Houston opens its 2026 season Saturday morning with a matchup that looks built for the Cougars to make an early statement.
Kickoff against Oregon State is set for 11 a.m. at TDECU Stadium, and Houston comes into the game with real momentum behind it. The Cougars were ranked No. 23 in the Preseason AP Poll and No. 24 in the Preseason Coaches Poll, a sign of how much expectation is attached to this group heading into the fall.
This is a Houston team that brings back 12 starters and added several important pieces through the transfer portal on both sides of the ball. Add in the continuity within the coaching staff, and the Cougars are positioned to make a push toward the Big 12 title game. That climb starts with Oregon State on ESPN, in a fifth all-time meeting between the programs.
Houston also has recent evidence that this matchup can tilt its way. The Cougars went 3-0 in non-conference play last season, and one of those wins came against the Beavers in Corvallis, Ore.
The expectation here is that Houston controls the game early. Senior quarterback Conner Weigman is projected to hit explosive throws right away, spreading the ball around to a deep and talented wide receiver group. Fifth-year senior Trent Walker, facing his former team for the first time as a Cougar, is expected to be part of that early damage with a few key catches.
Even with the passing game available against an Oregon State secondary that lacks experience, the ground attack may be the bigger story. Willie Fritz wants Houston to lean into the run, and senior transfer Makhi Hughes is the back set up to carry that load.
Houston’s offensive line has also been strengthened by three all-conference transfers: senior left guard Shadre Hurst, redshirt sophomore center Anthony Boswell and fifth-year right tackle Drew Terrill. Oregon State has some talent in its linebacker room, but Houston should have enough up front to keep the run game moving and let Hughes show his workhorse ability.
The Cougars are also expected to have the edge defensively. Oregon State will turn to sophomore Braden Atkinson at quarterback, and this will be his first FBS game. Houston’s veteran linebackers and secondary should make that a difficult debut, even with the Beavers bringing receiver talent on the outside.
All signs point to Houston getting off to a fast start and handling business at home to begin 2026.
In Other News...
Houston Fans Have A New Reason To Question ESPNs Big 12 Respect
Houston fans got another reminder of how precarious their place can feel in the TV pecking order late in the game against Oregon State, when ESPN shifted the broadcast over to ESPNews with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. The network wanted to roll into coverage of Texas vs. Texas State, and the switch was enough to spark immediate pushback from viewers who felt a Big 12 game should not be shoved aside that quickly, especially with Houston now part of the conference.
The optics were hard to miss for Big 12 supporters, because ESPN is supposed to be one of the leagues major media partners. College sports columnist John Canzano was among the critics, and the frustration carried extra weight given Texas departure from the Big 12 for the SEC. For Houston backers, it was less about one broadcast hiccup than the broader question of how much respect the league really gets when the schedule starts to crowd in. [Read more 🡒]
Kelvin Sampson Just Called Out Houston Fans Over One Program
Kelvin Sampson is asking Houston fans to show up for the football program now, not later, as Willie Fritz tries to build momentum in his first year at the helm. Sampson pointed to the returning pieces and the new transfers as reasons for optimism, and he made it clear he believes the Cougars have enough to give the season real energy if the stands start filling up for Big 12 games.
For Sampson, the message was less about waiting for a playoff-level breakthrough and more about helping create the kind of home-field environment that can push the program forward. Houston has a chance to turn interest into something more meaningful this fall, and the basketball coach is reminding fans that support matters before the wins become impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Houston's Encouraging Start Comes With One Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Houston opened with a confident 33-20 win over Oregon State, and the early signs on offense were exactly what the Cougars had hoped for. Re'Shaun Sanford helped set the tone on the ground, Conner Weigman handled the passing game efficiently and added a touchdown run, and the offensive line gave Houston a sturdy base to lean on in Week 1.
The concern comes on the other side of the ball, where the result looked better than the performance in stretches. Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson was able to work through the air for 376 yards and a touchdown, and Houston did not always generate the kind of pressure or coverage tightness that can keep stronger passing attacks from settling in. That is the part of the opener the Cougars will likely want fixed before the schedule gets more demanding. [Read more 🡒]