Houston’s biggest offseason question might not be under center. The real fight is at running back, where the Cougars have a crowded mix of returners and transfers all pushing for the same job.
That matters because Houston has already shown how quickly its roster can change shape. After years of heavy movement through recruiting and the transfer portal, the program has built a team that looks very different from the one that went 4-8 in 2024.
With major additions like Conner Weigman helping reshape the culture, Houston finished 10-3 and won a bowl game in 2025. The message from that turnaround is clear: the Cougars know the kind of talent they want on the field.
At running back, though, there isn’t an obvious answer yet.
The first place to look is the group that already knows the system. With former star Dean Connors headed to the NFL, DJ Butler stands out as the most natural internal option. He was one of Houston’s most reliable backups and flashed early in the season with a few strong games in the first weeks.
Then there’s Re’Shaun Sanford II, who was Houston’s top back before getting hurt in 2025. His impact on the Cougars’ 2024 season was significant, and a return in 2026 would put him right back in the mix. If he’s healthy, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him reclaim the starting role.
But Houston didn’t stop with the returnees. Makhi Hughes brings another serious contender into the picture, and his résumé gives him a different kind of edge. He has played at Oregon and Tulane, so he’s already seen plenty of high-level competition, and his time at Tulane brought him major accolades during his college career.
That’s what makes this battle so interesting: Houston doesn’t have a shortage of options, it has a shortage of separation. Butler, Sanford and Hughes all have a case, and none of them can assume the job is theirs. In a room this competitive, the starter will be the one who proves it on the field.
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Houston has already given him a promising start, with a 10-3 season and momentum that has the Cougars looking more like a program on the rise than one trying to catch up. The bigger question now is how far that progress can go in a league where the margin is thin and the path to something bigger has opened up, even if the teams standing in the way are already easy to spot. [Read more 🡒]
Houston May Be Walking Into A 2026 Big 12 Trap Game
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Folsom Field brings more than just noise, with altitude, cold weather and air quality all part of the equation for a road team trying to stay sharp. Houston does have experienced pieces such as Conner Weigman, and that kind of veteran presence should matter in a game that could swing either way if the Cougars handle the moment cleanly. [Read more 🡒]