Houston’s rise in the Big 12 has turned plenty of heads, and the conversation around the Cougars is no longer about whether they belong. It’s about how far this group can go.
A year after a 4-8 season, Willie Fritz helped steer Houston to a 10-3 winning season, a turnaround that quickly changed the way the program is viewed. That success has already started to show up on the recruiting and transfer trail, with more players taking notice of what Houston is building.
The Cougars’ 2025 season marked a major step forward even without a spot in the conference championship game. They finished with 10 wins and capped the year by beating LSU in their bowl game. For Houston, it was the most explosive turnaround the program has seen in its history, and the roster got deeper as transfers and recruits added more talent.
Now the focus shifts to what comes next, and the setup looks favorable. Houston’s upcoming schedule is considered one of the easier ones in the Big 12, giving the Cougars a real chance to keep climbing if they stay consistent throughout the season.
At Big 12 media days on July 7, Houston’s players were asked directly about the possibility of winning the conference. Defensive back Kentrell Webb made it clear the idea is already part of the team’s daily mindset.
"That's all we talk about. That's all we talk about.
There's no other discussion." Webb told @ChrisYBaldwin.
"We want to win. Even if we do start talking about something else, it will probably lead to winning the Big 12 Championship."
As one of the leaders in the secondary, Webb’s comments reflected a locker room that sounds locked in on the same goal. Houston believes it has the pieces to make a run, and the schedule gives it a path to prove it.
The biggest tests on the slate will come against Texas Tech and Utah, though both teams lost some major names this offseason. If Houston handles the schedule and keeps playing at the level it showed last season, the Cougars could be right there at the top when the year ends.
In Other News...
Big 12 Tension With Texas Tech Just Put Houston Fans On Notice
Big 12 media days in Frisco gave Brett Yormark another chance to talk about where the league is headed, and he used it to touch on everything from playoff expansion to sports gambling while also unveiling a new partnership with Monster Energy. For Houston fans, the backdrop matters because the conference office is still trying to project stability even as its most combustible member-school disputes keep spilling into public view.
Texas Tech was again at the center of that tension, with Yormark fielding pointed questions about the leagues treatment of the Red Raiders and the lingering friction around fines, scheduling and other flashpoints. The broader fight has also pulled in booster Cody Campbell, who has sparred with Yormark before over a Friday night game against Houston and over the leagues move to ban the tortilla-throwing tradition, leaving one more reminder that the Big 12s internal politics are far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Willie Fritz Finally Clarified Houstons Quarterback Tension
Houstons quarterback picture has been one of the more interesting subplots around the program, especially with senior Conner Weigman in the room and freshman Keisean Henderson arriving with the kind of pedigree that naturally invites attention. Willie Fritz helped clear up at least part of the discussion by confirming the Cougars are moving forward with a veteran at the top of the depth chart, while also making it clear Henderson is not just a name to stash away for the future.
The more intriguing part is how Houston plans to use Henderson as he settles in. Fritz said the freshman could still have a role in specific packages or situations, which gives the Cougars a chance to tap into his athleticism without asking him to carry the full load right away. For a team trying to balance present stability with long-term upside, that kind of arrangement could matter just as much as the headline answer at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]