Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) reacts after running for a 1-yard touchdown during the second half of a Big 12 Conference college football game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
Jason FOchtman/Houston Chronicle
FRISCO — It didn’t take long for McKenzie Agnello to understand what type of impact quarterback Conner Weigman would have for the University of Houston.
Sometime during the first month last season, Agnelllo, the Cougars’ starting right guard, said, a “switch turned on” for Weigman.
“And it hasn’t turned off yet,” he added.
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By late September — a Week 5 overtime win at Oregon State — Weigman began to display the type of confidence and production that made the Cougars one of the top turnaround stories in college football. After going 4-8 in back-to-back seasons, the Cougars finished 10-3 in its second season under coach Willie Fritz, which included a Texas Bowl win over LSU and a final national ranking.
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“In the huddle, towards the end of games, when we needed a first down or to get in field-goal range, he was like, ‘We’re not doing a field goal. We’re scoring,’” Agnello said during the recent Big 12 media days at Ford Center. “You could see it in his eyes. You could see it in his face and body demeanor.”
Commissioner Brett Yormark described the Big 12 as the “conference of quarterbacks,” and Weigman is among the top returners. Entering this season, the Cougars are among a handful of serious challengers to reach the Big 12 championship game and — dare we say — for the first time contend for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
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How far the Cougars advance will depend on Weigman.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) is seen during the first half of a NCAA college football game at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
“He’s going to take us as far as this needs to go,” All-Big 12 wide receiver Amare Thomas said. “We’re riding with him. This is his team.”
“He’s driving the boat,” safety Kentrell Webb added.
In his first season at UH, Weigman had a career year, throwing for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for 700 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns.
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It was the type of performance that made Weigman one of the most sought-after prep quarterbacks in the country out of Bridgeland High School. But it was also the type of consistency that eluded him as nagging injuries never allowed him to reach his full potential at Texas A&M.
“I for sure had a chip on my shoulder last year,” Weigman said. “I felt like I had something to prove. I still do. It was a good season, but I feel like I can do so much more. I feel like I’m one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country and can do whatever is asked of me. I just have to go do it at a very consistent level, and I’m ready to do that this year.”
For starters, Weigman can flourish in a familiar system, as he’ll work with the same offensive coordinator (Slade Nagle) and quarterbacks coach (Shawn Bell) in consecutive seasons for the first time in his college career.
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“I played with certainty. I wasn’t second-guessing my decisions,” Weigman said of the steps he took last season. “Once I see something, I was letting the ball go and it was working out for me.”
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Perhaps most importantly, Weigman is healthy after playing in all 13 games, capped by an MVP performance in UH’s bowl game.
“That’s all I need to do is stay healthy and I’ll be all right and I’ll be in a good position,” Weigman said.
Weigman said he noticed the difference this spring. His release had more zip. He could see plays develop faster. He made all the right decisions.
“I’m not having to learn something new,” Weigman said. “It’s expanding on last season and not having to think so much. Just going out and playing football freely and fast.”
Along with big expectations, the Cougars will get a glimpse of the future with the arrival of quarterback Keisean Henderson, the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 signing class. Henderson is expected to see playing time as a true freshman, but Fritz said there’s no doubt who is QB1.
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“Conner’s our starting quarterback without question,” Fritz said.
UH bolstered several key areas through the transfer portal, adding three starters on the offensive line — left guard Shadre Hurst, who has received preseason All-America recognition; center Anthony Boswell (Toledo) and right tackle Drew Terrill (Miami Ohio) — and running back Makhi Hughes, who had nearly 2,800 yards in two seasons at Tulane. UH also provided more weapons in the passing game with wide receiver Trent Walker (Oregon State) and tight end Patrick Overmyer (UTSA). After ranking among the nation’s worst offenses in 2024, UH more than doubled its scoring to 29.1 points per game.
“There were spurts where I feel we were a little inconsistent (last season),” Weigman said. “We have room to grow. I feel we can be a really explosive offense.”
Safety Jordan Allen is another who has seen it firsthand.
“He looked me in the face before last season and said, ‘It all starts with me,’” Allen said. “All the goals we have in front of us. We want to win the conference. We want to go to the College Football Playoff. We want to win a national championship. It starts with him.”