Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) practices on the sidelines during the Spring Football game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston’s football program is one built on the foundation of rich tradition and culture that dates back to when the University first began.

From the days of Andre Ware leading the offense and winning a heisman to Ed Oliver earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Houston has long produced legends and achieved many accolades.

Since its founding in 1946, the Cougars football program has evolved through decades of changing play styles and now competes in one of the top conferences in the country.

The Cougars football program began in 1946 and has produced college football legends, including Case Keenum, David Klingler, Patrick Edwards, Andre Ware, Ed Oliver, Tank Dell and many more.

Houston’s move to the Big 12 Conference in 2023 showed its commitment to competing at the highest level. The Cougars went 4-8 overall and 2-7 in conference play in their debut season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Willie Fritz.

In Fritz’s first year, Houston showed some improvement, picking up key wins against TCU on the road and Kansas State at home. This fall, the Cougars begin their 2025 season with a Thursday night home game on Aug. 28 against Stephen F. Austin.

Three Friday games will highlight the season: home against Colorado on Sep. 12, away at Oregon State on Sep. 26 and away at UCF on Nov. 7. 

Other key games include the Bayou Bucket Classic at Rice on Sep. 6, Family Weekend featuring the ‘Houston Blue’ uniforms against Texas Tech on Oct. 4, Homecoming against Arizona on Oct. 12 and Senior Day versus TCU on Nov. 22.

Houston will also face the defending Big 12 champions, Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 25.

Fritz made major changes this offseason, hiring two new coordinators. Austin Armstrong will lead the defense after coaching at Florida, and Slade Nagle will take over the offense after working with Fritz at Tulane. The staff was also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding several talented players.

The Cougars welcome back 60 returners and 51 newcomers, with the most significant addition being quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. He was once a top 25 high school recruit and brings a wealth of leadership and experience.

“Conner is a great young man, and he has probably already learned everyone’s name on the team,” Fritz said. “That is the kind of leadership you look for, especially from a quarterback.”

Houston ranked last in the Big 12 in offense last year, so the staff brought in five offensive linemen to improve protection and depth. They also added running back Dean Connors from Rice, who has totaled over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

“My running back room here is awesome, and they have done a great job welcoming me in,” Connors said. “Our offense looks fantastic.”

The defense, which ranked fourth in the conference last season, added nine transfers. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Jr. will be a key leader once again.

“We are excited about the guys we have added and they fit our culture,” Fritz said. “I really think they all can help us out and contribute.”

With a new look roster and renewed energy sparked by a competitive offseason, Houston is ready to make a statement in the Big 12.

—
“Fresh start: A new era of Houston football” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) practices on the sidelines during the Spring Football game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston’s football program is one built on the foundation of rich tradition and culture that dates back to when the University first began.

From the days of Andre Ware leading the offense and winning a heisman to Ed Oliver earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Houston has long produced legends and achieved many accolades.

Since its founding in 1946, the Cougars football program has evolved through decades of changing play styles and now competes in one of the top conferences in the country.

The Cougars football program began in 1946 and has produced college football legends, including Case Keenum, David Klingler, Patrick Edwards, Andre Ware, Ed Oliver, Tank Dell and many more.

Houston’s move to the Big 12 Conference in 2023 showed its commitment to competing at the highest level. The Cougars went 4-8 overall and 2-7 in conference play in their debut season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Willie Fritz.

In Fritz’s first year, Houston showed some improvement, picking up key wins against TCU on the road and Kansas State at home. This fall, the Cougars begin their 2025 season with a Thursday night home game on Aug. 28 against Stephen F. Austin.

Three Friday games will highlight the season: home against Colorado on Sep. 12, away at Oregon State on Sep. 26 and away at UCF on Nov. 7. 

Other key games include the Bayou Bucket Classic at Rice on Sep. 6, Family Weekend featuring the ‘Houston Blue’ uniforms against Texas Tech on Oct. 4, Homecoming against Arizona on Oct. 12 and Senior Day versus TCU on Nov. 22.

Houston will also face the defending Big 12 champions, Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 25.

Fritz made major changes this offseason, hiring two new coordinators. Austin Armstrong will lead the defense after coaching at Florida, and Slade Nagle will take over the offense after working with Fritz at Tulane. The staff was also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding several talented players.

The Cougars welcome back 60 returners and 51 newcomers, with the most significant addition being quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. He was once a top 25 high school recruit and brings a wealth of leadership and experience.

