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2026 Houston Cougars Football Predictions with Betting Odds and Best Bets

by Ryan Cobbett - 8/23/2026

Houston Cougars football predictions Connor Weigman

If the college football comeback team of the year was an award, the Houston Cougars would have been the frontrunner to take it home. Houston doubled their win total last season, winning 10 games and picking up a big program win over LSU in their bowl game. Willie Fritz has elevated this program during his tenure and now they have legit conference championship aspirations heading into this year. Their quarterback returns and the roster has been properly rounded out around him. Houston could provide the college football world with a true Cinderella story if they reach their full potential.

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Houston Cougars Football Summary of Last Season

Last season was a great season for the Houston Cougars program. They started the season on a four-game winning streak, taking down Colorado along the way. They hit a brief but expected road bump when they clashed with Texas Tech and lost. However, the Cougars went on to win their next three games against Oklahoma State, Arizona, and Arizona State. Unfortunately for Houston, they lost two important conference games down the stretch against West Virginia and TCU, both of which were at home, and they finished the regular season with a 9-3 record. They missed the playoffs, but they did meet LSU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, where they took down the Tigers 38-35.

The Houston offense averaged just under 400 YPG last season, and they nearly averaged 30 PPG. Conner Weigman completed 65.2% of his passes for 2,705 yards, and he totaled 25 passing touchdowns. He also added 11 more touchdowns on the ground and another 700 rushing yards. Dean Connors led the ground game with 977 rushing yards, and he added six rushing touchdowns. Amare Thomas was Weigman’s favorite target as the receiver tallied 966 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. Tanner Koziol finished second on the team with 727 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Connors added another 254 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

The defense was the strength of this team last season. The Cougars defense held opponents to just 22.8 PPG on 347.8 YPG. Jalen Garner led the team with 77 tackles, and he further filled up the stat sheet with two sacks, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Carlos Allen Jr. finished second on the team with 73 tackles, while also adding three pass deflections and 1.5 sacks. Eddie Walls III led the team with seven sacks with Brandon Mack II right behind him with five. Will James led the Cougars defense with three interceptions, one of which he turned into a pick six. Latrell McCutchin Sr. also filled up the stat sheet for the defense as he led the team with nine pass deflections, while adding a forced fumble, a sack, and 52 tackles.

Houston Cougars Football Key Additions/Losses

The Cougars rank 17th in the country in returning production, with a bulk of that on the offensive side of the ball. Houston ranks 7th in the country in offensive returning production (71%) and 44th on defense (58%). Their second leading receiver in Koziol was the only Cougars player drafted, as he was taken in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Garner, Allen Jr, Walls III, and McCutchin all ran out of eligibility and are turning their attention towards professional football. Houston also lost linebacker Corey Platt Jr (Texas Tech) and offensive lineman Demetrius Hunter (Colorado) in the transfer portal.

While they have quite a few question marks on the defensive side of the ball, the team got to work in the transfer portal. They added defensive linemen Ashton Porter (Oregon), Ejiroghene Egodogbare (Yale), and De’Marion Thomas (Oklahoma State), cornerback Jalen Mayo (Stephen F. Austin), safety Javion White (Tulane), and linebacker Jaden Yates (Ole Miss). The offense also added running back Makhi Hughes (Oregon), wide receivers Trent Walker (Oregon State) and Muizz Tounkara (Florida), and offensive linemen Anthony Boswell (Toledo), Shadre Hurst (Tulane), and Drew Terrill (Miami OH).

2026 Houston Cougars Football Schedule Breakdown

Houston has a favorable schedule, but they have two tests that will really go on to define their season. They open up the year with Oregon State and Southern at home. Then they take on their biggest test of the season as they travel to Lubbock to face off against Texas Tech. After that, they travel to Georgia Southern to end September. In October they host UCF and a much-improved Oklahoma State team, and they travel to Kansas State and Utah. In November, they travel to Colorado and West Virginia, and they host Cincinnati and Baylor. Unfortunately for the Cougars, the biggest tests of their season all occur away from home.

2026 Houston Cougars Football X-Factors/Big Questions

Can Houston win on the road?

The Cougars have to travel to Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Utah this season. They will likely need to go 2-1 in those contests in order to reach the conference championship game and remain relevant in the playoff picture. It will be a long shot, but there is a lot of value around Houston if they can find a way to get it done on the road.

Can the defense reload?

The offense ranks inside the Top 10 nationally, and they bring back Weigman. However, the strength of the team last season was their defense and they rank just 44th in defensive returning production. They reloaded the defensive line and added at least one transfer at every level on the defensive side of the ball. Now it remains to be seen whether or not this year’s group can replicate the success as last year’s or even improve on those numbers in order to get Houston to the conference championship.

2026 Houston Cougars Football Notable Odds:

National Championship: +35000

Big 12 Champion: +1600

Heisman Winner- Conner Weigman: +6500

Predicted Win Total: 8.5 Games

2026 Houston Cougars Football Predictions:

I like Houston to hit the over on the win total. I think the Cougars have a legitament chance to be the third best team in the Big 12 this season. While they have a lot to prove, they return both coaches and players that were key in their successful season a year ago. I think Houston could find themselves in the playoff conversation late in the season if they find a way to prosper on the road. At +1600 to win the Big 12, they are worth a flier and they would be worth some couch change on a possible playoff appearance. Don’t sleep on the Cougars.

Prediction: Over 8.5 Wins, +112

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