Houston should be able to handle Southern without much drama, but the bigger question is how the Cougars choose to put the game away. With a spread north of 50 points, Saturday’s Week 2 matchup at TDECU Stadium feels less like a test and more like a chance for Houston to show off its depth and force.
Amare Thomas already set the tone in the opener. In Houston’s 33-20 Week 1 win over Oregon State, he hauled in eight passes for 133 yards and even added a touchdown pass against the Beavers.
Don’t look for another receiver to match that kind of production this week. If the Cougars build the kind of cushion many expect, the passing game may take a back seat while Houston leans on the ground attack.
That could open the door for a big day from the backfield. Conner Weigman may get opportunities to pick up yards on broken plays, but this one might not require much improvisation.
Southern may be sturdier up front than it is in the secondary, yet the Jaguars are unlikely to stand up well to Houston’s interior offensive line trio of left guard Shadre Hurst, center Anthony Boswell, and right guard McKenzie Agnello. There’s veteran know-how at the guard spots and plenty of raw ability at center with the former All-MAC First Teamer.
If that line controls things the way it should, Makhi Hughes and Re'Shaun Sanford II could have their way on the ground. Once they find space and get to the second and third levels, the damage could pile up quickly. Even DJ Butler should have chances to punish a Southern defense that looks overmatched on paper.
There’s also the Keisean Henderson angle, and it may be the most intriguing part of the afternoon. Henderson got his lone pass attempt against Oregon State after Weigman’s helmet came off during the game last week.
That throw, an incompletion to the back of the end zone that Trent Walker caught out of bounds, was a sharp one. With more time and more mental preparation for snaps this week, Henderson could give Houston fans a clearer look at what’s coming next.
Weigman is in his final year of eligibility, which makes Henderson’s timeline pretty easy to read. If he impresses in limited work behind Weigman this season, the program can hand him the keys in 2027. Saturday could be the first extended chance to see that future up close.
In Other News...
Houston Must Clean Up One Troubling Problem Before Big 12 Play
Houston heads into Week 2 with a win in hand, but the film from the opener left enough to worry about before Big 12 play arrives. In the close victory over Oregon State, the Cougars showed cracks in the secondary and struggled at times with tackling and coverage, the kind of problems that can turn a good start into a long afternoon once conference opponents start circling.
Willie Fritz did not sugarcoat the aftermath, pointing to mistakes the staff can clean up quickly if the response is sharp this week. Southern offers a chance to tighten the operation, settle the defense and reduce the self-inflicted damage that showed up in the opener, but the bigger question is whether Houston can make those corrections before the schedule gets much less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Cannot Afford A Sloppy Night Before Big 12 Play
Houston gets its last tuneup before Big 12 play when it hosts Southern at TDECU Stadium on Saturday night, a game that should look like a clear mismatch on paper but still carries real weight for the Cougars. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+, and after opening the season with a win, Houston enters the week with a little momentum and the kind of spotlight that comes with being in the rankings.
Southern arrives with first-year coach Marshall Faulk and a 1-1 record, which gives the Jaguars enough early-season traction to make this more than a routine walkthrough. For Houston, the bigger issue is execution. A clean, businesslike performance would let the Cougars turn the page toward conference play with confidence, while any sloppiness would linger a little longer than it should for a team trying to set its tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]