Game notes
- Time and date: Friday, September 26 at 10:30 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Reser Stadium — Corvallis, OR
- Spread: Houston (-13.5)
- Over/under: 47.5
- All-time series: Houston leads, 2-1
- Last meeting: Houston 19, Oregon State 16 — October 17, 1970
- Current streak: Houston, 2 (1961-70)
Setting the scene
The NFL-AFL merger had just been finalized last time the Houston Cougars and Oregon State Beavers met on a football field. The two collide in a nationally televised primetime matchup on ESPN, with their seasons starting in different trajectories. Houston (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) is unblemished through three games for the first time in nine years. Oregon State (0-4, 0-0 Pac-12) is winless through four outings for the first time in 14 years.
But crazy things can happen on Friday nights in Corvallis, and Oregon
State upended top-15 opponents in its last two Friday night matchups at Reser Stadium. The favored Cougars hope to avoid becoming the next victim in a quest for 4-0.
Houston Cougars outlook
Houston is fresh off back-to-back 4-8 seasons, but this year feels different for Willie Fritz and the Cougars. They aren’t just undefeated — they’ve thoroughly dominated each opponent by at least 16 points.
When Fritz first arrived at Houston, he implemented the mantra “Coogs don’t beat the Coogs,” looking to limit preventable mistakes like turnovers and penalties. Fritz’s main emphasis is certainly working as Houston ranks in the nation’s top 25 in fewest penalties per game and is one of five teams yet to commit a turnover.
Although the unit is under new direction in coordinator Austin Armstrong and features a slew of new starters, defense remains the signature of this Cougars team. Houston is one of 11 FBS teams to limit opponents below 10 points per game, and it’s only yielded three touchdowns all year. It’s a balanced effort between a vaunted run defense and a highly-acclaimed passing defense, and when combined, Houston surrenders the ninth-fewest yards per contest in the FBS.
Eddie Walls III and Carlos Allen spearhead a potent and aggressive defensive line. At defensive tackle, Allen ranks second on the team in tackles — a testament to how many first-level stops the Cougars generate. Meanwhile, Walls is a mainstay in the backfield with a team-high five tackles for loss through just three games since transferring from FIU.
The defense features noticeable closeout speed as well, ranging from Jalen Garner and the linebacking corps to a revamped secondary. Five different defensive backs already have an interception this year, and all five are transfers in their first year with Houston. Cornerback Will James has been among the new defensive back standouts, totaling nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pick-six after arriving from Southern Miss this offseason.
Houston’s defense has been stellar throughout Fritz’s tenure, but the offense has sputtered at times. Last year the Cougars ranked second-to-last in scoring offense, and their first six quarters of the season weren’t exactly clean. However, Houston showed tremendous progress on that side of the ball last time out vs. Colorado, dropping 36 points (its most since Oct. 12, 2023) and unleashing some new wrinkles. One of those wrinkles was quarterback mobility as Conner Weigman proved his speed and vision with career-highs in rushing yards (83) and touchdowns (2).
Weigman also enjoyed his best game as a passer since transferring from Texas A&M, firing for 222 yards and finishing his third-straight start without an interception. The Cougars haven’t needed to pass much due to the lopsided nature of games, but when they do, Weigman often targets tight end Tanner Koziol. The 6’7”, 250 pound Koziol has more than double the receptions of the next closest Cougar with 17, and he’s often a short-yardage threat. When Weigman targets further downfield, Stephon Johnson and Amare Thomas are the premier options, with Johnson fresh off a 117-yard game vs. Colorado.
Other offensive weapons in this Houston offense are the running backs. Dean Connors is the speedy lead back with a team-high 271 rushing yards and three touchdowns through a quarter of the regular season. The Cougars will improve their depth behind Connors this week as J’Marion Burnette is set to return from injury. However, Houston’s offensive line (which has started three different lineups so far) has been banged up, but the only long-term injury is to left tackle David Ndukwe who is out for the season.
