Willie Fritz and the Houston Cougars have enjoyed steady growth since the veteran coach arrived in 2023, but this season could be the big break this program needs to join the Big 12 championship game conversation.
There are 19 total starters, including 11 from last year’s team, on the roster, with some small tweaks to the coaching staff (Brian Bell moves to receivers coach, and Shawn Bell earns an assistant coach title as the QBs coach). Slade Nagle’s offense averaged just under 400 yards per game last season and returns key name in the backfield with Makhi Hughes, who rushed for 2,779 yards at Tulane before sitting out the majority of his junior season at Oregon. The defense allowed 15.2 yards per play, but tallied 28 total sacks, the most by any Houston pass rush since 2022 (31).
Houston retains its field general, too, in Johnny Unitas watch list quarterback Conner Weigman, who completed 60% of his attempts for 2,705 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2025.
Winning the Texas Bowl over LSU, Houston is looking to go bowl-eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time in the Fritz era, and the first time as a program since hitting three consecutive bowl games in 2021, 2022 and 2023 under Dana Holgorsen.
WILL THE DEFENSE HOLD?
The Cougars were top-40 among the country’s defenses in 2025, but sought out the portal to build its foundation for the year ahead, with new faces appearing along the front seven and the secondary. Returning EDGE Brandon Mack and defensive tackle Halil Laufau are back; Oregon transfer Ashton Porter is a newcomer to watch at defensive end.
In the secondary, Houston is even fresher, with Tulane transfer Javion White and Jalen Mayo (Stephen F. Austin) slated to own the corners; Senior safities Jordan Allen and Kentrell Webb return 99 combined tackles from last year.
Like the O-line, which consists of all but two returners, the main question is how quickly these guys come together.
AMARE THOMAS IS BACK
The payoff with UAB transfer Amare Thomas cannot be understated. The Birmingham, Alabama, native was shy of 1,000 yards on 67 catches last year, and averaged 14.4 yards per catch as a primary Weigman target last season.
It’s just Thomas’ second season at the Power Four level, but he could see his NFL Draft stock rise exponentially should he separate himself from Big 12 receivers this season and create a dangerous factor in Houston’s pass game with the veteran Weigman.
TEXAS TECH AND UTAH
It’s a complementary schedule for Houston in that 2026 includes both two key Big 12 tests and the runway for a strong finish. Houston travels to Texas Tech for a Friday matchup on Sept. 18; They’ll get Utah in Salt Lake City four weeks later, following contests against Georgia Southern, UCF, Kansas State and Oklahoma State.
You don’t necessarily need both Tech and Utah as wins, but boy would it be a pretty world for Fritz and the Cougars looking at a back-end schedule that concludes with Cincinnati, Colorado, West Virginia and Baylor.
Houston kicks off the season Sept. 5, hosting Oregon State.