“Conner is a great young man, and he has probably already learned everyone’s name on the team,” Fritz said. “That is the kind of leadership you look for, especially from a quarterback.”

Houston ranked last in the Big 12 in offense last year, so the staff brought in five offensive linemen to improve protection and depth. They also added running back Dean Connors from Rice, who has totaled over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

“My running back room here is awesome, and they have done a great job welcoming me in,” Connors said. “Our offense looks fantastic.”

The defense, which ranked fourth in the conference last season, added nine transfers. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Jr. will be a key leader once again.

“We are excited about the guys we have added and they fit our culture,” Fritz said. “I really think they all can help us out and contribute.”

With a new look roster and renewed energy sparked by a competitive offseason, Houston is ready to make a statement in the Big 12.

—
“Fresh start: A new era of Houston football” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) practices on the sidelines during the Spring Football game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston’s football program is one built on the foundation of rich tradition and culture that dates back to when the University first began.

From the days of Andre Ware leading the offense and winning a heisman to Ed Oliver earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Houston has long produced legends and achieved many accolades.

Since its founding in 1946, the Cougars football program has evolved through decades of changing play styles and now competes in one of the top conferences in the country.

The Cougars football program began in 1946 and has produced college football legends, including Case Keenum, David Klingler, Patrick Edwards, Andre Ware, Ed Oliver, Tank Dell and many more.

Houston’s move to the Big 12 Conference in 2023 showed its commitment to competing at the highest level. The Cougars went 4-8 overall and 2-7 in conference play in their debut season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Willie Fritz.

In Fritz’s first year, Houston showed some improvement, picking up key wins against TCU on the road and Kansas State at home. This fall, the Cougars begin their 2025 season with a Thursday night home game on Aug. 28 against Stephen F. Austin.

Three Friday games will highlight the season: home against Colorado on Sep. 12, away at Oregon State on Sep. 26 and away at UCF on Nov. 7. 

Other key games include the Bayou Bucket Classic at Rice on Sep. 6, Family Weekend featuring the ‘Houston Blue’ uniforms against Texas Tech on Oct. 4, Homecoming against Arizona on Oct. 12 and Senior Day versus TCU on Nov. 22.

Houston will also face the defending Big 12 champions, Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 25.

Fritz made major changes this offseason, hiring two new coordinators. Austin Armstrong will lead the defense after coaching at Florida, and Slade Nagle will take over the offense after working with Fritz at Tulane. The staff was also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding several talented players.

The Cougars welcome back 60 returners and 51 newcomers, with the most significant addition being quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. He was once a top 25 high school recruit and brings a wealth of leadership and experience.

“Conner is a great young man, and he has probably already learned everyone’s name on the team,” Fritz said. “That is the kind of leadership you look for, especially from a quarterback.”

Houston ranked last in the Big 12 in offense last year, so the staff brought in five offensive linemen to improve protection and depth. They also added running back Dean Connors from Rice, who has totaled over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

“My running back room here is awesome, and they have done a great job welcoming me in,” Connors said. “Our offense looks fantastic.”

The defense, which ranked fourth in the conference last season, added nine transfers. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Jr. will be a key leader once again.

“We are excited about the guys we have added and they fit our culture,” Fritz said. “I really think they all can help us out and contribute.”

With a new look roster and renewed energy sparked by a competitive offseason, Houston is ready to make a statement in the Big 12.

—
“Fresh start: A new era of Houston football” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston’s football program is one built on the foundation of rich tradition and culture that dates back to when the University first began.

From the days of Andre Ware leading the offense and winning a Heisman to Ed Oliver earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Houston has long produced legends and achieved many accolades.

Since its founding in 1946, the Cougars football program has evolved through decades of changing play styles and now competes in one of the top conferences in the country.

The Cougars football program began in 1946 and has produced college football legends, including Case Keenum, David Klingler, Patrick Edwards, Andre Ware, Ed Oliver, Tank Dell and many more.

Houston’s move to the Big 12 Conference in 2023 showed its commitment to competing at the highest level. The Cougars went 4-8 overall and 2-7 in conference play in their debut season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Willie Fritz.

In Fritz’s first year, Houston showed some improvement, picking up key wins against TCU on the road and Kansas State at home. This fall, the Cougars begin their 2025 season with a Thursday night home game on Aug. 28 against Stephen F. Austin.

Three Friday games will highlight the season: home against Colorado on Sep. 12, away at Oregon State on Sep. 26 and away at UCF on Nov. 7. 

