Conner Weigman’s season keeps getting louder, and now the Houston quarterback has landed on a major national stage.
On Tuesday, Weigman was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation’s top all-around player. The honor recognizes more than production alone, taking into account leadership and sportsmanship as well. Weigman is one of 18 semifinalists on the list.
He’s in company with some of the biggest names in the sport, including Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, wide receiver Malachi Toney, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell. All of those players are currently Heisman contenders except Toney, who suffered an injury last week and is reportedly out until the College Football Playoff.
Weigman has put together the kind of year that makes the recognition hard to ignore. Through 2026, he has completed 66.1% of his passes for 2,260 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He has protected the football well overall, even with two costly turnovers in losses this season, and the touchdown-to-interception ratio tells the story of how efficient he’s been.
His impact hasn’t been limited to his arm. Weigman has added 279 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 73 carries, giving Houston a dual-threat weapon that has been especially tough to handle on third down. He has also taken only 10 sacks and ranks sixth in the nation in quarterback rating at 84.7.
That production has pushed Weigman into the national conversation, and the source of this surge is no mystery: Houston’s offense has been fueled by him and the talent around him. Amare Thomas has been one of the key pieces, with his play starting to match remarkable Tank Dell feats.
There’s also a bigger picture here for Houston. With the next CFP rankings coming, the Cougars are looking to climb and keep their playoff hopes moving. Big 12 hopes, as the source notes, aren’t out of reach yet.
For Weigman, the award semifinalist nod feels like another sign that the rest of the country is finally catching up to what Houston has been seeing all season. He has the numbers, the dual-threat profile, and the spotlight to keep building from here.
In Other News...
Houston Gets Its First Real Fertitta Test As New Pieces Settle In
Houstons first real test of the Fertitta Center stretch comes with a little more context than a routine nonconference tune-up. The No. 8 Cougars are back home to face Jacksonville State after handling California, and the early returns have pointed to senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. as the steadying force, leading Houston in both scoring and assists as the roster continues to settle around him.
Jacksonville State arrives with its own recent form and a few productive pieces, which gives this one a chance to tell a little more about where Houston stands beyond the ranking. The Cougars also have the usual game-night extras on tap, from promotions to broadcast coverage, but the bigger question is how quickly the new mix can keep looking comfortable once the opposition brings a little more resistance. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Fans May Be Blaming The Wrong Problem On Defense
Houstons defense has taken plenty of heat from the stands, but the numbers point to a unit that has actually done a fair bit of its job. Opponents have been held below their season averages in both points and total offense, and when compared with previous seasons, the results look similar or even better in some areas. For a program built on the idea of complementary football, that matters, especially when the coaching staff keeps stressing how much the defense is supposed to support the rest of the team.
The frustration from fans has been real, though, and a lot of it seems tied to a preseason remark from the defensive coordinator that got interpreted in a harsher way than intended. That has helped fuel the idea that the problem is bigger than it really is on that side of the ball. The more interesting question now is whether the criticism is aimed at the right place, because the evidence suggests Houstons defense may be doing more to keep games manageable than its getting credit for. [Read more 🡒]
Houstons Fast Start Is Already Raising The Ceiling For This Roster
Houstons early-season momentum has already started to change the conversation around this roster. The Cougars handled California in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic, moved to 2-0, and got a little extra lift from the debut of transfer guard Chendall Weaver along with the return of guard Chase McCarty from injury. It is still the first week of the season, but the pieces are beginning to settle in quickly.
The national picture has shifted with it. Houston climbed two spots to No. 8 in the AP Poll after the opening week, a reminder that the Cougars are already being viewed as more than just a team finding its footing. With new faces joining the mix and key backcourt help back in the lineup, the ceiling for this group feels like it can rise fast if the early chemistry keeps building. [Read more 🡒]