Houston will be a trendy dark horse pick to play for the Big 12 championship after a 10-win season in 2025.

The Coogs are the only Power Four team in Texas to return their head coach, all three coordinators, and their starting quarterback. In a college football landscape that is always revolving, that continuity and the steadiness of head coach Willie Fritz could be the secret sauce to a special season. 

Third Ward was my third stop on the 2026 summer magazine tour and that’s exactly the word I’d use to describe Houston: continuity. The coaching staff is mostly the same. Conner Weigman returns at quarterback, as does star receiver Amare Thomas and key offensive linemen such as Alvin Ebosele and right guard McKenzie Agnello. Defensively, Houston returns eight starters and added three players in the portal who participated in the 2025 College Football Playoff. 

Here are some offensive and defensive notes from the stop via a position-by-position breakdown following conversations with Fritz, OC Slade Nagle, and DC Austin Armstrong. But before that, I wanted to provide the perfect order at Frenchy’s Chicken, which is a must-stop around Houston’s campus. My go-to is a Campus, which is a three-piece chicken meal that I order mixed with white and dark meat. The red beans are the best side and I recommend the cornbread over the roll.   

Offense 

• Don’t pay attention to national voices who attempt to build a QB controversy at Houston. Weigman is the starter. End of story. Five-star Keisean Henderson is living up to the hype, but Fritz and Nagle both described it as the perfect situation for the big-armed true freshman. He can sit behind Weigman and learn how to be a college quarterback and then become the face of the program this time next year. He’ll be QB2, so he is one snap away from starting, but Weigman is the guy as long as he’s healthy. 
• Speaking of health, it was fun sitting down with Weigman and hearing him talk about the 2025 season. He was constantly injured at Texas A&M and he lost a lot of the athleticism that made him a five-star recruit out of Cypress Bridgeland. His running ability even surprised Fritz and Nagle. But the plan isn’t to run Weigman in 2026 like they did in 2025. That was out of necessity. The QB run game will always be part of a Fritz program, but they plan on doing it 4-5 times a game instead of 10+. 
• One of the reasons that Weigman won’t run as much in 2026 is because of a reloaded running back room. Re’Shaun Sanford II was lost in preseason camp last year to injury and that hurt the Cougars’ depth at the position. He’s back alongside DJ Butler. 
• The big addition to the offense was RB Makhi Hughes, who was tremendous at Tulane under Nagle but was lost in the shuffle at Oregon. Fritz and Nagle described Hughes as the type of running back that gets better with 10+ carries, something he never got to do at Oregon. Expect him to return to form at Houston and he could be the breakout player of the Big 12. 
• Keeping Amare Thomas at Houston was a major win for the Cougars. He’s one of the Big 12’s best and he’ll be WR1 again for Weigman. Koby Young and Harvey Broussard are also back. Nagle described Young as possibly the most improved player on the offense from this time last year. Nagle also likes Trent Walker, a talented and experienced receiver from Oregon State. His 6-foot-2 frame gives the Coogs some size on the outside. 
• Losing Tanner Koziol at tight end was the biggest loss on offense after 2025, but UTSA transfer Patrick Overmyer should help fill that void. “He’s everything we thought he’d be and more,” Nagle said. Kaleb Thomas and Traville Frederick Jr. are also in the mix. Luke McGary is working his way back from injury. 
• The starting five along the offensive line seems set. Alvin Ebosele (LT), Shadre Hurst (LG), Anthony Boswell (C), McKenzie Agnello (RG), Sean Terrell (RT). Nagle said this group might be a bit smaller than last year’s offensive line, but that the starting five is more athletic and functionally stronger. Boswell and Hurst were major additions and Fritz says the most improved position room at Houston since his arrival is unquestionably the offensive line. 

Defense 

• DC Austin Armstrong returns eight starters to seven spots on defense and believes the portal additions expected to slide into the other starting spots along the defense are proven commodities. 
• Two of those new starters figure to be along the defensive line with De’Marion Thomas is expected to replace Carlos Allen at nose tackle while Oregon transfer Ashton Porter should start at field end. Khalil Laufau is the other starter along the defensive line, returning after a stellar 2025 campaign with the Cougars. 
• The JACK position will be manned by Latreveon McCutchin and Brandon Mack, though Mack is out for the spring with a pectoral injury. Armstrong says he’ll be fully healthy by summer and isn’t worried about him missing any real time. 
• Backup defensive linemen to know include Chance Bryant, Myles Parker, DK Mays, and Quindario Lee. 
• Three of Houston’s top four linebackers return, including Sione Fotu and Carmycah Glass at MIKE linebacker. Armstrong views those guys as 1A and 1B at MIKE and both started games at the position last year. Ole Miss transfer Jaden Yates, who started games for the Rebels last season, will man the WILL linebacker spot. Richmond Ugochukwu and Christian Brathwaite are also in the mix at the WILL spot. 
• The deep safety positions return familiar faces with Kentrell Webb and Jordan Allen back. They’ll be backed up by CJ Douglas and Johnsley Barbas. 
• The STAR position (nickel) should go to Tulane transfer Javion White, another one of those additions with CFP experience. Alvin Williamson and Paris Melvin Jr. are also working at STAR. 
• Will James, who was one of the top cornerbacks in the Big 12 and the state of Texas last year, returns at one cornerback spot. The Cougars added SFA transfer Jalen Mayo, who Armstrong thinks will play in the NFL, to replace Latrell McCutchin at the other cornerback spot. Keany Parks and JD Rhym, who has battled injuries in his career at Houston, are currently the primary backups at cornerback.