Other key games include the Bayou Bucket Classic at Rice on Sep. 6, Family Weekend featuring the ‘Houston Blue’ uniforms against Texas Tech on Oct. 4, Homecoming against Arizona on Oct. 12 and Senior Day versus TCU on Nov. 22.

Houston will also face the defending Big 12 champions, Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 25.

Fritz made major changes this offseason, hiring two new coordinators. Austin Armstrong will lead the defense after coaching at Florida, and Slade Nagle will take over the offense after working with Fritz at Tulane. The staff was also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding several talented players.

The Cougars welcome back 60 returners and 51 newcomers, with the most significant addition being quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. He was once a top 25 high school recruit and brings a wealth of leadership and experience.

“Conner is a great young man, and he has probably already learned everyone’s name on the team,” Fritz said. “That is the kind of leadership you look for, especially from a quarterback.”

Houston ranked last in the Big 12 in offense last year, so the staff brought in five offensive linemen to improve protection and depth. They also added running back Dean Connors from Rice, who has totaled over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

“My running back room here is awesome, and they have done a great job welcoming me in,” Connors said. “Our offense looks fantastic.”

The defense, which ranked fourth in the conference last season, added nine transfers. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Jr. will be a key leader once again.

“We are excited about the guys we have added and they fit our culture,” Fritz said. “I really think they all can help us out and contribute.”

With a new look roster and renewed energy sparked by a competitive offseason, Houston is ready to make a statement in the Big 12.

—
“Fresh start: A new era of Houston football” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston’s football program is one built on the foundation of rich tradition and culture that dates back to when the University first began.

From the days of Andre Ware leading the offense and winning a Heisman to Ed Oliver earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Houston has long produced legends and achieved many accolades.

Since its founding in 1946, the Cougars football program has evolved through decades of changing play styles and now competes in one of the top conferences in the country.

The Cougars football program began in 1946 and has produced college football legends, including Case Keenum, David Klingler, Patrick Edwards, Andre Ware, Ed Oliver, Tank Dell and many more.

Houston’s move to the Big 12 Conference in 2023 showed its commitment to competing at the highest level. The Cougars went 4-8 overall and 2-7 in conference play in their debut season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Willie Fritz.

In Fritz’s first year, Houston showed some improvement, picking up key wins against TCU on the road and Kansas State at home. This fall, the Cougars begin their 2025 season with a Thursday night home game on Aug. 28 against Stephen F. Austin.

Three Friday games will highlight the season: home against Colorado on Sep. 12, away at Oregon State on Sep. 26 and away at UCF on Nov. 7. 

Other key games include the Bayou Bucket Classic at Rice on Sep. 6, Family Weekend featuring the ‘Houston Blue’ uniforms against Texas Tech on Oct. 4, Homecoming against Arizona on Oct. 12 and Senior Day versus TCU on Nov. 22.

Houston will also face the defending Big 12 champions, Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 25.

Fritz made major changes this offseason, hiring two new coordinators. Austin Armstrong will lead the defense after coaching at Florida, and Slade Nagle will take over the offense after working with Fritz at Tulane. The staff was also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding several talented players.

The Cougars welcome back 60 returners and 52 newcomers, with the most significant addition being quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. He was once a top 25 high school recruit and brings a wealth of leadership and experience.

“Conner is a great young man, and he has probably already learned everyone’s name on the team,” Fritz said. “That is the kind of leadership you look for, especially from a quarterback.”

Houston ranked last in the Big 12 in offense last year, so the staff brought in five offensive linemen to improve protection and depth. They also added running back Dean Connors from Rice, who has totaled over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

“My running back room here is awesome, and they have done a great job welcoming me in,” Connors said. “Our offense looks fantastic.”

The defense, which ranked fourth in the conference last season, added nine transfers. Senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Jr. will be a key leader once again.

“We are excited about the guys we have added and they fit our culture,” Fritz said. “I really think they all can help us out and contribute.”

With a new look roster and renewed energy sparked by a competitive offseason, Houston is ready to make a statement in the Big 12.

—
“Fresh start: A new era of Houston football” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston celebrates their win against Arizona after game one of an NCAA college baseball series, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball finished with its best record in the Big 12 and seeks to win its first-ever Big 12 tournament game in its first appearance since joining the conference last season.

The Cougars ended the regular season with a 29-24 overall record and went 12-17 in conference play. 

No. 11 seed Houston will face No. 6 seed Kansas State at 8 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The winner will face TCU on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Houston vs Kansas State preview

Houston baseball has struggled with offensive production all season long, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12 in hits, runs and batting average.

