Houston finished the 2025 season with an impressive 10-3 record, capping it off with a wild 38-35 win over LSU in the Texas Bowl. That’s a massive turnaround that has the Cougars buzzing with fresh excitement and real hope heading into the 2026 season. This isn’t just a good story; it’s a coach making magic happen, and the Big 12 needs to pay attention.
The Fritz Effect Is Real
Head coach Willie Fritz is a proven winner, no doubt about it. He took over a depleted Tulane program in 2016 and slowly built them into a legitimate force. We’re talking back-to-back 11-plus-win seasons, a standard not seen since 1998 when the Green Wave went 12-0. The guy even snagged an American Conference championship against UCF in 2022 and then stunned USC with a comeback victory in the Cotton Bowl. After an 11-3 campaign, Houston knew they had to get him.
Houston needed a shake-up. They’d seen a sweet 12-2 season in 2021 under Dana Holgorsen, but then dipped hard to 8-5 and a brutal 4-8. Fritz delivered. His first year in 2024 was a rebuilding 4-8, pretty standard with significant roster turnover. But then 2025 hit, and Fritz had the Cougars rolling, hitting that 10-3 mark. That Texas Bowl win over LSU? A statement, for sure. Now, the Cougars are widely expected to be right in the Big 12 title mix. Sixteen conference beat writers picked them for a third-place finish, tied with Arizona, and most sportsbooks have them ranked fifth. This isn’t just hopeful thinking; it’s serious expectation.
Offense Is Loaded For Bear
A huge chunk of that optimism comes straight from quarterback Conner Weigman. The former Texas A&M Aggie had a breakout 2025 season, slinging it for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns against nine interceptions, all while completing 65.2% of his passes. And he added a monster 700 rushing yards and 11 scores! Talk about a legitimate dual threat! With Weigman back under center, Houston’s offense is set to be explosive.
He’s got a crew of playmakers, too. Amare Thomas hauled in 67 receptions for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns. Oregon State transfer Trent Walker is joining the party after putting up 823 yards and two TDs. They’re also looking for Koby Young (191 yards) to step up this season. Fritz even reached back into his Tulane connections to grab Oregon running back Makhi Hughes. This guy tore it up for 1,401 yards and 15 TDs in 2024 before not cracking Oregon’s rotation in 2025. Hughes is gonna be the number one option at Houston, and if Fritz can get him back to that electric 2024 form, watch out. Up front, they’re replacing three starters, but snagging Toledo transfer Anthony Boswell, Tulane transfer Shadre Hurst, and Miami (OH) transfer Drew Terrill shows they mean business. Hurst even made the All-Big 12 preseason team and could easily be the star of that new offensive line unit. If this offensive line gels, Houston’s offense could be tough to stop.
This Cougars squad is riding serious momentum into 2026. They’ve got the proven coach, a breakout star QB, and weapons ready to make noise. Will they live up to the Big 12 title hype and shock everyone? That’s the question for this season. With Weigman leading the charge and Fritz pulling the strings, every game is gonna be must-watch football. Get ready, Big 12, because Houston is coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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