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The Houston Cougars, currently ranked No. 18, are facing serious questions after letting another double-digit lead slip away. Their latest setback came against the No. 6 Utah Utes, dropping them to 6-2 and causing a slide in the rankings.
It marked the second time this season that Houston has blown a lead of at least 10 points. That pattern is precisely why the upcoming two weeks are seen as pivotal for how the 2026 campaign will ultimately be judged.
How Will Houston Respond After a Crushing Loss?
The Cougars initially jumped out to a 10-0 advantage over then-No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders before ultimately falling 28-26. It was a frustrating way to suffer their first defeat, especially after dominating the opening quarter.
Against Utah, Houston held a 3-0 lead at halftime and extended it to 10-0 with a touchdown to start the third quarter. However, the Utes responded by outscoring the Cougars 21-3 over the remainder of the game. An ugly fourth quarter for the Houston offense sealed another disappointing loss.
A loss is never pleasant, but it stings more when a team controls much of the game. This particular defeat also wasted a massive opportunity. The undefeated BYU Cougars had suffered a shocking loss to the UCF Knights earlier that day, and the previously undefeated Texas Tech Red Raiders had been routed 37-24 by the Cincinnati Bearcats. Houston missed a chance to prove it was the Big 12's undisputed best team.
The question now is how Houston will respond. The Cougars have a much-needed bye week to correct their issues, and they still have a chance to make a run at the College Football Playoff in their final four games. Houston has now lost twice in disappointing fashion, but that shouldn't diminish the fact that it remains an elite team. Willie Fritz and his Cougars must come back stronger.
Houston Still Has a Great Chance at Making a Run to the Playoffs
Admittedly, reaching the Big 12 title game is now much harder with two conference losses. Sometimes, though, you never really know. Even the Big 12 isn't completely out of reach.
But if Houston can win its final four games, reaching the CFP seems likely. There have been plenty of upsets in college football, so a 10-2 Houston team with two one-score losses to ranked opponents should get into the CFP pretty easily. The Cougars can't let these losses derail their CFP hopes.
The remaining schedule shows that winning 10 games is possible: vs. Cincinnati, at Colorado Buffaloes, at West Virginia Mountaineers, and vs. Baylor Bears. Some teams can give Houston a hard time, but the Cougars should beat every opponent.
Simply put, Houston needs to improve and actually lead a good opponent, but the sky isn't falling. Other teams are in much worse shape. The Cougars can rally and finish the 2026 season 4-0. Houston has the talent to do so, especially with the underrated quarterback Conner Weigman.
The next couple of weeks will determine whether this team is a legitimate contender or will fall. A contender bounces back and looks even better. They play angry and prove that they won't be knocked down by a couple of losses. A pretender looks worse, or loses its confidence.
Right now, this loss to Utah is still fresh and stings pretty badly. But Houston can forget this loss if it can come back stronger. The good news is that this bye week gives the Cougars a nice chance to recuperate. It will be interesting to see whether Houston uses the bye week well.