West Virginia’s second-to-last road game of the 2025 season comes at noon Saturday against one of the more improved teams in college football. No. 22 Houston (7-1, 4-1) can double its win total from head coach Willie Fritz’s first season with a victory against the Mountaineers.
WVU (2-6, 0-5) is still in search of its first Big 12 win and the closest it came to one was last Saturday in a 23-17 home loss to TCU.
The Mountaineers lost 41-39 at Houston in 2023 in the only previous meeting between the two. Cougars’ wide receiver Stephon Johnson hauled in a winning Hail Mary pass as time expired in that game as remains with the team today.
The following players are out for their respective teams today:
WVU — Jahiem White (RB); Tye Edwards (RB); Jordan Walker (S); Jaden Bray (WR); Nicco Marchiol (QB); Jaylen Henderson (QB); Khalil Wilkins (QB); Julien Horton (S); Kimo Makane’ole (OL); Cooper Young (OL)
Houston — Devan Williams (WR); JayShon Ridgle (WR); Kenzy West (DB); Quindario Lee (DL)
—— GAME UPDATES ——
3:30 p.m. — FINAL: West Virginia 45, Houston 35. The Mountaineers (3-6) win for the first time in Big 12 play in their sixth league game. The Cougars (7-2, 4-2) suffer a disappointing second loss. WVU finished with 403 total yards and Houston totaled 400 yards. The biggest difference in the outcome was turnovers, with the Cougars committing all four in the contest.
3:19 p.m. — The Mountaineers pick up one first down that causes Houston to use all three of its timeouts on the next set of downs as the Cougars stop WVU. However, the punt is muffed and Mountaineers long snapper Macguire Moss recovers it at Houston’s 27 with 4:31 remaining. With the Cougars out of timeouts, WVU is on its way to its first Big 12 victory.
3:12 p.m. — SCORE: Houston strikes quickly and Weigman’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Thomas brings the Cougars to within 10. West Virginia 45, Houston 35, 6:24 4th qtr
WHAT A TD CATCH!! 🔥
Houston is not done yet! pic.twitter.com/KruBvAfJVf
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
3:06 p.m. — SCORE: West Virginia holds a three possession advantage after Hubbard’s 11-yard touchdown run on third-and-4. Fox connected with receiver Jeff Weimer for 53 yards on an earlier third down conversion in the series. West Virginia 45, Houston 28, 7:15 4th qtr
2:55 p.m. — West Virginia forces a punt and takes over at its 29 with 10:41 remaining. A false start turned third-and-4 into third-and-9 and Fred Perry sacked Weigman to get the defense off the field.
2:49 p.m. — SCORE: Fox powers ahead untouched for a 34-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4, and the Mountaineers are back up 10. WVU’s fifth touchdown drive began with a 23-yard run from Bowers. The Mountaineers are up to 206 rushing yards and 5.7 yards per carry. West Virginia 38, Houston 28, 12:54 4th qtr
SCOTTY FOX JR. 🔥
Second rushing TD of the day for the @WVUfootball QB! pic.twitter.com/2tJ5jrEXPt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
2:37 p.m. — SCORE: Houston answers with a pivotal touchdown drive, converting separate fourth downs and cutting its deficit to three on Weigman’s 8-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Thomas, who caught the pass in the flats and scored uncontested. Weigman’s 28-yard pass to Harvey Broussard on fourth-and-3 put the Cougars in the red zone. West Virginia 31, Houston 28, 1:16 3rd qtr
We have a 3-point game! 🤩@UHCougarFB with the TUDDY pic.twitter.com/P1n6pBciTg
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
2:22 p.m. — SCORE: Jordan Scruggs intercepts Weigman and returns it 80 yards for a touchdown, allowing the Mountaineers to regain a two-score lead. Scruggs’ pick six came two plays after Houston had converted third-and-14 with a 15-yard pass to Koziol. West Virginia 31, Houston 21, 6:33 3rd qtr
WEST VIRGINIA PICK 6 🔥@WVUfootball pic.twitter.com/kUAHlbYZiv
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
2:10 p.m. — After Houston gets to the WVU 35, the Mountaineers force a punt that results in a touchback. Devin Grant sacked Weigman on second down, forcing a fumble that the Cougars recovered prior to an incomplete pass on third-and-20.
