UH’s tackling issues proved to be big in the second half of Saturday’s loss at Utah.
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Utah quarterback Devon Dampier runs for yardage against Houston defensive lineman Ashton Porter during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Houston Cougars defensive back Kentrell Webb (8) celebrates after intercepting a pass during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Houston Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman (1) throws a pass during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Utah Utes tight end Hunter Andrews (10) tries to jump over a defender during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Utah Utes tight end Noah Bennee (89) runs after a catch whileHouston Cougars linebacker Sione Fotu (12) chases him during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) throws a pass during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 24: Houston Cougars cornerback Jalen Mayo (2) gets called for pass interference for a pass intended for Utah Utes wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) during a college football game between the Houston Cougars and Utah Utes on October 24, 2026 at Rice Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 24 : Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars rushes the ball against the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 24 : Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars rushes the ball against Nate Ritchie #6 and Cyrus Polu #0 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 24 : Koby Young #2 of the Houston Cougars is driven out of bounds by James Chenault Jr., #5 and Nate Ritchie #6 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 24 : Wayshawn Parker #1 of the Utah Utes rushes the ball against Ashton Porter #9 of the Houston Cougars during the first half of their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 24 : Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars hands off to Re’Shaun Sanford II #6 during the first half of their game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
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Houston wide receiver Koby Young (2) jumps over Utah cornerback Elijah Davis, bottom, during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
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Houston wide receiver Amare Thomas (0) runs for a big gain against Utah during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) throws while under pressure from Utah linebacker Jed Judkins, top, during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston defensive back Jordan Allen (6) prepares to tackle Utah tight end Hunter Andrews (10) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
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Houston wide receiver Trent Walker has the ball knocked away by Utah cornerback James Chenault Jr. and safety Nate Ritchie during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston wide receiver Koby Young is tackled by Utah safety Jackson Bennee during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston cornerback Jalen Mayo breaks up the pass intended for Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Mayo was called for interference. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman takes the snap against Utah during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston linebacker Carmycah Glass tackles Utah quarterback Byrd Ficklin during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
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Houston running back Makhi Hughes runs against Utah during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston wide receiver Koby Young makes a touchdown catch against Utah during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. A penalty was called on the play and reversed. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
Jeffrey D. Allred/AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred
Houston wide receiver Koby Young tries to make a catch against Utah during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)
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SALT LAKE CITY — Five takeaways from No. 14 Houston’s 21-13 loss to No. 10 Utah on Saturday:
Patrick Overmyer’s absence felt
UH lost one of its top offensive threats when tight end Patrick Overmyer left the game after the opening drive with an upper-body injury. Overmyer, who leads the team with seven touchdown catches, was upended by defensive back Elijah Davis on a pass that gained no yards. As Overmyer came down, the back of his helmet struck the turf, and he was slow to get up.
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Overmyer’s absence was particularly noticeable near the goal line. He had four touchdown catches, tying the NCAA single-game record for a tight end, in a Week 6 win at Kansas State.
Coach Willie Fritz said he did not have an update on Overmyer’s condition immediately after the game. The Cougars have an open date and return to action Nov. 7 against Cincinnati at TDECU Stadium.
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Was Conner Weigman hurt?
Quarterback Conner Weigman appeared to favor his left ankle, raising questions about his health. Coach Willie Fritz said the fifth-year quarterback was healthy during the game. Weigman didn’t seem particularly interested in discussing the issue afterward.
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“It wasn’t on the injury report, so I’m alright,” Weigman said.
Either way, Weigman will benefit from some time off as the Cougars prepare for the final month of the regular season.
Pass protection struggles
A strength for most of the season, the Cougars’ pass protection struggled against Utah, allowing pressure to disrupt Weigman and the offense.
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“We had some snafus offensively with protection, the backs and offensive line going to the right guy,” Fritz said. “Going against a team like that you have to be spot-on, and we weren’t.”
No play illustrated the struggles more than defensive back Jackson Bennee’s strip-sack with about 2:20 left and Utah clinging to a 14-13 lead. Deep in its own territory, UH had three blockers on the left side, but it was one too few. Bennee came off the edge and delivered a crushing hit that knocked the ball loose. The Utes recovered at the 9-yard line, and Devon Dampier scored on the next play.
“A few times they just brought one more (than) we had in protection,” Weigman said. “I have to get the ball out quicker.”
When Utah did not blitz, Weigman was 13-of-18 for 203 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Against the blitz, he was 6-of-17 for 79 yards, a 35.3% completion rate.
“(Utah was) very aggressive in the second half with its front blitz and man coverage,” Fritz said.
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Tackling issues
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier did most of the damage, but the Utes’ speed and elusiveness gave UH’s defense problems. The Cougars were credited with 21 missed tackles, according to PFF — a total seems low.
UH limited Wayshawn Parker to 47 yards and a touchdown, but Dampier rushed 150 yards and two touchdowns. A whopping 269 of the Utes’ 430 yards came after contact.
What’s next?
Saturday’s results reshaped the Big 12 race. UH had a chance to join what would have been six one-loss teams, but the loss leaves the Cougars needing help as they pursue a conference title and potential College Football Playoff appearance.
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Utah survived a wild day of upsets and sits in the driver’s seat as the league’s only remaining unbeaten team. Texas Tech, BYU, Arizona and Oklahoma State are among the one-loss teams. With two losses, UH’s isn’t out of contention but the margin for error is small.
“We’ve got to regroup and bounce back and get better over the open week and come back for Cincinnati,” Weigman said.