Houston opened the 2026 season with a 33–20 victory over Oregon State, giving the No. 23 Cougars a strong start to the year. Houston finished with 533 total yards, including 305 through the air and 228 on the ground. The Cougars showed plenty of offensive explosiveness, but the game was closer than the final score suggests, with Oregon State hanging around until the fourth quarter.
Conner Weigman had a solid performance in his return as Houston’s starting quarterback. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He did throw an interception, but overall he showed good command of the offense and consistently pushed the ball downfield. His biggest value in this game was that Houston didn’t have to depend entirely on his passing because the running game was extremely effective.
The biggest offensive storyline may have been the emergence of Amare Thomas as Houston’s No. 1 receiving threat. Thomas finished with 8 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, including several big plays that kept Houston’s offense moving. With Thomas coming off a 966-yard season in 2025, this performance was an early indication that he could be one of the most important pieces of Houston’s offense throughout the season.
Houston’s rushing attack was arguably the most encouraging part of the game. The Cougars ran for 228 yards, led by Makhi Hughes and Re’Shaun Sanford II, who combined for 173 yards. Hughes finished with 98 yards and a touchdown, while Sanford had 75 yards and broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run. Sanford’s performance was particularly meaningful because he was returning from two ACL injuries, and his explosiveness immediately gave Houston another weapon in the backfield.
Defensively, Houston was dominant against Oregon State’s running game, holding the Beavers to just 26 rushing yards. The Cougars also generated consistent pressure, recording four sacks, with Javion White and Latreveon McCutchin making an impact in the pass rush. However, there are still some concerns on that side of the ball. Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson threw for 376 yards, and Houston had eight missed tackles, something head coach Willie Fritz acknowledged needed to improve.
The fourth quarter was where Houston ultimately separated itself. Oregon State cut the lead to 26–20, putting some pressure on the Cougars, but Houston responded with a long scoring drive that ended with Weigman’s 1-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes remaining. That drive essentially put the game away and showed Houston’s ability to respond when Oregon State started building momentum.
One other storyline worth mentioning was the debut of true freshman quarterback Keisean Henderson, the No. 1 recruit in Houston’s 2026 signing class. Henderson briefly entered after Weigman’s helmet came off and nearly connected on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Although he only played one snap, it gave fans a glimpse of the young quarterback’s potential.
Overall, Houston looked like a team with a very high offensive ceiling, but there are things to clean up before Big 12 play. The Cougars showed they can run the football, make explosive plays through the air and generate pressure defensively. The biggest concerns are tackling, pass defense and avoiding unnecessary mistakes. Still, putting up 533 yards and winning by 13 against Oregon State is a strong way to begin the season, and the Hughes-Sanford backfield combined with Weigman and Thomas gives Houston plenty to build around.
Time Stamps
00:40 Houston’s Potential
2:00 Houston’s Offense
4:10 Houston Defense
6:00 4th Quarter Crunch Time
6:30 Tune Up Game
8:00 Bleav in Houston
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