The Houston Cougars didn’t just take a step forward in 2025 - they planted their flag. Under second-year head coach Willie Fritz, the Cougars went 10-3, climbed to No. 21 in the nation, and capped the season with a thrilling 38-35 bowl win over LSU.
It wasn’t just a successful season - it was a statement. Houston is no longer just adjusting to life in the Big 12.
They’re competing. They’re contending.
This wasn’t a smooth cruise from start to finish. The Cougars hit some turbulence early, especially in Week 5 when they ran into a buzzsaw in No.
4 Texas Tech - a team that would go on to make the College Football Playoff. Houston took a 35-11 loss in that one, but instead of unraveling, they responded.
Sitting at 4-1 after that defeat, the Cougars rattled off three straight wins, including key Big 12 victories over Arizona and then-No. 24 Arizona State.
Even when adversity struck again - with losses to TCU and West Virginia - Houston didn’t blink. Those setbacks didn’t derail the season; they sharpened it.
The Cougars regrouped, refocused, and finished strong, showing a level of maturity and resilience that’s hard to find in a program still settling into a new conference. The team played with balance, confidence, and poise on both sides of the ball - and it showed.
At the heart of it all was junior quarterback Conner Weigman, who played with the kind of command that makes coaches sleep a little easier at night. Weigman threw for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also adding 700 yards and 11 scores on the ground.
He was efficient, smart with the football, and dangerous with his legs - the kind of dual-threat leader that gives defensive coordinators headaches. When Houston needed a play, Weigman delivered.
Behind him, senior running back Dean Connors brought the thunder. He rushed for 977 yards and six touchdowns, while also chipping in 254 receiving yards and three more scores through the air.
Connors wasn’t flashy - he was dependable, physical, and relentless. He moved the chains, wore down defenses, and gave the Cougars a consistent punch in the run game that opened everything else up.
On the outside, junior receiver Amare Thomas was electric. He racked up 966 yards and 12 touchdowns, emerging as Weigman’s go-to target and one of the most dangerous receivers in the Big 12.
He didn’t just catch passes - he created separation, made big plays, and pulled attention away from the rest of the receiving corps. Thomas was named First Team All-Big 12, and he earned every bit of that honor.
And then there was the matchup nightmare: 6’7” senior tight end Tanner Koziol. With 727 yards and six touchdowns, Koziol was a security blanket and a red-zone weapon.
His size and strength made him a mismatch against just about anyone lined up across from him. He came up clutch in tight games and gave Weigman a reliable option when things got tense.
Like Thomas, Koziol was also named First Team All-Big 12 - and his impact went far beyond the box score.
While the offense grabbed headlines, the defense quietly built a reputation of its own. Houston allowed just 22 points per game, recorded 28 sacks, and picked off 12 passes - two of which they returned for touchdowns.
This wasn’t a defense that relied on chaos or gimmicks. They were disciplined, composed, and opportunistic.
When the Cougars needed a stop, this unit stepped up.
And at the center of it all was Willie Fritz. In just his second year, Fritz has already made his mark in Houston.
This 10-win season was the program’s best since 2021 and added another notch to Fritz’s belt - he’s now had 10-win seasons at five different schools. That’s not a coincidence.
That’s a blueprint. And with a 1-0 record against LSU now in his back pocket, Fritz continues to prove that wherever he goes, success follows.
Looking ahead, the Cougars have momentum - and people are starting to notice. Eight transfers earned All-Big 12 honors.
The recruiting class is turning heads. And more talent is looking to join the ride.
With Fritz at the helm, Houston isn’t just building something. They’re building something that lasts.
The 2025 season was more than a breakout - it was a reintroduction. The Cougars have arrived. And if this year was any indication, they’re not going anywhere.