Cougars Control the Pace
The Houston Cougars (1-0) defended their home turf at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, September 5, 2026, defeating the visiting Oregon State Beavers (0-1) by a final score of 33-20. The decisive factor in the contest was the efficiency of the Houston offense, which capitalized on early momentum and sustained drives to build a lead that proved insurmountable.
In front of a crowd of 28,742, the Cougars showcased a balanced attack that outscored the Beavers in three of the four quarters, establishing a clear advantage that they maintained through the final whistle.
Scoring Breakdown
Houston took an early lead in the first quarter, scoring nine points to Oregon State’s seven. The Beavers opened the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Braden Atkinson to Jesse Legree, but the Cougars responded with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Conner Weigman to Amare Thomas. Although the extra point attempt by Jonathan Dimas failed, Houston extended their lead with a 42-yard field goal.
In the second quarter, the Cougars added two more scores, including a 56-yard rushing touchdown by Re'Shaun Sanford II and a 32-yard field goal, to take a 19-7 lead into halftime. The third quarter saw Houston extend their advantage with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Makhi Hughes, while Oregon State managed a seven-yard touchdown pass from Atkinson to Legree, though a two-point conversion attempt failed.
