Cougars Take Control in Front of Home Crowd
No. 23 Houston Cougars defeated the Oregon State Beavers 33-20 on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The home team improved its record to 1-0, while the visiting Beavers fell to 0-1. A crowd of 28,742 witnessed a game defined by strong passing performances from both signal-callers, though Houston’s execution in critical moments secured the result.
Conner Weigman led the Cougars with 305 passing yards, completing 20 of 30 passes for one touchdown and one interception. Amare Thomas was the primary target, catching eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Makhi Hughes added a ground threat, rushing for 98 yards on 17 carries and scoring a touchdown.
The Beavers relied on Braden Atkinson, who threw for 376 yards on 29 of 48 attempts with one touchdown. Kourdey Glass carried the ball six times for 25 yards, and Jesse Legree hauled in five passes for 136 yards and a score.
Early Momentum Shifts
The game opened with a swing in the Cougars’ favor. In the first period, Weigman found Amare Thomas for a 31-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars failed to convert the extra point, leaving the score at 0-6.
Oregon State responded quickly when Braden Atkinson rushed three yards for a touchdown, followed by a successful kick by Caleb Ojeda, tying the game 7-7. Jonathan Dimas then kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Houston a 9-7 lead before the halftime break. The second quarter saw Houston extend their advantage.
