Houston running back Makhi Hughes protects the ball while running toward the end zone during the football game against Southern University on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at TDECU Stadium. | Payton Gaskill/The Cougar
No. 22 Houston Cougars beat the Southern Jaguars in TDECU Stadium 77-6, improving their record to 2-0. Houston’s defense only allowed Southern to get 121 total yards and intercepted the ball once.
The Cougars had a total of 691 yards, 203 in the air and 388 on the ground. Fifth-year quarterback Conner Weigman had 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Additionally, freshman quarterback Keisean Henderson made his debut in the third quarter and had 137 total yards and three touchdowns.
“(Keisean) is a very good athlete,” said Head Coach Willie Fritz. “He did a good job of running the offense for us and being in control.”
The first quarter started off with Southern punting the ball to Houston on the 37-yard line. The first drive for the Cougars in the game saw them march down the field and ended with Weigman throwing a nine-yard pass to senior tight end Patrick Overmyer.
After touchdown, the Jaguars tried to answer but fifth-year defensive back Jalen Mayo strip-sacked junior quarterback Christian Johnson, giving the ball back to the Cougars at the 22-yard line.
The drive ended in a nine-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Re’Shaun Sanford II, putting Houston up 14-0.
Johnson tried to throw a lateral pass to redshirt junior running back Trey Holly, but it was out of reach. Houston scooped up that lateral pass and positioned the Cougars at the 21-yard line. With four minutes left, senior running back Makhi Hughes got a rushing touchdown at the one-yard line, making the score 21-0.
The Cougars got the ball again after a three-and-out for Southern. After a 27-yard catch-and-run from Sanford, Weigman threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Amare Thomas a couple of plays later.
The second quarter started with Southern putting together a drive but failed to convert on 4th down, which gave Houston the ball back. Weigman threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Koby Young, putting Houston up 35-0.
Southern senior quarterback Ashton Strother threw an interception and put the Cougars on the 25-yard line. Henderson completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Young, giving Houston 42 unanswered points.
Houston went into halftime with one more touchdown from freshman running back John Hebert, making it 49-0.
The third quarter started with Henderson fumbling the ball but quickly recovering it and running for a 54-yard touchdown. Houston quickly got the football back after a punt from Southern and scored another rushing touchdown by junior running back DJ Butler.
At the five-minute mark in the third quarter, Hebert got another touchdown, putting Houston up 70 points. After the touchdown, Southern was able to score a touchdown, with sophomore quarterback Wyatt McCauley throwing a 70-yard pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jayden Cook, making the score 70-6.
The fourth quarter was limited to eight minutes and saw one last Cougar touchdown, which sophomore quarterback Luke Carney ran in for Houston, with the final score 77-6.
“I was so happy we got to play so many guys and these guys worked their tails off,” Fritz said. “That’s very important to me.”
The Cougars look to keep their winning streak alive next week as they travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face the reigning Big 12 Champions, No. 12 Texas Tech on Sept. 18.
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