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The Colorado Buffaloes are set to play their third game of the 2025 season this Friday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m. MT, when they take on the Houston Cougars in Houston. The Cougars enter the game as a five-and-a-half-point favorite at home.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect during Friday night's contest:
The Cougars are shaping up to be one of the more unpredictable teams this season. After finishing last year with a disappointing 4-8 overall record and 3-6 in conference play, they've started this season strong at 2-0 and have added a wave of new talent to the roster. One of the most notable additions is former Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman. A five-star recruit and the No. 3 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school, Weigman never quite found his footing in College Station. However, he's off to an impressive start with the Cougars, throwing for 347 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 62 rushing yards and another score through the first two games.
Head coach Willie Fritz returns for his second season leading the Cougars, aiming to build on last year's foundation and guide Houston to even more success. While the offense hasn't turned many heads just yet, much of that can be attributed to a soft early schedule featuring matchups against Stephen F. Austin and Rice.
Still, there have been some standout performances. Senior running back Dean Connors has been a key contributor, racking up 182 yards and two touchdowns on just 28 carries. Slowing him down will be a top priority for the Buffaloes, who struggled to contain Georgia Tech's powerful ground game in their season opener.
The Buffaloes' defense has been a bit of a mystery through the first two weeks. In the opener against Georgia Tech, they were gashed on the ground for 320 rushing yards while holding the Yellow Jackets to just 143 yards through the air. Then, in Week 2 against Delaware, they flipped the script, allowing only 84 rushing yards but surrendering 312 yards through the air. It's an unusual pattern, as most defenses tend to have an evident weakness that opponents aim to target. So far, Colorado has shown vulnerabilities in both phases. Expect the Cougars to spend the early part of the game testing the Buffaloes' defense, looking to identify where the breakdowns are happening and attack accordingly—whether that's through the air or on the ground.
Houston's defense has been a clear strength through the first two weeks of the season. The Cougars have allowed just nine total points and have kept opposing offenses in check, holding Stephen F. Austin to 144 total yards and Rice to 228. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr. has emerged as the leader on that side of the ball, recording 13 tackles and a fumble recovery so far. He'll look to maintain that momentum as the Cougars aim to contain Colorado's playmakers in space and prevent explosive plays downfield.
Houston comes into this matchup still somewhat of a question mark, but with Conner Weigman and Dean Connors leading the way, the Cougars have the pieces to cause problems for the Buffaloes.
One player who could tip the scales is tight end Tanner Koziol. The Ball State transfer has quickly become Weigman's go-to target. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior has hauled in 13 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown through two games, far outpacing the next closest receiver, Amare Thomas, who has just five receptions. If Koziol continues to produce at this level, Houston has a real shot at moving to 3-0. Colorado will need to find a way to limit Koziol's impact, putting pressure on the rest of the Cougar passing game to step up.
Colorado is expected to start Ryan Staub at quarterback this week, who began the season as the third-string option. He looked solid in relief against Delaware, but much like the rest of this matchup, he remains a bit of a wildcard. In many ways, this game feels like a collection of unknowns, making it difficult to predict how things will ultimately unfold.
The stage is set for Friday night in Houston, where the Cougars are currently favored by 5 1/2 points over the Buffaloes.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football vs. Houston Cougars matchup breakdown
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Here is a breakdown of what to expect during Friday night's contest:
A new signal caller
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The Cougars are shaping up to be one of the more unpredictable teams this season. After finishing last year with a disappointing 4-8 overall record and 3-6 in conference play, they've started this season strong at 2-0 and have added a wave of new talent to the roster. One of the most notable additions is former Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman. A five-star recruit and the No. 3 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school, Weigman never quite found his footing in College Station. However, he's off to an impressive start with the Cougars, throwing for 347 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 62 rushing yards and another score through the first two games.
Head coach Willie Fritz returns for his second season leading the Cougars, aiming to build on last year's foundation and guide Houston to even more success. While the offense hasn't turned many heads just yet, much of that can be attributed to a soft early schedule featuring matchups against Stephen F. Austin and Rice.
Still, there have been some standout performances. Senior running back Dean Connors has been a key contributor, racking up 182 yards and two touchdowns on just 28 carries. Slowing him down will be a top priority for the Buffaloes, who struggled to contain Georgia Tech's powerful ground game in their season opener.
Houston's formidable defense and Colorado's suspicious defense
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The Buffaloes' defense has been a bit of a mystery through the first two weeks. In the opener against Georgia Tech, they were gashed on the ground for 320 rushing yards while holding the Yellow Jackets to just 143 yards through the air. Then, in Week 2 against Delaware, they flipped the script, allowing only 84 rushing yards but surrendering 312 yards through the air. It's an unusual pattern, as most defenses tend to have an evident weakness that opponents aim to target. So far, Colorado has shown vulnerabilities in both phases. Expect the Cougars to spend the early part of the game testing the Buffaloes' defense, looking to identify where the breakdowns are happening and attack accordingly—whether that's through the air or on the ground.
Houston's defense has been a clear strength through the first two weeks of the season. The Cougars have allowed just nine total points and have kept opposing offenses in check, holding Stephen F. Austin to 144 total yards and Rice to 228. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr. has emerged as the leader on that side of the ball, recording 13 tackles and a fumble recovery so far. He'll look to maintain that momentum as the Cougars aim to contain Colorado's playmakers in space and prevent explosive plays downfield.
X factors and wildcards
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Houston comes into this matchup still somewhat of a question mark, but with Conner Weigman and Dean Connors leading the way, the Cougars have the pieces to cause problems for the Buffaloes.
One player who could tip the scales is tight end Tanner Koziol. The Ball State transfer has quickly become Weigman's go-to target. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior has hauled in 13 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown through two games, far outpacing the next closest receiver, Amare Thomas, who has just five receptions. If Koziol continues to produce at this level, Houston has a real shot at moving to 3-0. Colorado will need to find a way to limit Koziol's impact, putting pressure on the rest of the Cougar passing game to step up.
Colorado is expected to start Ryan Staub at quarterback this week, who began the season as the third-string option. He looked solid in relief against Delaware, but much like the rest of this matchup, he remains a bit of a wildcard. In many ways, this game feels like a collection of unknowns, making it difficult to predict how things will ultimately unfold.
The stage is set for Friday night in Houston, where the Cougars are currently favored by 5 1/2 points over the Buffaloes.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football vs. Houston Cougars matchup breakdown
Continue reading...
