Houston defeats Oregon State 33-20 behind Weigman's passing

Game Summary

The Houston Cougars improved to 1-0 with a 33-20 win against the Oregon State Beavers, who fell to 0-1. The contest took place at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of 28,742 on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

First Half Action

Houston established an early lead despite a slow start. The Cougars opened scoring when Conner Weigman connected with Amare Thomas on a 31-yard pass for a touchdown, though Jonathan Dimas missed the extra point, making the score 7-6 in favor of Oregon State after Braden Atkinson’s initial three-yard run. Houston responded quickly with Dimas’ 42-yard field goal to take a 9-7 lead.

The second half saw Houston pull away. Re'Shaun Sanford II broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run, followed by another Dimas field goal, extending the advantage to 19-7 at halftime. The Cougars' defense held firm, preventing Oregon State from mounting any significant offensive response during the break.

Second Half and Final Score

Houston continued its dominance in the third quarter with Makhi Hughes rushing for a one-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 26-7. Oregon State managed to score in the fourth quarter when Jesse Legree caught a seven-yard pass from Atkinson, failing on the two-point conversion attempt to make it 13-26.

The Beavers attempted a late rally with AJ Newberry’s four-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 20-26. However, Houston sealed the victory when Weigman ran in for a one-yard touchdown, bringing the final score to 33-20.

Key Performers

Conner Weigman led the Houston offense with 305 passing yards on 20-of-30 passing, including one touchdown and one interception. Amare Thomas was the primary receiving target, recording eight catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. Makhi Hughes contributed significantly on the ground with 98 rushing yards on 17 carries.

For Oregon State, Braden Atkinson passed for 376 yards on 29-of-48 attempts, throwing one touchdown. Jesse Legree was the top receiver with five catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. Kourdey Glass added 25 rushing yards on six carries.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856778