Kansas State faces the same struggles as the Cougars, ranking just two spots ahead of UH in the same categories.

Houston, however, ranks just one spot ahead of the Wildcats in team ERA, sitting at 5.57 and Kansas State at 5.66.

In fielding percentage, Houston ranks last with a .964, totaling 70 errors on the season.

The Wildcats rank second-to-last with a .966 fielding percentage and committed 64 errors.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched and are set for a high-stakes round one match-up.

Previous match-up

From April 25-27, the Cougars dropped two out of three games to Kansas State in their season series on the road.

The Wildcats won game one 5-2 and game two 14-5 to take the series over UH.

Houston fought back in the series finale to win 6-5 and avoid the sweep.

Kansas State outscored Houston 24-13 in the series, even though they tallied just one more hit throughout the three games.

Walks, errors and not scoring with runners on base plagued Houston and proved to be the difference in the series.

Players to watch

Kansas State’s first three batters lead their offense and are the difference makers for their team. The trio of junior infielder Maximus Martin, graduate infielder Seth Dardar and graduate outfielder Keegan O’Connor does the heavy lifting for the Wildcats.

They’ve combined for a .329 batting average this season and totaled 131 runs, 181 hits, 151 RBIs and 42 home runs.

On the other side of the ball, pitchers Michael Quevedo and Lincoln Sheffield lead the team with six wins each.

Quevedo also leads with 70 strikeouts on the year and has a 6.28 ERA. Sheffield came in at third on his team with 64 strikeouts and finished the regular season with a 5.99 ERA.

For the Cougars, the batting trio is junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore infielder Xavier Perez and sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard. 

They’ve combined for a .314 batting average and racked up 113 runs, 152 hits, 102 RBIs and 19 homers.

Broussard is also a threat on the basepaths, finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean is the guy to watch from Houston’s pitching staff. Jean has a 2.43 ERA and has racked up 104 strikeouts.

Opponents are only batting .162 against the southpaw, so he will be a key factor in Houston’s biggest game this season.

Overall, each squad is comparable statistically and has very similar records.

With the season on the line for both teams, it will be another hard-fought Big 12 matchup to find out who will advance to play No. 3 TCU in the second round on Thursday evening.

—
“Houston baseball set to face Kansas State in the first round of Big 12 tournament” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston celebrates their win against Arizona after game one of an NCAA college baseball series, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball finished with its best record in the Big 12 and seeks to win its first-ever Big 12 tournament game in its first appearance since joining the conference last season.

The Cougars ended the regular season with a 29-24 overall record and went 12-17 in conference play. 

No. 11 seed Houston will face No. 6 seed Kansas State at 8 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The winner will face TCU on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Houston vs Kansas State preview

Houston baseball has struggled with offensive production all season long, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12 in hits, runs and batting average.

Kansas State faces the same struggles as the Cougars, ranking just two spots ahead of UH in the same categories.

Houston, however, ranks just one spot ahead of the Wildcats in team ERA, sitting at 5.57 and Kansas State at 5.66.

In fielding percentage, Houston ranks last with a .964, totaling 70 errors on the season.

The Wildcats rank second-to-last with a .966 fielding percentage and committed 64 errors.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched and are set for a high-stakes round one match-up.

Previous match-up

From April 25-27, the Cougars dropped two out of three games to Kansas State in their season series on the road.

The Wildcats won game one 5-2 and game two 14-5 to take the series over UH.

Houston fought back in the series finale to win 6-5 and avoid the sweep.

Kansas State outscored Houston 24-13 in the series, even though they tallied just one more hit throughout the three games.

Walks, errors and not scoring with runners on base plagued Houston and proved to be the difference in the series.

Players to watch

Kansas State’s first three batters lead their offense and are the difference makers for their team. The trio of junior infielder Maximus Martin, graduate infielder Seth Dardar and graduate outfielder Keegan O’Connor does the heavy lifting for the Wildcats.

They’ve combined for a .329 batting average this season and totaled 131 runs, 181 hits, 151 RBIs and 42 home runs.

On the other side of the ball, pitchers Michael Quevedo and Lincoln Sheffield lead the team with six wins each.

Quevedo also leads with 70 strikeouts on the year and has a 6.28 ERA. Sheffield came in at third on his team with 64 strikeouts and finished the regular season with a 5.99 ERA.

For the Cougars, the batting trio is junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore infielder Xavier Perez and sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard. 

They’ve combined for a .314 batting average and racked up 113 runs, 152 hits, 102 RBIs and 19 homers.

