Houston spent last season announcing itself to the Big 12, and now the question is whether the Cougars can turn that breakout into something even bigger.
A year ago, Houston wasn’t part of the conversation when people talked about the league’s top teams. Texas Tech and BYU were the usual names, with Utah in that mix to a degree.
The Cougars changed that fast. They went from 4-8 in 2024 to 10-3 in 2025, the biggest turnaround in the FBS last season, and finished 6-3 in Big 12 play to land in fourth place, just behind Utah.
That kind of leap has changed the expectations. Houston is now being viewed as a legitimate Big 12 contender and a team with a real shot at the conference championship game. The appeal is easy to see: key returners at important spots, plus a wave of talent from the transfer portal and high school recruiting.
The roster looks deep and balanced, with playmakers spread across the board. Just as important, almost the entire coaching staff is back, giving the Cougars continuity to go with the new talent. The players who made noise last season also have room to take another step.
Up front, Houston has a chance to be especially dangerous. In college football, the trenches usually decide how far a team can go, and the Red Raiders were dominant there while BYU was strong too. Houston has the pieces to match that kind of physical edge, particularly on offense.
Preseason All-American guard Shadre Hurst arrived from Tulane and brings power to the line. That group now looks capable of holding up against the best teams in the conference and giving Houston a real foundation.
The offense has more reasons for optimism. Conner Weigman is back for his senior season, and he’ll be working with the same offensive coordinator behind an improved unit with more weapons around him.
Transfer running back Makhi Hughes adds another layer, and the receiving group has more help beyond No. 1 Amare Thomas.
There’s plenty to like on the other side of the ball, too. Houston has an experienced secondary, talented linebackers and a big defensive line. On paper, the pieces are there for a team that can hang with anyone in the league.
Willie Fritz has already shown he can build it. Last season was the first step in the program’s revival, and his teams are known for being disciplined. Now the Cougars get the chance to prove that last year was the beginning, not the peak.
In Other News...
Houston Faces Massive Recruiting Test With Elite Texas Back
The next big recruiting swing for Houston is coming from one of the most coveted backs in Texas. Landen Williams-Callis, a five-star running back recruit, is still weighing his options with a decision expected on Aug. 1, and the Cougars are in the mix with in-state competition from programs such as Texas A&M and SMU. For a Houston program trying to keep pace in a crowded recruiting race, landing a player of that caliber would say plenty about where the staff believes it can go next.
There is also a practical football angle here beyond the star rating. Houstons running back room has future openings, which gives the Cougars a legitimate pitch about playing time and development if Williams-Callis chooses them. Even if he would not be expected to carry the load right away, the timing works in Houstons favor, since he would have room to grow before being asked to make a major contribution. [Read more 🡒]
Houston May Have Already Found Its Answer After Dean Connors
Dean Connors eligibility run is over, and with Houstons leading rusher from last season gone, the backfield is suddenly one of the more important spots to sort out heading into the next chapter. The Cougars did not wait long to address it, adding a transfer back who already comes with a proven track record and the kind of rsum that tends to fit what Dana Holgorsen wants in a roster piece.
There is also familiarity here, which matters when a staff is trying to stabilize a position quickly. Holgorsen has shown interest in players who fit the program, and this back has already checked plenty of boxes in his career, including conference success and early national recognition, while also bringing experience from both Tulane and Oregon into a room that needed a credible answer after Connors. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Freshman Drawing Early Buzz In Crowded Playing Time Battle
Houstons 2026 freshman class arrives with enough pedigree to keep the conversation interesting, even before a snap is played. Headlined by five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson and backed by four-star additions Paris Melvin Jr., Jeremiah Bushnell and John Hebert, the group is ranked No. 43 nationally and No. 6 in the Big 12, giving the Cougars a class with both upside and immediate intrigue. Senior quarterback Conner Weigman is still expected to open as the starter, which means the path to early action at the top of the depth chart is narrow.
Paris Melvin Jr. may have the best chance to crack the rotation right away because of the way he can be used all over the field. His versatility gives Houston options on offense, defense and special teams, and that flexibility is exactly what can get a freshman on the field sooner than expected. In a crowded competition for playing time, he stands out as the newcomer whose role could grow fastest once camp decisions start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]