Ndukwe’s injury was the low point in an otherwise inspiring win over Colorado. One impressive feature Houston displayed in that Big 12 opener was the presence of a reliable kicking game. Ethan Sanchez sunk 5-of-6 kicks in the win, hitting from 52, 43, 47, 35, and 49 yards out.
Oregon State Beavers outlook
Oregon State enjoyed a brief three-year run of winning under Jonathan Smith, but the Beavers have fallen on hard times since the near-dissolve of the Pac-12. They barely missed bowl eligibility last season at 5-7. However, in 2025, Oregon State is simply vying for a victory. The Beavers are one of five winless FBS teams, and their schedule hasn’t provided any gimmes yet. They hosted California and Fresno State to open the season before traveling to ranked Texas Tech and Oregon teams in back-to-back weeks, losing by a combined score of 86-21.
Due to a bizarre ending vs. Fresno State that featured a pick-six with four seconds left, Oregon State hasn’t come within one possession of a single opponent. But one advantage the Beavers have this week — it’s certain to be Reser Stadium’s greatest atmosphere to date. The students are finally back in Corvallis where the Beavers have logged impressive Friday night upsets in recent memory.
The students will back quarterback Maalik Murphy, who has a history with Houston. Two stops ago when Murphy was at Texas, he led the Longhorns on a game-winning drive to defeat the Cougars in 2023. The 6’5” junior quarterback tested his arm quite often in the first three games, averaging 42 passing attempts and 299 passing yards per game. However, Oregon tested the former Texas and Duke transfer, and he looks to bounce back after a 5-of-18 showing in the rivalry vs. the Ducks.
Outside of the Oregon game, the Beavers’ passing attack has been effective outside of interceptions. Murphy moves the ball well to his capable wide receiver trio of Trent Walker (23 receptions, 302 yards), Tastean Reddicks (17 receptions, 240 yards), and David Wells Jr. (12 receptions 170 yards). However, Oregon State’s run game has been stymied from the get-go this year, ranking fourth-to-last in the FBS in yards per game. Anthony Hankerson is a capable back after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, but the struggles have been more of a matter of Oregon State not finishing blocks or driving through defenders to give Hankerson space.
Another national ranking the Beavers must improve is points allowed per game. They currently check in at 131st by yielding an average of 39.0, and all four opponents reached at least 34 this year. Both the passing defense and rushing defense rank below the top 110, giving Oregon State a multitude of areas it must develop. The unit had its moments in the first half against Oregon, forcing a turnover on downs and punt during the Ducks’ first three drives. But sustaining that level of play for multiple quarters has been an issue thus far.
Oregon State addressed the aerial defense by adding nickel Conrad Hussey to the roster last week. The former Florida State defensive back (four starts as a Seminole) saw his first action in the Oregon game and should see a more expanded role as he attains greater knowledge of the playbook.
Other talents to watch on defense include outside linebacker Dexter Foster and strong safety Skyler Thomas. They are tied for first on the unit with 31 tackles apiece, while Foster leads the Beavers in tackles for loss and Thomas owns the most pass breakups on the roster. One bright spot of this defense is that it isn’t flagged much, and Oregon State ranks 11th nationally in fewest penalty yards. However, the turnover output needs to improve going forward as the Beavers currently sit a -4 on the season with three takeaways through four matchups.
Prediction
Although Oregon State receives homefield advantage, this is an undefeated team with only multi-score victories against a winless team with only multi-score defeats. The Beavers’ struggling run game does not bode well against a fast, feisty Houston defense that has stopped almost everything in its tracks this year. Oregon State may see some success through the aerial attack is Maalik Murphy can buy substantial time which could produce several scoring drives for the home team.
But it won’t be enough to match what Houston has in store. Conner Weigman continues to improve with each start wearing red and white, and he’s equipped with a wide range of weapons from Dean Connors to Tanner Koziol to his favorite deep threat in Stephon Johnson. Add Weigman’s newfound running ability, and Houston should sustain its offensive outbreak from the Colorado game during a trip to Corvallis.
Cougars improve to 4-0, while the Beavers fall to 0-5 on #Pac12AfterDark.
Prediction: Houston 31, Oregon State 14
