Houston's chasing a Big 12 title and Colorado's chasing relevance — and the last time these two met, it wasn't close.
Bush’s Picks
HOUCOLO
HOUCOLO
OverUnder
Best BetHouston
Houston is the clear pick here on the moneyline. Weigman's return gives the Cougars continuity at the one position Colorado can't match, and Houston is walking into this game as a Big 12 title contender against a team projected near the bottom of the conference. Colorado's only real path to an upset is a lot of roster development between now and November that nobody can bank on yet.
Houston
+10-3 finish in 2025, ranked in both major polls
+Weigman returns as a proven, dual-threat starter
+Transfer class ranked No. 7 nationally by On3
−True road trip late in a long season
−Backup QB competition could pull focus from Weigman
Colorado
+New OC Brennan Marion brings fresh offensive scheme
+Four-star CB commit shows some recruiting momentum
Conner Weigman is back under center for Houston, and that alone changes the calculus of this one. He was the difference-maker in last year's meeting, piling up 222 passing yards and 83 rushing yards with 2 rushing touchdowns in a 36-20 win over the Buffaloes. Colorado's answer at quarterback is Julian Lewis, the lone QB holdover from a 2025 season where the position was a revolving door.
Colorado's offseason has been about survival more than progress. Deion Sanders fired offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and brought in Brennan Marion from Sacramento State, while the roster turned over almost entirely — more than half the scholarship group is gone, replaced by 42 transfers. Houston, by contrast, brought in a transfer class ranked No. 7 nationally under Willie Fritz, reinforcing a roster that already won 10 games.
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COLO Colorado
The gap between these programs right now isn't subtle, and the numbers around this game will reflect that once markets firm up. Houston enters as a Big 12 contender; Colorado is being projected near the bottom of the league. That disparity is the whole story of this preview.
Houston Cougars
Nov 6?vs Cincinnati—
Oct 16?vs Oklahoma State—
Oct 9?@ Kansas State—
Oct 2?vs UCF—
Sep 25?@ Georgia Southern—
Sep 18?@ Texas Tech—
Sep 12?vs Southern—
Sep 5?vs Oregon State—
Colorado Buffaloes
Nov 6?@ Arizona State—
Oct 30?vs Kansas State—
Oct 16?vs Utah—
Oct 2?vs Texas Tech—
Sep 25?@ Baylor—
Sep 19?@ Northwestern—
Sep 12?vs Weber State—
Sep 3?@ Georgia Tech—
Recent form.
Houston's 2025 ended with a 10-3 finish and a 38-35 comeback win over LSU in the Texas Bowl, with Weigman throwing for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns in that game alone. That's a program trending up under Fritz in Year 2, with continuity at the most important position on the field. Colorado's 2025 ended at 3-9 — no bowl, no signature win, and a QB carousel that never settled.
Houston Cougars
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Colorado Buffaloes
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Colorado did lose real pieces this offseason beyond just the record — left tackle Jordan Seaton left for LSU and receiver Omarrion Miller left for Arizona State, further thinning a roster that's already being rebuilt from scratch. The one bright spot for Boulder is Marion's arrival on offense, plus a four-star cornerback commit in Preston Ashley that at least signals some recruiting momentum. None of that shows up on the field by November, though.
This will be just the third meeting ever between these programs and the second in as many seasons, after Colorado won the only other matchup back in 1971. Houston has the quarterback, the roster depth, and the trajectory. Colorado has a new coordinator and a lot of questions still unanswered heading into the season.