2:05 p.m. — SCORE: Kade Hensley makes a 50-yard field goal to put West Virginia back on top. It finished a six play, 15-yard drive after Derek Carter Jr. intercepted Weigman and returned it 20 yards to the Cougars’ 47. West Virginia 24, Houston 21, 12:14 3rd qtr
1:38 p.m. — The matchup goes to halftime tied at 21. West Virginia had not scored more than 10 points in the first half over any of its first eight games, but also squandered a 14-point lead today. WVU has a 216-198 edge in total yardage, though the Cougars are averaging more yards per play with 5.8 to the Mountaineers’ 5.4. The Cougars will receive the opening second-half kickoff in search of their first lead after a conservative approach to end the first half. Houston sat on the ball after taking over at its 20 with 56 seconds.
1:25 p.m. — SCORE: WVU goes three-and-out for the third time, leading to Houstons starting at the Mountaineers’ 47, and the Cougars pull even in five plays, scoring their third touchdown on Weigman’s 9-yard pass to Thomas. Weigman’s had his way with West Virginia to this point, hitting 16-of-19 passes for 154 yards with a pair of touchdowns. West Virginia 21, Houston 21, 3:03 2nd qtr
Houston ties things up after Conner Weigman finds @MareThomas for the TUDDY 🤯 @UHCougarFB pic.twitter.com/3eai8smdeA
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
1:18 p.m. — The teams exchange punts, though it works much more in the Cougars’ favor. Houston was unable to capitalize on starting 2 yards shy of midfield in the form of points, but Liam Dougherty’s 47-yard punt is downed at the WVU 1. That’s where the Mountaineers start 5:52 before halftime.
1:05 p.m. — SCORE: Weigman keeps it for a 1-yard touchdown run on a sneak and the Cougars are back to within seven. A potential game-changing play transpired during the drive when Houston converted third-and-16 with an 18-yard screen pass to Amare Thomas. West Virginia 21, Houston 14, 8:49 2nd qtr
BOOM 😎
Conner Weigman makes it a 1-score game! pic.twitter.com/ael9cxOCyM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
12:55 p.m. — SCORE: WVU punts for the first time, but gets the ball back with ideal field position after Jimmori Robinson recovers a Weigman fumble when the ball slips out of his hands just as he was winding up to pass. Two plays later, Fox finds Cam Vaughn for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Fox is 6-for-7 with 77 yards and five rushes for 21 yards. West Virginia 21, Houston 7, 12:54 2nd qtr
Following the turnover, @WVUfootball adds to their lead! 💪
Is an upset brewing? pic.twitter.com/YeZF1vsSL3
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
12:42 p.m. – SCORE: The Cougars come up with a much-needed answer on a 75-yard drive that is capped by Conner Weigman’s 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tanner Koziol. Weigman’s 30-yard pass to Kobe Young, with a face mask penalty tacked on, provided 45 of the 75 yards on the drive. West Virginia 14, Houston 7, 0:58 1st qtr
And just like that, @UHCougarFB responds with their own TD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aeUWkRcTmr
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
12:33 p.m. — SCORE: West Virginia forces a Houston punt and then drives 89 yards over 10 plays to take a two-score lead on Cyncir Bowers’ 21-yard touchdown run. WVU is winning up front through its first two possessions, having rushed 18 times for 120 yards. Fox is 4-for-4 with 44 passing yards. The Mountaineers had been outscored 59-0 over the first quarter of five Big 12 games before today. West Virginia 14, Houston 0, 4:03 1st qtr
Cyncir Bowers is GONE!!@WVUfootball is up 14-0 against Houston 👀 pic.twitter.com/eZqHTwtz0K
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
12:15 P.M. — SCORE: West Virginia has its first lead in a Big 12 game this season and ends a streak of six straight games without a first-quarter point. After Houston wins the toss and deferred its option to the second half, the Mountaineers march 75 yards over 12 plays and get into the end zone on a 6-yard run from quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. Fox completed 3-of-3 passes for 18 yards on the series that also included nine rushes for 57 yards for WVU. The Mountaineers start with an offensive line of Ty’Kieast Crawford, Walter Young Bear, Landen Livingston, Donovan Haslman and Nick Krahe. West Virginia 7, Houston 0, 10:31 1st qtr
Scotty Fox Jr. takes it in himself for the @WVUfootball TD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Dubw8HEGzm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
Your essential pregame links:
West Virginia set to take on No. 22 Houston
Fox looks to build off solid showing at No. 22 Houston
3 Guys Before The Game – Houston Game Preview (Episode 670)
Lack of mistakes has Houston thriving in second season under Fritz
Notebook: Mountaineers looking into Jones as potential solution to short yardage woes