Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

_

BEHIND ENEMY LINES  

“Willie Fritz’s gift is that he gets the most out of his players and his program. Just look at Conner Weigman and how well he played last year compared to what he was at Texas A&M. Houston doesn’t spend like the other teams that won 10 games in the Power Four and that’s the only thing that might keep Willie from winning a championship with Houston. They just don’t have the money right now and that’s a good thing for the rest of the Big 12.”  

“Fritz is a stud, man. Just a hell of a ball coach and a great man. His son (Wes Fritz) has done a great job with that roster considering some of the financial restraints they’re dealing with. They’re my pick to play against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game this year if that QB (Weigman) can stay healthy again.”   

SCHEDULE AND PREDICTIONS  

Sept. 5 Oregon State W 

Sept. 12 Southern W 

Sept. 19 at Texas Tech L 

Sept. 26 at Georgia Southern W 

Oct. 3 UCF W 

Oct. 10 at Kansas State  L 

Oct. 17 Oklahoma State W 

Oct. 24 at Utah L 

Oct. 31 IDLE 

Nov. 7 Cincinnati W 

Nov. 14 at Colorado W 

Nov. 21 at West Virginia W 

Nov. 28 Baylor  W 

Record: 9-3 (6-3) 

BIGGEST GAME – Sept. 19 at Texas Tech  

Houston considers the Red Raiders its main rival in the Big 12 and the Week 3 trip to Lubbock provides the Coogs with a chance to earn an early signature win in Year 3 of the Willie Fritz era. A win propels Houston into the Big 12 title picture.   

TRAP GAME – Oct. 17 vs. Oklahoma State  

The home game against Oklahoma State and new head coach Eric Morris, who takes over after leading North Texas to 12 wins last year, falls between trips to Kansas State and Utah. Last year, the Cougars lost to at home West Virginia in a game that fell between trips to Arizona State and UCF.  

UPSET ALERT – Oct. 24 at Utah  

Houston faces a tough Big 12 road gauntlet that consists of trips to Texas Tech, Kansas State, Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia. Houston didn’t play Utah in 2025, but the Coogs did knock off the Utes at home back in 2024 during Willie Fritz’s first season in charge. 

BEST CASE/WORST CASE 

Best Case: 11-1  

A trip to Lubbock proves to be the only road block for Willie Fritz as he leads his Cougars to the Big 12 Championship game and a rematch with the Red Raiders in Year 3 as head coach. Houston’s continuity proves to be its secret sauce.   

A tougher schedule that consists of five Big 12 road games reveals cracks in the foundation of the Houston program that were hidden behind an easier road in 2025. The Coogs must travel to some of the toughest places in the Big 12 to win, including Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Utah.   

2025 RESULTS 

Aug. 28 SFA W 27-0  

Sept. 6 at Rice W 35-9 

Sept. 12 Colorado W 36-20 

Sept. 26 at Oregon State W 27-24 (OT) 

Oct. 4 Texas Tech L 35-11 

Oct. 11 at Oklahoma State W 39-17 

Oct. 18 Arizona W 31-28 

Oct. 25 at Arizona State W 24-16 

Nov. 1 West Virginia L 45-35 

Nov. 7 at UCF W 30-27 

Nov. 22 TCU L 17-14 

Nov. 29 at Baylor W 31-24 

Dec. 27 LSU (Texas Bowl) 38-35 

Record: 10-3 (6-3)