Houston is walking into the 2026 matchup with a roster that looks more complete and veteran-heavy, but Colorado still has enough difference-makers to make life uncomfortable for the Cougars.
The Buffaloes’ biggest threat starts under center with Julian Lewis. Willie Fritz will want to get control of him early, because Lewis arrives as one of the nation’s best high school prospects and one of the most exciting players heading into the 2026 college football season. He brings a dual-threat skill set, quick decision-making, strong awareness and the ability to escape the pocket and flip a game in a hurry.
Colorado also has a pair of receivers who can stress Houston in different ways. Joseph Williams put up 498 yards and four touchdowns last year, and his value comes from how hard he is to pin down. He can line up anywhere, and his speed, hands and route-running make him an immediate problem once he steps on the field.
DeAndre Moore Jr. may be the more dangerous target. He comes with experience against some of the best defensive backs in the nation from his time with the Texas Longhorns, and that background shows up in the way he gets open. Moore’s reliability and ability to create separation make him the Buffaloes’ top playmaker, the kind of receiver who can swing momentum with one catch and force extra attention from a defense.
Colorado’s secondary has its own pair of names Houston has to account for, starting with Boo Carter, who is transferring from Tennessee after posting 25 total tackles, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Carter gives Colorado a versatile defender who can move around the formation and affect the game near the line of scrimmage, in one-on-one coverage or in run support. His speed and physicality make him a problem wherever he lines up.
Randon Fotenette adds another layer to that back end. He arrives from Vanderbilt with 125 tackles, 14 pass breakups and a forced fumble, and his game is built on aggression and run support.
Fotenette has the range to cover the middle of the field, but he also isn’t shy about stepping downhill to stop a runner. If Houston wants to lean on the passing game, he’s one of the defenders it will need to keep in mind.
In Other News...
Willie Fritz Has Houston Chasing A Different Kind Of Recruit
Willie Fritz has spent his first stretch at Houston reshaping more than just the on-field product. The programs recruiting profile has climbed with it, drawing commitments from higher-rated prospects and giving the Cougars a different kind of momentum as they try to establish themselves in the Big 12. The 2026 class has become part of that conversation, with names like Paris Melvin Jr. and Jeremiah Bushnell adding to the sense that Houston is no longer selling only potential.
What stands out is how much this has changed the way the Cougars are being viewed on the recruiting trail. Fritzs approach has helped Houston land a class with more national attention, and the buzz around Keisean Henderson has only amplified that shift. For a program trying to build staying power in a crowded league, the real question now is whether this new recruiting footing can keep turning into the kind of roster depth that lasts beyond one cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Willie Fritz May Have Found Houstons Real Blueprint For Staying Power
Willie Fritz spent part of Big 12 Media Days talking less about splashy recruiting wins and more about the kind of roster he wants to build at Houston. For a coach trying to steady a program that has been through a lot of change, the message was simple enough: fit matters, and the right players can matter more than the most obvious talent on paper.
That approach has already shown up in the Cougars climb from a four-win season to a 10-win finish, with transfers and recruits helping give Fritz the kind of foundation he has been chasing since arriving. The next test is whether that formula can hold up when the expectations get heavier, because Houston is no longer just trying to get back on track, it is starting to look toward a much bigger goal in the Big 12. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Still Looms As Houstons Most Frustrating Big 12 Test
Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, Houston has spent plenty of time sorting out who its real conference rivals are, and Cincinnati has already made a strong case for staying near the top of that list. The two programs carried over a familiar edge from their American Athletic Conference days, and the Cougars have still not found a way to get past the Bearcats in recent meetings.
Houstons 2025 roster reset and bowl-winning finish changed the outlook around the program, and the Cougars should enter the next matchup with more depth and a better overall profile. Even so, Cincinnati remains one of those opponents that can drag a good season back into a familiar kind of frustration, especially with the Bearcats leaning on defensive transfer help and trying to stay competitive in a league where every hidden weakness gets exposed quickly. [Read more 🡒]