Houston football just locked in a massive win for the 2026 season by bringing back three of its best players. Quarterback Conner Weigman, wide receiver Amare Thomas, and defensive end Khalil Laufau are all set to stick around in Willie Fritz’s system.
This isn’t a small piece of news, either. Each of these guys was a cornerstone of a 2025 season that saw the Cougars go 10‑3 and cap it with a dramatic 38‑35 Texas Bowl win over LSU, marking one of the program’s best campaigns in years.
Weigman’s return alone is a reason to take notice. The junior signal‑caller finished the season with 2,711 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing just above 65 percent of his passes. In the Texas Bowl, he threw a bowl‑record four touchdowns and helped push Houston past LSU despite falling behind early. He’s also a sneaky dual‑threat weapon, piling up 11 rushing touchdowns in 2025.
Then there’s Amare Thomas. He led the Cougars in receiving this past season with just shy of 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. When Weigman needed a go‑to target, Thomas delivered, racking up multiple 100‑yard games, including a monster outing with 157 yards at Oklahoma State.
Despite not having as flashy stats as Weigman and Thomas, Khalil Laufau had a stellar season on the defensive line. He posted 35 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble, and keeping him around is a massive win for the program.
Keeping your own stars is a huge deal in the portal era. A lot of teams have already lost key contributors this offseason. Houston just kept three of its best. That’s a statement about where this program is headed next year.
