’s thrown 11 touchdown passes, matching the Big 12 lead and ranking fourth in the FBS, while also throwing just one interception.
Weigman was one of eight quarterbacks on the Manning Award Stars of the Week list. The group also included Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Alabama’s Keelon Russell and Oregon’s Dylan Raiola, and all four of those quarterbacks also landed on the Davey O’Brien Great 8. That list also featured Drew Mestemaker of Oklahoma State and Kamario Taylor of Mississippi State.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Case Keenum Gave Houston Fans A Feel Good NFL Moment
Case Keenums return to the NFL had a little extra meaning for Houston fans watching from afar. In his first start in 1,009 days, the former Cougar quarterback helped the Chicago Bears to a 27-7 victory, a reminder of the steadying presence that made him such a beloved figure during his time in Houston and in the pros.
It was also a notable weekend for a couple of other former Cougars taking their first steps into the league. Dean Connors made his professional debut with the Los Angeles Rams, while Tanner Koziol got his first NFL action with the Jacksonville Jaguars, adding another layer to a weekend that had a distinctly Houston feel for anyone tracking the programs alumni. [Read more 🡒]