Broussard is also a threat on the basepaths, finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean is the guy to watch from Houston’s pitching staff. Jean has a 2.43 ERA and has racked up 104 strikeouts.

Opponents are only batting .162 against the southpaw, so he will be a key factor in Houston’s biggest game this season.

Overall, each squad is comparable statistically and has very similar records.

With the season on the line for both teams, it will be another hard-fought Big 12 matchup to find out who will advance to play No. 3 TCU in the second round on Thursday evening.

—
“Houston baseball set to face Kansas State in the first round of Big 12 tournament” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston celebrates their win against Arizona after game one of an NCAA college baseball series, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball finished with its best record in the Big 12 and seeks to win its first-ever Big 12 tournament game in its first appearance since joining the conference last season.

The Cougars ended the regular season with a 29-24 overall record and went 12-17 in conference play. 

No. 11 seed Houston will face No. 6 seed Kansas State at 8 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The winner will face TCU on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Houston vs Kansas State preview

Houston baseball has struggled with offensive production all season long, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12 in hits, runs and batting average.

Kansas State faces the same struggles as the Cougars, ranking just two spots ahead of UH in the same categories.

Houston, however, ranks just one spot ahead of the Wildcats in team ERA, sitting at 5.57 and Kansas State at 5.66.

In fielding percentage, Houston ranks last with a .964, totaling 70 errors on the season.

The Wildcats rank second-to-last with a .966 fielding percentage and committed 64 errors.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched and are set for a high-stakes round one match-up.

Previous match-up

From April 25-27, the Cougars dropped two out of three games to Kansas State in their season series on the road.

The Wildcats won game one 5-2 and game two 14-5 to take the series over UH.

Houston fought back in the series finale to win 6-5 and avoid the sweep.

Kansas State outscored Houston 24-13 in the series, even though they tallied just one more hit throughout the three games.

Walks, errors and not scoring with runners on base plagued Houston and proved to be the difference in the series.

Players to watch

Kansas State’s first three batters lead their offense and are the difference makers for their team. The trio of junior infielder Maximus Martin, graduate infielder Seth Dardar and graduate outfielder Keegan O’Connor does the heavy lifting for the Wildcats.

They’ve combined for a .329 batting average this season and totaled 131 runs, 181 hits, 151 RBIs and 42 home runs.

On the other side of the ball, pitchers Michael Quevedo and Lincoln Sheffield lead the team with six wins each.

Quevedo also leads with 70 strikeouts on the year and has a 6.28 ERA. Sheffield came in at third on his team with 64 strikeouts and finished the regular season with a 5.99 ERA.

For the Cougars, the batting trio is junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore infielder Xavier Perez and sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard. 

They’ve combined for a .314 batting average and racked up 113 runs, 152 hits, 102 RBIs and 19 homers.

Broussard is also a threat on the basepaths, finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean is the guy to watch from Houston’s pitching staff. Jean has a 2.43 ERA and has racked up 104 strikeouts.

Opponents are only batting .162 against the southpaw, so he will be a key factor in Houston’s biggest game this season.

Overall, each squad is comparable statistically and has very similar records.

With the season on the line for both teams, it will be another hard-fought Big 12 matchup to find out who will advance to play No. 3 TCU in the second round on Thursday evening.

—
“Houston baseball set to face Kansas State in the first round of Big 12 tournament” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston celebrates their win against Arizona after game one of an NCAA college baseball series, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball finished with its best record in the Big 12 and seeks to win its first-ever Big 12 tournament game in its first appearance since joining the conference last season.

The Cougars ended the regular season with a 29-24 overall record and went 12-17 in conference play. 

No. 11 seed Houston will face No. 6 seed Kansas State at 8 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The winner will face TCU on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Houston vs Kansas State preview

Houston baseball has struggled with offensive production all season long, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12 in hits, runs and batting average.

Kansas State faces the same struggles as the Cougars, ranking just two spots ahead of UH in the same categories.

Houston, however, ranks just one spot ahead of the Wildcats in team ERA, sitting at 5.57 and Kansas State at 5.66.

In fielding percentage, Houston ranks last with a .964, totaling 70 errors on the season.

The Wildcats rank second-to-last with a .966 fielding percentage and committed 64 errors.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched and are set for a high-stakes round one match-up.

Previous match-up

From April 25-27, the Cougars dropped two out of three games to Kansas State in their season series on the road.

The Wildcats won game one 5-2 and game two 14-5 to take the series over UH.

