Dean Connors: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Houston Cougars Senior Ends Season With Exclamation Point in Texas Bowl

For the first time since 2021, the Houston Cougars ended a season with a double-digit number in the win column as the Coogs wrapped up their much-improved 2025 season with a 10-3 record after defeating the LSU Tigers in a high-scoring affair 38-35 in the Kinder Texas Bowl on Saturday night.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

LSU vs. Houston Prediction: Texas Bowl Preview

College football’s eight-game bowl slate for Saturday, Dec. 27 in the 2025-26 season concludes with LSU and Houston meeting in the Texas Bowl. This is

College Football News / Houston Cougars on SI / December 24

Three Keys to Victory For Houston vs. LSU Tigers

The Houston Cougars have one final stop in the 2025 season that has seen them improve from a four-win team last year to currently rolling into bowl game season with a 9-3 record and a chance to have a 10-win season for the first time since 2021.

College Football News / Field Level Media / November 29

Houston survives late comeback to win 9th game vs. Baylor

Dean Connors scored the deciding touchdown on a 1-yard run in the final minutes and Connor Weigman amassed 322 yards and accounted for three TDs as Houston outslugged Baylor 31-24 on Saturday afternoon in a Big 12 dustup in Waco, Texas.

Indiana Hoosiers News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Heisman Trophy winners since 2000' quiz

How many Heisman winners from the 21st century can you name in five minutes?

The '2024-25 college football bowl game host cities' quiz

The '2025-26 CFP teams' quiz

The 'College football color teams' quiz

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / October 20

Houston Cougars’ Running Game Has Gotten to a New Level

Houston Cougars football is 6-1 for the first time since 2021 and is bowl eligible after two seasons with a 31-28 win over the Arizona Wildcats this past weekend.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / October 5

Houston Cougars Still Building Offensive Identity

Despite the Houston Cougars' 4-0 start to the season, many observers still had questions regarding their team, and especially their offense. The Cougars' offense has already looked significantly better than it did at any point last season, with a pair of transfers in quarterback Conner Weigman and running back Dean Connors leading the way.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 23

Houston Cougars Running Back Room gets a Boost for Week 4

Houston football has gotten out to a great start this season, reaching the 3-0 mark for the first time since 2016. While the Cougars have played complementary

College Football News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 20

Willie Fritz Praises 'Productive' Running Back Dean Connors

In the haul of transfers that came to the Houston Cougars over the offseason, head coach Willie Fritz landed some players who have truly made an impact on his team's offense through three games thus far, including quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M and tight end Tanner Koziol from Ball State.

College Football News / Field Level Media / September 13

Houston opens Big 12 slate with home win over Colorado

Conner Weigman was 15-for-24 passing for 222 yards and had 17 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns to lead Houston to a 36-20 home win over Colorado in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Friday night.

College Football News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 12

Conner Weigman Shines in Victory Over Colorado

Houston football defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 36-20 in their first matchup in 54 years, and remains undefeated on the season. Junior quarterback Conner Weigman and senior running back Dean Connors continue to dominate, and they are a big reason why the Cougars are 3-0.

College Football News / Colorado Buffaloes on SI / September 12

Colorado vs. Houston Injuries to Watch: How Missing Players Impact Matchup

The Colorado Buffaloes are gearing up for their toughest matchup of the season so far, a Friday night road test against the Houston Cougars. After handling Delaware last week, this feels like the first real measuring stick of the year.

College Football News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 11

Houston Cougars Player Spotlight of the Week: Dean Connors

Houston's brand of explosive offensive football sought to be rebirthed in 2025 under the instruction of offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, with the transfer portal additions of junior quarterback Conner Weigman, senior tight end Tanner Koziol, junior wide receiver Amare Thomas and senior running back Dean Connors.

College Football News / Colorado Buffaloes on SI / September 9

Colorado vs. Houston: Preview, Betting Odds

The Colorado Buffaloes earned their first win of the season over Delaware. Colorado coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes will next face the Houston Cougars on Friday, Sept.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 7

Four Takeaways From Houston Cougars' Win In Final Bayou Bucket

Houston football became the last to hoist the Bayou Bucket trophy and bring it home to Cullen Boulevard with a comfortable and convincing 35-9 victory over Rice, moving the Cougars to their first 2-0 start since 2018.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 7

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Houston Cougars' Week 2 Victory

Houston football has gotten off to a great start to its 2025 campaign and thanks to a revitalized offense, are in a position to compete down the stretch of the season as Big 12 play begins next week.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NBA Christmas Day triple-doubles' quiz

The 'NFL rookie QBs to win a playoff game' quiz

The 'NBA Christmas Day 40-point games' quiz

The 'Most 3-passing, 1-rushing TD games' quiz

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 7

Houston Cougars RB Dean Connors Excels Against Former Team

The Houston Cougars kept their momentum rolling in the young season as the Cougars cruised to victory over their intercity rival, the Rice Owls. The final Bayou Bucket, at least for the foreseeable future, ended with the Coogs coming out on top after a 35-9 victory.

College Football News / Houston Cougars on SI / September 6

Houston Cougars Cruise Past Rice Owls in Bayou Bucket Classic

Ahead of the last foreseeable iteration of the Bayou Bucket Classic, the tension between the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls was the only thing thicker than the September humidity. The historic rivalry holds the closest distance between two FBS programs, with each campus being within 3.9 miles of the other.

College Football News / Field Level Media / September 6

Houston overcomes sluggish start to top crosstown-rival Rice

Conner Weigman passed for 188 yards and accounted for a pair of touchdowns, and Will James returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter as the visiting Houston Cougars claimed a 35-9 road victory over their crosstown rival Rice Owls on Saturday.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / August 23

Houston Cougars Transfer Could Lead Big 12 Running Backs in Major Category

The Houston Cougars are a team known for establishing the run game and rely on gaining a bulk of their yards on the ground. Last season, the Cougars had 430 rushing attempts for 1,618 yards and nine touchdowns while only passing the ball 280 times.

Houston Cougars News / Houston Cougars on SI / August 21

From C-USA to the Big 12: A Versatile Playmaker is Set to Arrive in Houston

It's no secret that the Houston Cougars enter the 2025 season with one of the more interesting teams in the Big 12. As a team that struggled greatly on offense last year, especially in the passing game, it seems as though some of those problems have been addressed with additions like Conner Weigman at the quarterback position.