Houston, TX — Conner Weigman delivered a career night and Houston capped a remarkable turnaround season with a dramatic 38–35 comeback victory over LSU in the Texas Bowl on Saturday night.
After being stunned by two lightning-fast LSU scores to open the game, the Cougars steadied themselves behind Weigman’s arm and composure. The junior quarterback threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns, completing 27 of 36 passes while also adding 56 yards on the ground to power Houston to its 10th win of the season.
LSU wasted no time building an early advantage. Barion Brown returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and moments later Michael Van Buren Jr. found Trey’Dez Green on a 23-yard scoring strike, giving the Tigers a 14–0 lead just over four minutes into the game.
Houston responded with a relentless offensive push. Weigman sparked the comeback by finding Amare Thomas for touchdown passes of eight and four yards and later connected with Tanner Koziol on a seven-yard score late in the second quarter. The flurry of points erased the early deficit and sent the Cougars into halftime with a 21–14 lead.
The game tightened in the second half as both teams traded blows. Ethan Sanchez’s 25-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter put Houston back on top 31–28. After forcing LSU into a quick three-and-out, the Cougars delivered the decisive blow when Dean Connors broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:23 remaining, stretching the lead to 10.
LSU refused to fold. Zavion Thomas plunged in from three yards out with 1:15 left to cut the margin to 38–35, but Houston recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the victory.
Koziol led the Cougars’ receiving corps with nine catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Amare Thomas added seven receptions for 66 yards and two scores. Connors anchored the ground game with 126 rushing yards as Houston finished with a 437–344 edge in total offense.
Van Buren kept LSU competitive, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-26 passing. In addition to his early score, Green finished with 80 receiving yards, and Kyle Parker added 68 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers briefly tied the game at 28 early in the fourth quarter.
The loss closed a frustrating season for LSU (7–6), which stumbled down the stretch after opening the year 4–0. For Houston, the win underscored a dramatic rise under Willie Fritz, as the Cougars improved by six wins from his first season to his second and finished ranked No. 21 in the final CFP standings.
Up Next
LSU opens the 2026 season at home against Clemson on Sept. 5, ushering in the Lane Kiffin era. Houston begins its next campaign the same day, hosting Oregon State.
