Houston’s first seven games have done more than put the Cougars in the bowl picture again. They’ve changed the tone around the program entirely. Now ranked No. 14 in the country, Houston looks like a team that belongs in the national conversation, and the early returns under Willie Fritz have pushed expectations well beyond simply being competitive in the Big 12.
The offense has been the clearest reason why. Fritz has long wanted a unit that can lean on the run without giving up anything in the passing game, and Houston has delivered that balance in a way that has made the Cougars dangerous on every level. They’re scoring 39.3 points per game, good for second in the Big 12, and they rank 10th nationally with 485.1 total yards per game.
The numbers tell the story of an offense that can win in multiple ways. Houston sits fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game and seventh in passing yards per game.
Nationally, the Cougars are 16th on the ground and 36th through the air. That balance can blur just how explosive they’ve been throwing the ball, but the backfield has been a major factor too, with redshirt junior Re'Shaun Sanford II rushing for 440 yards and two touchdowns and senior starter Makhi Hughes adding 464 yards and three scores.
None of that works without the line doing its part, and Houston’s front has been one of the major strengths of the season. The unit made the Joe Moore Midseason Honor Roll, and four of the 10 highest-graded offensive linemen in the Big 12 are Cougars.
Center Anthony Boswell has stood out in a major way, posting the top offensive grade among FBS centers while not allowing a sack. He was also named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week.
Quarterback Connor Weigman has been at the center of it all, even if the broader spotlight is only now catching up to him. The fifth-year quarterback put together the best performance of his career against No.
18 Oklahoma State, throwing for 343 yards and five touchdowns while adding 52 yards on the ground. Through seven weeks, he is tied for the most total touchdowns in college football with 26.
Weigman has thrown 20 touchdown passes against just two interceptions, and he has also run for 229 yards and six touchdowns. One of those interceptions came on a tipped ball, and the other was also tipped in the air.
He has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 1,771 yards, sits fourth in total QBR, and is the only Big 12 quarterback in the national top 10 in that category. He also ranks inside the top 30 nationally in completion percentage, passing yards, passer rating and yards per attempt.
Houston’s defense entered the season with a reputation to protect after adding more depth across the board, and the run defense has lived up to that billing. The Cougars are allowing just under 83 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and fourth in the country.
The back end, though, has not been as seamless as expected, even with experienced talent in place. Houston has fifth-year safeties Jordan Allen and Kentrell Webb, fifth-year transfer corner Jalen May and redshirt junior corner Will James, and each has done solid work individually. But the whole hasn’t fully clicked yet, in part because the pass rush hasn’t always been there.
Up front, Houston expected pressure from redshirt junior Ashton Porter, senior JACK Brandon Mack and Latreveon McCutchin, among others. That consistency took time to show up, though it has gradually improved. The secondary has also settled in some by limiting bigger plays and tackling better, and the defense is beginning to generate turnovers as the unit continues to take shape.
In Other News...
Willie Fritz Has Houston Fans Thinking Bigger Than A Turnaround
When Willie Fritz arrived in December 2023, Houston fans were mostly looking for stability after a rough stretch. Instead, they got a coach who has steadily raised the programs ceiling, first with a 10-win season and a Texas Bowl victory in 2025 and now with a team that looks built to matter in the Big 12 race. The Cougars have become more than a quick fix under Fritz, with the programs recent climb giving the fan base a reason to think beyond simply getting back on track.
This season has only sharpened that feeling. Houston is in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot, and the buzz around Fritz has followed him as his reputation has grown well beyond campus. He has already drawn repeated recognition in coach of the year conversations, and the larger question now is no longer whether he can restore the Cougars. It is how far this version of Houston can go before the story shifts from turnaround to something even bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman Gets His Biggest Big 12 Test Yet
Conner Weigman has turned Houstons quarterback spot into one of the Big 12s most interesting storylines, and the numbers back it up. He has thrown for 1,771 yards with 20 touchdowns and only two interceptions this season, a run that includes leading the Cougars to a top-25 win over Oklahoma State and earning national notice along the way.
Now comes the next real measuring stick, because Houstons matchup with Utah brings a different kind of pressure and a different kind of defense. The Utes have already taken note of Weigman, and this is the sort of game where Houston can see whether its rising quarterback is ready to keep carrying that momentum against one of the leagues toughest opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Faces Its Biggest Reality Check Yet At Utah
Houston heads to Utah on Oct. 24 carrying plenty of momentum, but this matchup feels like a genuine measuring stick. The Cougars have won four straight, and Conner Weigman just picked up Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after his latest standout outing against Oklahoma State. On the other side, the Utes are still unbeaten at 6-0 and have looked every bit like a team built to make life difficult on anyone visiting Salt Lake City.
Devon Dampier gives Utah a steadying presence at quarterback, which only adds to the pressure on Houston to prove its recent surge is built for more than a friendly run of conference games. The Cougars have been one of the leagues better stories early on, but this is the kind of trip that can clarify where they really stand. A competitive game is expected, and for Houston, the bigger question is whether this winning streak still holds up when the opponent is undefeated and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]