Houston fought back in the series finale to win 6-5 and avoid the sweep.

Kansas State outscored Houston 24-13 in the series, even though they tallied just one more hit throughout the three games.

Walks, errors and not scoring with runners on base plagued Houston and proved to be the difference in the series.

Players to watch

Kansas State’s first three batters lead their offense and are the difference makers for their team. The trio of junior infielder Maximus Martin, graduate infielder Seth Dardar and graduate outfielder Keegan O’Connor does the heavy lifting for the Wildcats.

They’ve combined for a .329 batting average this season and totaled 131 runs, 181 hits, 151 RBIs and 42 home runs.

On the other side of the ball, pitchers Michael Quevedo and Lincoln Sheffield lead the team with six wins each.

Quevedo also leads with 70 strikeouts on the year and has a 6.28 ERA. Sheffield came in at third on his team with 64 strikeouts and finished the regular season with a 5.99 ERA.

For the Cougars, the batting trio is junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore infielder Xavier Perez and sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard. 

They’ve combined for a .314 batting average and racked up 113 runs, 152 hits, 102 RBIs and 19 homers.

Broussard is also a threat on the basepaths, finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean is the guy to watch from Houston’s pitching staff. Jean has a 2.43 ERA and has racked up 104 strikeouts.

Opponents are only batting .162 against the southpaw, so he will be a key factor in Houston’s biggest game this season.

Overall, each squad is comparable statistically and has very similar records.

With the season on the line for both teams, it will be another hard-fought Big 12 matchup to find out who will advance to play No. 3 TCU in the second round on Thursday evening.

—
“Houston baseball set to face Kansas State in the first round of Big 12 tournament” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston celebrates their win against Arizona after game one of an NCAA college baseball series, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston baseball finished with its best record in the Big 12 and seeks to win its first-ever Big 12 tournament game in its first appearance since joining the conference last season.

The Cougars ended the regular season with a 29-24 overall record and went 12-17 in conference play. 

No. 11 seed Houston will face No. 6 seed Kansas State at 8 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The winner will face TCU on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Houston vs Kansas State preview

Houston baseball has struggled with offensive production all season long, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12 in hits, runs and batting average.

Kansas State faces the same struggles as the Cougars, ranking just two spots ahead of UH in the same categories.

Houston, however, ranks just one spot ahead of the Wildcats in team ERA, sitting at 5.57 and Kansas State at 5.66.

In fielding percentage, Houston ranks last with a .964, totaling 70 errors on the season.

The Wildcats rank second-to-last with a .966 fielding percentage and committed 64 errors.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched and are set for a high-stakes round one match-up.

Previous match-up

From April 25-27, the Cougars dropped two out of three games to Kansas State in their season series on the road.

The Wildcats won game one 5-2 and game two 14-5 to take the series over UH.

Houston fought back in the series finale to win 6-5 and avoid the sweep.

Kansas State outscored Houston 24-13 in the series, even though they tallied just one more hit throughout the three games.

Walks, errors and not scoring with runners on base plagued Houston and proved to be the difference in the series.

Players to watch

Kansas State’s first three batters lead their offense and are the difference makers for their team. The trio of junior infielder Maximus Martin, graduate infielder Seth Dardar and graduate outfielder Keegan O’Connor does the heavy lifting for the Wildcats.

They’ve combined for a .329 batting average this season and totaled 131 runs, 181 hits, 151 RBIs and 42 home runs.

On the other side of the ball, pitchers Michael Quevedo and Lincoln Sheffield lead the team with six wins each.

Quevedo also leads with 70 strikeouts on the year and has a 6.28 ERA. Sheffield came in at third on his team with 64 strikeouts and finished the regular season with a 5.99 ERA.

For the Cougars, the batting trio is junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore infielder Xavier Perez and sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard. 

They’ve combined for a .314 batting average and racked up 113 runs, 152 hits, 102 RBIs and 19 homers.

Broussard is also a threat on the basepaths, finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean is the guy to watch from Houston’s pitching staff. Jean has a 2.43 ERA and has racked up 104 strikeouts.

Opponents are only batting .162 against the southpaw, so he will be a key factor in Houston’s biggest game this season.

Overall, each squad is comparable statistically and has very similar records.

With the season on the line for both teams, it will be another hard-fought Big 12 matchup to find out who will advance to play No. 3 TCU in the second round on Thursday evening.

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“Houston baseball set to face Kansas State in the first round of Big 12 tournament” was originally posted on The Cougar