PREVIEW: #22 Cougars, Wildcats Fight in Little Apple

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The #22/19 Houston Football team heads to Kansas State for a feline frenzy clash starting at 2:30 p.m., Saturday on FOX.

GAME 6 – AT KANSAS STATE

#22/19 Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) at -/rv Kansas State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 10 | 2:30 p.m.
Bill Snyder Family Stadium | Manhattan, Kan.
Broadcast: FOX
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The matchup pits one of the top first down offenses (Houston) against a strong first down defense (Kansas State). The Cougars have produced the nations' most first downs while the Wildcats have allowed the third fewest (53). The Wildcats' defense ranks ninth nationally, allowing just 246.0 yards per game. The Cougars offense ranks 20th nationally averaging 483.3 yards of offense each game.
Junior running back Re'Shaun Sanford II has returned to dominance after missing the 2025 season due to injury. Sanford has led the Cougars with 314 rushing yards and a team-long 56 yard rush. Sanford has led the Cougars in rushing yards and attempts in back-to-back games (UCF, Georgia Southern) entering Houston's bout with Kansas State.
Houston leads the country in third-down conversion percentage, earning a first down on over 65 percent of opportunities. The Cougars have converted on third down more than 50 percent of the time in every game this season.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

The Cougars' offense has been pushed to new heights in 2026, ranking 20th nationally in total offense, 13th in rushing offense and 44th in passing offense while leading the nation on third down (65.6% conversion rate) and fourth in the country in first downs (136).
Weigman is one of 12 quarterbacks nationally and is the only signal-caller in the Big 12 with 11+ passing touchdowns and one or fewer interceptions.
Houston, ranked #22 in the AP Poll, has been ranked in the AP Poll for six consecutive releases to open the season. It marks the first time since 2016 the Cougars have been ranked in the first six polls to begin a season.
Kicker Jonathan Dimas has started the season a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals including three field goals from 40+ yards. Dimas was named Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following his performance against UCF. Dimas knocked through a career-long 46-yard field goal to put Houston up 10 points and capped a 27-0 scoring run as the Cougars erased a 17-point deficit halfway through the third quarter against UCF.
Houston's offensive line has been a wall to start the season. The unit averages just one sack and 2.2 tackles for loss allowed per game entering week six, including a tilt against Georgia Southern where the team did not have an offensive play go for negative yards.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE

Kansas State enters the matchup with a 3-1 record coming off of its bye in Week 5. The Wildcats have wins over Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane but fell to Cincinnati in the team's Big 12 opener.
Kansas State is ranked 13^th nationally in rushing offense (240.8), setting up a showdown as Houston has the eighth best rushing defense, allowing just 65.4 yards per game.
Avery Johnson leads the offense, posting 910 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Johnson, Rodney Fields Jr. and Joe Jackson combine to form most of the Wildcats' rushing attack, recording 291, 274 and 189 yards respectively. The trio has combined for eight rushing touchdowns on the year.

LAST TIME AGAINST KANSAS STATE

Houston and Kansas State have split their two meetings on the gridiron, each winning their long home game. The Cougars won the last meeting in the series, downing the #17 Wildcats, 24-19, inside TDECU Stadium on Nov. 2, 2024.
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion went a perfect 11-for-11 for 103 yards and a touchdown while adding another 75 yards and a score on the ground. Donovan Smith rushed for another score while Maliq Carr caught Chriss-Gremillion's pass to highlight the offensive effort.
Jeremiah Wilson and Michael Batton both caught interceptions for the Cougars with Latrell McCutchin blocked an extra point attempt to keep Houston ahead in the second quarter.
The win marked Head Coach Willie Fritz's first ranked win at Houston, thanks to a 14-point first quarter. It was Houston's highest ranked win since defeating #17/14 South Florida, 28-24, on Oct. 29, 2017.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD BE ...

Houston's second consecutive win over Kansas State.
The Cougars' first win at Kansas State in program history.
Houston's second consecutive 5-1 start to the season.
Houston's first win on Oct. 10 against a team not named Mississippi State.
Conner Weigman's 24^th career win as a starter.

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