The University of Houston opened the season in dominant fashion Thursday night at TDECU Stadium, shutting out Stephen F. Austin 27-0 behind a standout debut from transfer quarterback Conner Weigman.
Weigman, who joined the Cougars from Texas A&M, threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns while completing 15 of 24 passes. He wasted no time connecting with his new playmakers, tossing scoring passes to Tanner Koziol (11 yards) and J’Marion Burnette (39 yards) in the first half to build a 17-0 lead. In the third quarter, Weigman added a 20-yard strike to Amare Thomas to put the game out of reach. He also rushed for 39 yards in the win.
Koziol, a senior tight end and Ball State transfer, led the team with seven catches for 63 yards, while Thomas, a transfer from UAB, added 44 yards on three receptions.
Houston’s defense was just as impressive, holding the Lumberjacks to only 144 total yards and recording two interceptions and two sacks. The Cougars limited SFA to 39 yards rushing and a 3-for-16 mark on third downs.
The shutout was Houston’s first since 2021 and their first in a season opener since 1989.
With the win, the Cougars (1-0) look much improved from last season’s struggles on both sides of the ball. They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling when they face crosstown rival Rice on September 6.
