We’re on the home stretch of our look at all 12 opponents on WVU’s 2026 schedule. Here’s our First Look at Houston.
When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia
Sep 16, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; A general view of the crowd during the third quarter of a game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Series Record: The series is tied 1-1. Both meetings have been played in Houston — the Mountaineers lost 41-39 in 2023 and won 45-35 last season.
2025 Record: 10-3 (6-3 Big 12)
Head Coach: Willie Fritz (3rd season)
Dec 27, 2025; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz hoists the champions trophy after the win over Louisiana State Tigers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Willie Fritz went from four wins in year one to ten in year two, including a win over LSU in the Texas Bowl, and enters year three with the same coordinators, the same starting quarterback, and what looks like a better roster than the one that produced that ten-win season.
The offense returns Conner Weigman, who threw for 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while also running for 700 yards and 11 more scores. He’s in his fifth year in college, operating in the same system for the second straight season for the first time in his career. The biggest new piece is Makhi Hughes at running back, a preseason All-Big 12 selection and two-time All-AAC First Team pick at Tulane who ran for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 and 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 before a redshirt year at Oregon that didn’t go anywhere. DJ Butler is back as a capable complement. Re’Shaun Sanford II is full speed after his ACL tear.
Amare Thomas is one of the best receivers in the Big 12. The preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection caught 67 passes for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns last season — both second-most in the conference. WVU fans may remember him for his career-high three touchdowns and ten receptions against the Mountaineers last November. Trent Walker from Oregon State gives Weigman a 6’2 option on the outside to pair with Thomas. Koby Young will work in the slot. Muizz Tounkara, a Florida transfer, is the name that generated some buzz in the spring. Patrick Overmyer replaces Tanner Koziol at tight end. A Kingwood, Texas native and cousin of former NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph, Overmyer totaled 627 receiving yards on 58 catches and eight touchdowns across three seasons at UTSA.
The offensive line is where this team made the most significant upgrades. Shadre Hurst, a Phil Steele preseason All-American who was the sixth-highest rated guard nationally by PFF last season, rejoins Fritz after beginning his career at Tulane and has played close to 2,600 college snaps. Anthony Boswell earned Freshman All-America First Team honors at Toledo and was third among all FBS centers in run-block grade before coming to Houston. Fritz has called him one of the better centers he’s had. Drew Terrill impressed all spring at right tackle.
Defensively, Ashton Porter is the new headliner. The Cypress, Texas native transferred in from Oregon after watching Houston’s loss to Texas Tech last season and deciding he wanted to be part of fixing it. Brandon Mack II and Latreveon McCutchin return on the edge alongside Porter. Khalil Laufau, a preseason All-Big 12 Second Team selection, anchors the interior alongside De’Marion Thomas. Jaden Yates came in from Ole Miss at linebacker to join Sione Fotu, a preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team pick who had 56 tackles last season. The secondary has three starters back — Will James earned preseason All-Big 12 First Team honors after leading the team in interceptions, turnovers gained, and forced fumbles last season. Javion White transferred in from Tulane at nickel.
FanDuel has Houston at +1800 to win the Big 12 and -162 to go over 7.5 wins. ESPN’s SP+ ranks them 36th nationally.
Conner Weigman is a problem the Mountaineers will have to solve, but it’s Senior Day in Morgantown. A significantly worse WVU beat them by ten in their building last season. If the Mountaineers’ offense has found enough of itself by late November, this is a winnable home game.
West Virginia 31, Houston 28
Projected record through Week 12: 7-4 (5-3 Big 12)
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