The 2026 Houston Cougars football team represent the University of Houston during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Cougars are led by third-year head coach Willie Fritz and play home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Jayden YorkTEAbilene ChristianJ'Marion BurnetteRBAppalachian StateDemetrius HunterIOLColoradoDevan WilliamsWRLamarAustin CarlisleQBLouisiana–MonroeJoshua DonaldDLLouisvilleCavan TuleyEDGEMissouriBlake HogshooterWROklahoma StateCayden BowieIOLPrairie View A&MJesus MachadoLBRiceZion TaylorEDGESam HoustonMarquis ShouldersWRStephen F. AustinDavid NdukweOTSyracuseDerek JoinerIOLTarleton StateCorey Platt Jr.LBTexas TechZeon Chriss-GremillionQBTulaneReshad SterlingEDGETulaneZavian TibbsDLWestern Michigan
Incoming Evan NoelKFloridaMuizz TounkaraWRFloridaJack Carson-WentzLSFlorida A&MDrew TerrillOTMiami (OH)Hayden WrightOTNorthwesternDe'Marion ThomasDLOklahoma StateJaden YatesLBOle MissMakhi HughesRBOregonAshton PorterDLOregonTrent WalkerWROregon StateJalen MayoCBStephen F. AustinLuke CarneyQBSyracuseTyson TurnerWRTexas TechAnthony BoswellIOLToledoShadre HurstIOLTulaneJavion WhiteSTulanePatrick OvermyerTEUTSAMiller MaloneLBWestern KentuckyEjiroghene EgodogbareDLYale
Preseason The Cougars opened spring practice on March 9.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Oregon State
Statistics ORSTHOU First downs 20 24 Plays–yards 54–402 72–533 Rushes–yards 25–26 41–228 Passing yards 376 305 Passing: –– 29–48–0 20–31–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:10 30:50 Team Category Player Statistics Oregon State Passing Braden Atkinson 29/48, 376 yards, TD Rushing Kourdey Glass 6 carries, 25 yards Receiving Jesse Legree 5 receptions, 136 yards, TD Houston Passing Conner Weigman 20/30, 305 yards, TD, INT Rushing Makhi Hughes 17 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Amare Thomas 8 receptions, 133 yards, TD
vs Southern (FCS)
Statistics SOUHOU First downs 4 34 Plays–yards 42–121 64–591 Rushes–yards 22–(-6) 45–388 Passing yards 127 203 Passing: –– 10–20–1 15–19–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 21:42 38:18 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Passing Wyatt McCauley 2/3, 85 yards, TD Rushing Armariyan Asberry 3 carries, 6 yards Receiving Wydell Clark Jr. 1 reception, 79 yards, TD Houston Passing Conner Weigman 9/12, 120 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zane Smith 10 carries, 69 yards Receiving Koby Young 3 receptions, 54 yards, 2 TD
at No. 13 Texas Tech (rivalry)
Statistics HOUTTU First downs 27 22 Plays–yards 75–458 60–425 Rushes–yards 37–176 32–168 Passing yards 282 257 Passing: –– 27–38–0 17–28–2 Time of possession 33:42 26:18 Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Conner Weigman 27/38, 282 yards, 3 TD Rushing Makhi Hughes 15 carries, 71 yards Receiving Amare Thomas 7 receptions, 75 yards, TD Texas Tech Passing Will Hammond 17/27, 257 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cameron Dickey 16 carries, 65 yards, TD Receiving Kenny Johnson 4 receptions, 113 yards, TD
at Georgia Southern
Statistics HOUGASO First downs 28 22 Plays–yards 63–441 65–355 Rushes–yards 41–202 26–66 Passing yards 239 289 Passing: –– 17–22–0 27–39–0 Time of possession 28:39 31:21 Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Conner Weigman 17/22, 239 yards, 4 TD Rushing Re'Shaun Sanford II 17 carries, 120 yards Receiving Trent Walker 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD Georgia Southern Passing Max Johnson 26/38, 284 yards, 3 TD Rushing David Mbadinga 6 carries, 37 yards Receiving Alex Taylor 6 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
vs UCF
Statistics UCFHOU First downs 13 23 Plays–yards 59–332 77–393 Rushes–yards 21–73 44–154 Passing yards 259 239 Passing: –– 25–38–1 18–33–0 Time of possession 26:38 33:32 Team Category Player Statistics UCF Passing Keyone Jenkins 23/35, 253 yards, TD, INT Rushing Duke Watson 9 carries, 50 yards Receiving Josh Derry 7 receptions, 101 yards, TD Houston Passing Conner Weigman 18/33, 239 yards Rushing Re'Shaun Sanford II 18 carries, 62 yards Receiving Patrick Overmyer 6 receptions, 76 yards
at Kansas State
Statistics HOUKSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Rushing Receiving Kansas State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Oklahoma State
Statistics OKSTHOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma State Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
at Utah
Statistics HOUUTAH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Rushing Receiving Utah Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Cincinnati
Statistics CINHOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cincinnati Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
at Colorado
Statistics HOUCOLO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Rushing Receiving Colorado Passing Rushing Receiving
at West Virginia
Statistics HOUWVU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Houston Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Baylor
Statistics BAYHOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Baylor Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
References