PREVIEW: #23/#24 Houston Hosts Oregon State for H-Town Kickoff

Saturday, September 5

Houston, Texas

11 a.m.

University of Houston

Oregon State

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Re'Shaun Sanford Catches a pass at practice

PREVIEW: #23/#24 Houston Hosts Oregon State for H-Town Kickoff

9/2/2026 11:24:00 AM | Football

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Cougars open season by hosting Beavers for rematch of 2025 nonconference finale

HOUSTON – The #23/24 Houston Cougars open their 2026 season against Oregon State on ESPN at 11 a.m. on Sept. 5 inside TDECU Stadium in the most anticipated Houston Football seasons in a decade.

GAME 1 – OREGON STATE

Houston (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Oregon State (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Saturday, Sept. 5 | 11 a.m.
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Two starters return to the offensive line in 2026, an increase from 2025 when Houston replaced four starters. The new additions in 2026 however are all All-Conference selections, including a two Freshmen All-Americans. A former walk-on at Purdue, Anthony Boswell (Toledo transfer) will be Houston's starting center. Coach Fritz says Boswell is the best center he has ever had in his 34 years coaching. Left guard Shadre Hurst rejoins Coach Fritz and Coach Eman Naghavi from Tulane following three seasons with the Green Wave, including a Freshman All-America nod in 2023. At right tackle, Drew Terrill joins the Cougars from Miami (Ohio) where he, along with Boswell, was an All-MAC honoree.
Senior running back Makhi Hughes is one of the nation's best running backs heading into 2026. His 2,894 rushing yards is second-most by active running backs in the country. Hughes rushed for 1,300+ yards in each of his first two seasons at Tulane. The Birmingham, Ala., native averages 5.3 rushes per carry and scored 15 touchdowns in 2024 at Tulane. Hughes was an Freshman All-American in 2023 and a two-time All-AAC selection while at Tulane.
Quarterback Conner Weigman is one of the best signal callers in the Big 12 and nation following a breakout junior season for the Cougars in 2025 where he accounted for 36 total touchdowns – 25 passing and 11 rushing – which led the Big 12 and was seventh-most in the nation. Weigman's 3,405 yards of offense were the 12th most by a Cougar QB since 1996 and the most since 2021 – his 700 rushing yards were the second most by a Houston QB since 1996 and his 36 total touchdowns were the seventh-most since 1996.
Weigman has one of his two favorite pass catchers returning in 2026 with All-American wide receiver Amare Thomas back to headline the receiver room. Thomas was second in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns (12) and yards (966) and is the leading returning receiver in the Big 12.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston is coming off its first 10-win season since 2021 and third since 2015 after the Cougars opened the season winning its first four games and were the only team in the country that went 6-for-6 on the road. Houston has never won 10 games in back-to-back seasons.
Houston is ranked in the top 25 in both the AP Poll (#23) and the USA Today Coaches Poll (#24). It marks the first time since 2022 that the Cougars were ranked in the Preseason AP Poll since 2022 and the highest ranking since 2016 when the Cougars were #15.
Houston landed the #6 transfer recruiting class in the country (On3) and its best high school recruiting class in school history (247Sports) this year. Houston's high school recruiting class featured the #1 recruit in the country, Keisean Henderson, and three additional four-star recruits that have all impressed during fall camp and will play a role in 2026.
Guard Shadre Hurst is arguably Houston's best offensive lineman in the modern era. The lowest-ranked recruit in Willie Fritz's 2022 class at Tulane, has blossomed into an All-American, Lombardi Trophy Watch List and Outland Trophy Watch List selection and potential future NFL Draft Pick.
Houston was one of 26 schools to have a player drafted in both the 2026 NFL Draft and NBA Draft. Houston Football's Tanner Koziol was selected in the Fifth Round by the Jacksonville Jaguars while three Houston Men's Basketball players were selected – Kingston Flemings (1st, 8th overall), Chris Cenac Jr. (1st, 27th overall) and Emanuel Sharp (2nd, 45th overall). Houston was one of eight Big 12 schools included in the list. Houston was also one of 11 schools to have a player drafted in the first five rounds of the NFL (Koziol), NBA (Flemings, Cenac Jr., Sharp) and MLB (Tre Broussard) Drafts.

SCOUTING OREGON STATE

Oregon State makes its first appearance under Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard who was hired in Nov. 2025 as the program's 33^rd head coach. He spent the last two seasons at Alabama, most recently as the Crimson Tide's assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Braden Atkinson is slated to make the start behind center for the Beavers. Atkinson was the 2025 Jerry Rice Award winner after throwing for 3,596 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 games at Mercer.
Oregon State overhauled its receiver room through the portal, adding Aaron Butler (Texas), Aeryn Hampton (Alabama), Adonis McDaniel (Mercer) and Xayvion Noland (Texas State).

LAST TIME AGAINST UCF

Houston stormed back in the second half to win, 27-24, in overtime in last season's nonconference finale.
A 50-yard pass from Weigman to Koziol with 3:40 left in the game evened the score while Will James dove to block Houston's second field goal of the game as time expired to force overtime. The Beavers went four-and-out to start overtime while Ethan Sanchez nailed the field goal to secure the win.
Thomas posted 104 receiving yards while both Koziol and Stephon Johnson snagged touchdown passes. James and Latrell McCutchin Sr. blocked field goals for the Cougars and Sione Fotu posted 15 stops to highlight the defensive effort.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD BE HOUSTON'S ...

Second consecutive season opening win and 44th win on opening day.
Second consecutive home opening win.
Fourth straight win over Oregon State.
First win as a preseason ranked team since 2016.
Second consecutive win against a Pac-12 team.
First season opening win as a ranked team since 2022.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Don't miss any of the action. Purchase single-game tickets today by clicking here.

SEASON TICKETS
University of Houston Football season tickets are on sale for the 2026 season. For as low as $150, fans can get in on the excitement of Year 3 of the Head Coach Willie Fritz era with pivotal matchups against Oregon State, Southern, UCF, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati and Baylor as the Cougars look to improve on their 10-win season in 2025.

To purchase season tickets, click here.

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