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ESPN Analyst Believes Willie Fritz is Due for Big Jump in 2025

Originally posted on Heartland College Sports
By Joe Tillery | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Willie Fritz has a pattern, and if history holds, Houston could be next in line for a breakout season.

On ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast, Dan Wetzel dropped a stat that tells the story better than any preseason projection.

Across Fritz’s five previous head coaching stops, Blinn, Central Missouri, Sam Houston State, Georgia Southern, and Tulane, his combined record in year one was 30-25-1. In year two? He jumped to 44-17.

“There’s been a historic jump,” Wetzel said. “That’s a great coach. It would not surprise me at all if Houston makes a pop.”

“A lot of potential at Houston. Willie Fritz, his first year at Blinn, Central Missouri, SHSU, Georgia Southern and Tulane – 30-25-1. Year 2? 44-17. There has been a historic jump … that’s a great coach. … It would not surprise me at all if Houston makes a pop.” – @DanWetzel pic.twitter.com/lFmYaYyrtt
— Andrew Pate (@AndyPate05) August 13, 2025

Fritz enters his second season at Houston with momentum and a track record of building winners. At Blinn, he won back-to-back national titles. At Central Missouri and Sam Houston, he rebuilt middling programs into consistent contenders. At Georgia Southern, he delivered a 9-3 debut at the FBS level. Then came Tulane, where his second season kicked off a steady climb that led to a Cotton Bowl win over USC in year seven.

Now the question becomes whether that same second-year leap can happen in the Big 12. Houston struggled to a 4-8 finish in 2024 but showed flashes of progress late in the year. The roster has seen an influx of talent through the portal, and Fritz’s culture is beginning to take hold.

Wetzel’s endorsement is more than just a compliment. It reflects a broader truth about Fritz’s career. He doesn’t just coach teams. He changes trajectories. If the Cougars follow that same script, 2025 could be the season they make noise in the Big 12.

This article first appeared on Heartland College Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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