Houston Cougars is 1-0 on the season, 0-1 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +6.2. Houston Cougars enters the season with a power rating of +6.2, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Houston Cougars host Southern next in Week 2. In 2025, Houston Cougars went 10-3 overall, 9-4 against the spread, and 8-5 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Houston Cougars Power Rating of +6.2 is 6.2 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Houston Cougars have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 10,328 miles, ranking 26th heaviest in the FBS.
Conner Weigman QB, Keisean Henderson QB, Amare Thomas WR, Makhi Hughes RB, Patrick Overmyer TE, Shadre Hurst OL, Anthony Boswell OL, Drew Terrill OL
Will James CB, Kentrell Webb S, Jordan Allen S, Jalen Mayo CB, Javion White CB, Paris Melvin Jr. CB, Brandon Mack II EDGE, Latreveon McCutchin EDGE, Ashton Porter EDGE, Khalil Laufau DL, De'Marion Thomas DL, Myles Parker DL, Travis Buhake DL, Sione Fotu LB, Carmycah Glass LB, Jaden Yates LB
Zac Yoakam K, Evan Noel K, Jonathan Dimas K, Liam Dougherty P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 1-1 |
| Week 3 | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2-1 |
| Week 5 | 4-0 | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| Week 6 | 4-1 | 3-2 | 3-2 |
| Week 7 | 5-1 | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Week 8 | 6-1 | 5-2 | 5-2 |
| Week 9 | 7-1 | 6-2 | 5-3 |
| Week 10 | 7-2 | 6-3 | 6-3 |
| Week 11 | 8-2 | 7-3 | 7-3 |
| Week 13 | 8-3 | 7-4 | 7-4 |
| Week 14 | 9-3 | 8-4 | 7-5 |
| Postseason | 10-3 | 9-4 | 8-5 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened +6.7 in the preseason and finished +6.2 after week 2, a move of -0.5 points. High +7.4 (week 1), low +6.2 (week 2).
PreW2
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured home field advantage of -0.9 is regressed to +1.5 before it is applied, a difference of 2.4 points. A single venue's raw result carries a lot of noise, so the applied figure is pulled toward the league pattern. See how much is home field advantage really worth.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State | 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 0-6 | 1-5 |
| UCF | 5 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| Kansas State | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Oklahoma State | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Utah | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Cincinnati | 6 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
| Colorado | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Baylor | 3 | 2-1 | 2-1 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Southern, Georgia Southern.
Week 010,328 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Oregon State | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Southern | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 3 | Texas Tech | 468 mi | 935 mi |
| Week 4 | Georgia Southern | 825 mi | 2,585 mi |
| Week 5 | UCF | Home | 2,585 mi |
| Week 6 | Kansas State | 657 mi | 3,900 mi |
| Week 7 | Oklahoma State | Home | 3,900 mi |
| Week 8 | Utah | 1,200 mi | 6,301 mi |
| Week 9 | - | Bye | |
| Week 10 | Cincinnati | Home | 6,301 mi |
| Week 11 | Colorado | 904 mi | 8,110 mi |
| Week 12 | West Virginia | 1,109 mi | 10,328 mi |
| Week 13 | Baylor | Home | 10,328 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Conner Weigman opened the season with 305 passing yards, a touchdown through the air, and a rushing score in the 33-20 win over Oregon State. He spread the ball to Amare Thomas, who caught eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, while the running game added 200 yards on the ground, including a 56-yard burst from Re'Shaun Sanford II and a short score from Makhi Hughes. The Cougars outgained the Beavers 533 to 402, showing the balance that head coach Willie Fritz wants. With Weigman healthy and in the same offensive system for the first time in consecutive years, plus a retooled line with three portal starters, this unit looks capable of carrying the team all season.
Houston's rebuilt defense held Oregon State to just 26 rushing yards and recorded four sacks, a strong start for a unit that lost its leading tackler and sacks leader from last year. However, the Beavers threw for 376 yards, and Fritz admitted tackling was not crisp and coverage broke down on simple route concepts. The secondary remains the strength with All-Big 12 cornerback Will James and both starting safeties back, but the front seven is still gelling. If the pass defense does not tighten up, Big 12 offenses with better receivers could exploit those same mistakes.
Several transfers and newcomers stepped up in the opener. Makhi Hughes, the Tulane transfer who rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in two seasons there, gained 98 yards on the ground. Re'Shaun Sanford II, who was not in the preseason spotlight, broke off the longest play of the day. On defense, the edge rotation with Brandon Mack II and Latreveon McCutchin helped produce those four sacks. The offensive line, featuring three portal starters in Shadre Hurst, Anthony Boswell, and Drew Terrill, protected Weigman well enough for him to complete 20 of 30 passes. These early contributions suggest the roster overhaul is paying off.
Houston entered the season with hopes of reaching the Big 12 Championship Game, and the opener did nothing to lower that bar. The Cougars are ranked No. 23 and face a soft stretch with Southern coming to town next, but the real tests will come in conference play. The defense's pass coverage issues and the team's failure to cover a 20.5-point spread against Oregon State are reminders that this group is still a work in progress. If the offense keeps producing at this level and the defense improves its tackling and coverage, Houston has the talent to compete for a conference title. The key will be whether the rebuilt front seven can hold up against stronger Big 12 offenses.
Houston Cougars is 0-1 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 0% of games.
Houston Cougars holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +6.2, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Houston Cougars's home field advantage rating is 1.5 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Houston Cougars's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 7.5 wins, priced at -180 over and +145 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Houston Cougars travels 10,328 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 26th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Houston Cougars: 1-0 overall, 0-1 ATS, power rating +6.2 (2026 records).
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