Houston’s off week after its eighth game offered a natural checkpoint for a team that has already shown real growth in 2026. To get a sharper read on where the Cougars stand, I spoke with Max Chadwick, college football analyst and co-host of the Preferred Walk-On podcast, who also works with Pro Football Network.
The clearest place to start is up front. Houston’s offensive line has gone from a liability to a strength, and in Chadwick’s view, it has been the biggest reason the offense looks different this season.
“That offensive line last year held them back from being true Big 12 contenders,” Chadwick said of the 2025 group.
The arrival of Anthony Boswell, Shadre Hurst, and Drew Terrill has completely changed the picture. Alongside Alvin Ebosele and McKenzie Agnello, they’ve turned a shaky unit into one of the best offensive lines in the country.
Chadwick is especially high on Hurst and Boswell, and the numbers back up the eye test. PFN’s offensive line grading has Houston jumping from 76.1 in 2025 to 93.5 in 2026.
That puts the Cougars first in the Power 4 and second nationally. The improvement shows up in other efficiency measures too.
Houston’s EPA/play sits at 0.25 this season, good for 10th in the country. Last year that number was 0.04, which ranked 69th. That jump lines up neatly with the way the offense has operated, and it has been central to the team’s success.
It has also helped Conner Weigman settle in and produce at a high level, even with the tough loss to Utah hanging over the recent stretch. PFN gives Weigman an impact grade of 87.5, which ranks 12th nationally. The former Bridgeland Bear is tracking toward career highs in nearly every major passing category.
If the offense has been the driver, the defense has been a little more uneven. Houston’s defense was the backbone of Willie Fritz’s first two seasons, but this year it has lagged behind the offense. The departures of Eddie Walls and Jalen Garner from the front seven have been felt, especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback.
Javion White has been the most reliable pass rusher, posting an 18.4 percent win rate and 11 pressures. Latreveon McCutchin leads the team with 19 pressures and a 7.7 percent win rate.
There have been bright spots in the secondary. Houston is second in the country with 25 pass breakups and fourth in forced incompletion rate at 17.6.
Even so, the missed tackles remain a problem. The Cougars’ missed-tackle rate is 11.7%, which ranks 128th per PFN.
The split in the advanced numbers is hard to miss. Houston owns a -0.24 EPA/play against the pass, which ranks 121st, but a 0.18 EPA/play against the run, good for 21st nationally. The contrast is stark, and it matches what the tape suggests.
There is some help on the way. Houston appears set to get back two defensive starters this week in Da’Marion Thomas and Jaden Yates, and that could give the unit a needed boost. If the Cougars can create pressure at the right moments and finish plays when they’re there, there’s still a path to another 10-win season.
The Utah loss stung because of what it might have opened up for the program, and the conference championship race is technically still alive. But the bigger message right now is simpler: handle the next week, then the one after that, and keep control of what’s in front of you.
In Other News...
Cincinnati's Big 12 Hopes May Ride On One Bearcats Playmaker
Houston heads into Week 10 with only two losses on the season, but the visit from Cincinnati brings a different kind of challenge than a typical conference matchup. The Bearcats have leaned heavily on running back Cole Tabb, who has become the centerpiece of their offense while the Cougars have had their own issues slowing teams down on defense.
Both sides have spent much of the year living in shootout territory, which is why this one has the feel of a game where points could come quickly and often. Houstons defense has been vulnerable, Cincinnati has found a reliable playmaker in Tabb, and the broader offensive profile of both teams points toward a matchup that may be decided more by pace and scoring than by stops. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Offense Suddenly Has Real Pressure In A Crucial Big 12 Test
Houston heads into its first game of November with a little more pressure on the offense than it may have expected a few weeks ago. The Cougars are set to host Cincinnati in a Big 12 matchup that feels important for more than just the standings, especially with the conference quarterback picture shifting again after a busy Week 9. Recent play at the position has become a major storyline around the league, and Houston is now being measured against a group of teams with more established answers under center.
Cincinnati brings its own questions, but the Bearcats also arrive after a game in which their defense was pushed hard by Utah. For Houston, that means the spotlight is squarely on how well the Cougars can handle a defense that has already shown vulnerability, while also keeping pace in a league where quarterback performance can change a teams trajectory in a hurry. The matchup adds another layer to a week that already carries real weight for the Cougars, and it should say a lot about where this offense stands as the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]