Preview: Houston Football Awaits Bounce Back Possibility in Big 12 Road Opener
The Houston Cougars (2-4) travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-4) in a Big 12 Conference matchup on Saturday, October 11th, at 11 a.m. CT, broadcast on TNT. Both teams are seeking to improve their standing in the conference and houston aims for a crucial step towards bowl eligibility.
Oklahoma state is currently double-digit favorites in the contest. Their challenging start to the 2025 season is underscored by a 13.8 points per game average, allowing 43.5 points per game, resulting in a -99 point differential.
Since the 2023 campaign, Oklahoma State has struggled to maintain the program’s previous success during the first 19 seasons under former coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys have lost 11 consecutive conference games, dating back to the start of league play in 2024, following a 3-0 non-conference record. Gundy’s dismissal led to players entering the transfer portal and redshirt applications, as well as the firing of defensive coordinator todd Grantham after just four games with the Cowboys, where he ran a 3-4 base defense.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman is expected to return to the starting lineup after being placed in NCAA concussion protocol following an upper-body injury sustained during the Week 6 matchup against Texas Tech. He did not practice Monday but participated fully in Wednesday’s practice and was initially listed as probable to start. Thursday’s player availability report removed his name from the list, further indicating his return. “I feel good now,” Weigman stated. “It was good to be able to come back out here and practice and get better with my guys.”
The Cowboys, however, face important quarterback challenges. redshirt freshman Hauss Hejny is out after breaking his right foot in the season opener. Redshirt freshman Zane Flores, who filled in for Hejny, is listed as doubtful, potentially leading to redshirt senior wide receiver Sam Jackson V taking snaps under center. Oklahoma State has a conference-leading 14 players ruled out for the game.
For Houston to succeed, a defensive performance mirroring their 16th-ranked FBS total defense prior to Week 6 is crucial. Missed tackles contributed to allowing over four yards per carry to the Texas Tech running backs.
Offensively, a fully healthy offensive line, including senior tackle Dalton Merryman, will be key to providing pocket comfort for Weigman and allowing him to connect with targets like senior tight end Tanner Koziol and junior wide receiver Amare Thomas, exploiting weaknesses in the Cowboys’ secondary.Senior running back Dean Connors will aim to improve upon his recent 31-yard, 2.4 yards per carry performance.
This game presents Houston with a prime opportunity to move closer to achieving bowl eligibility for the first time as a member of the big 12 Conference.
sports@thedailycougar.com
