Colorado's night-game skid meets No. 14 Houston

Houston's margin, Colorado's deficit

Against Power 4 opponents, Houston is +29 in point margin, 24th nationally and sixth in its conference. Colorado is -108 in the same games, 82nd nationally and 16th in its conference.

Houston gains 445 yards a game, 10th nationally, and allows 394, 45th. Colorado gains 363, 39th, and allows 378, 33rd. By yardage, the Colorado defense is the better of the two defenses on the field.

Houston holds the ball 32:14 a game, eighth nationally, against Colorado's 28:22, 60th. Colorado is penalized 71 yards a game, 78th nationally, to Houston's 57, 49th.

Where it's decided

When Houston has the ball, it can beat a defense either way. Against Power 4 opponents, Houston throws for 269 yards a game, 13th nationally, and runs for 175, 12th. Houston scores on 50.9% of its drives, 10th nationally, and averages 27.8 points, 23rd. The Colorado defense allows 135 rushing yards a game, 30th nationally, and 243 passing yards, 44th.

Conner Weigman leads Houston in passing yards with 2,279, with 22 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 66.1 completion percentage. Weigman's 22 touchdown passes rank second in the Big 12, and his 29 total touchdowns rank third. Houston returns 96% of its 2025 passing yards.

Amare Thomas leads Houston in receiving yards with 698 and in catches with 47, and his 8 touchdown catches tie for third in the Big 12. Patrick Overmyer adds 497 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Makhi Hughes leads Houston in rushing yards with 607, and Sanford has 573.

The red zone is Houston's soft spot: it scores on 77.8% of its trips, 59th nationally. Colorado allows scores on 83.8% of opponent red zone trips, 39th.

When Colorado has the ball, points have been scarce. Colorado scores 15.8 points a game against Power 4 opponents, 73rd nationally and 16th in its conference, and scores on 22.3% of its drives, 75th. The Buffaloes throw for 238 yards a game, 31st, and run for 126, 44th.

Isaac Wilson leads Colorado in passing yards with 1,412, with 8 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and a 61.7 completion percentage. Colorado returns 24% of its 2025 passing yards.

Joseph Williams leads Colorado in receiving yards with 853 and in catches with 58, and he ranks second in the Big 12 in both. DeAndre Moore Jr. adds 526 receiving yards, and JaQuail Smith leads Colorado in rushing yards with 396.

The Houston defense allows 23.0 points a game, 24th nationally, but opponents succeed on 48.8% of their runs, 77th. Kentrell Webb leads Houston in tackles with 50.

Lampron anchors a rebuilt Colorado defense

Colorado returns 3% of its 2025 tackles for loss, 2 of 60, along with 10% of its tackles and 7% of its sacks. Transfers brought in 65 tackles for loss from 2025, and Gideon Lampron accounted for 17.5 of them.

Lampron leads Colorado with 95 tackles, tied for third in FBS, and his 15 tackles for loss lead the Big 12. Lampron is also tied for the Colorado lead with 5 sacks. Santana Hopper is tied for second in the Big 12 with 14 tackles for loss.

Third down, strength against strength

Against Power 4 opponents, Houston converts 53.0% of its third downs, first nationally. Colorado holds those opponents to 37.6% on third down, 26th nationally and fourth in its conference. Houston's 50.4% success rate on all snaps ranks third nationally, and the Colorado defense allows 41.9%, 33rd.

Houston keeps the ball, Colorado gives it up

Houston has run 191 straight offensive plays without a turnover, since an interception against Oklahoma State. Against Power 4 opponents, Houston is +5 in turnover margin, 12th nationally. Colorado is -11 in the same games, 88th nationally and 16th in its conference.

Hunter faces the Cougars

Colorado offensive lineman Demetrius Hunter was on Houston's roster in 2022-25, and he faces the Cougars for the first time since leaving.

Hughes and Ashton Porter both transferred to Houston from Oregon, and Porter leads the Cougars in sacks with 3. Colorado added three 4-star transfers: Moore and linebacker Liona Lefau from Texas, and safety Boo Carter from Tennessee.

Houston had 1 player drafted, tight end Tanner Koziol, who went to Jacksonville in the fifth round, 164th overall. Koziol's 727 receiving yards in 2025 were the only Houston receiving yards lost to the NFL.

Weigman is full go; Colorado waits on Welch and Scudero

Update, Fri, Nov 13, 7:45 PM CT: Since Thursday's report, Colorado upgraded Elliott Arnold (doubtful to a game-time decision), Tyler Martinez (questionable to available) and Vili Taufatofua (questionable to available); downgraded Braylon Edwards (doubtful to out). Since Thursday's report, Houston upgraded De'Marion Thomas (probable to available), Ejiro Egodogbare (probable to available), JD Rhym (probable to available) and Travis Buhake (probable to available). On the latest report, Colorado lists Naeten Mitchell, Micah Welch, Danny Scudero and 3 others as out or doubtful, and Elliott Arnold as a game-time decision. Houston lists Aaron Wolford as out or doubtful.

Willie Fritz said Nov. 2 that Weigman, who has had a left ankle and foot injury but missed no time, is "full go" after a good practice, according to the Houston Chronicle via Yahoo Sports.

Sanders said Oct. 20 that Colorado running back Micah Welch was hurting, did not practice and may have broken something, and that he did not know the severity, according to Yahoo Sports. Welch, second on Colorado in rushing yards with 220, was listed Out on the Big 12 availability report for the last 3 games.

Receiver Danny Scudero was listed Out on the last 6 Big 12 reports. Sanders said Oct. 20 that Scudero is passionate about getting back and doing everything he can to progress, with no return date given, according to Yahoo Sports. Scudero arrived at Colorado with 1,297 receiving yards from 2025.

Houston took the last one, and the series is even

The series is tied 1-1 since the first meeting, a bowl game on Dec. 31, 1971. Houston won the last meeting 36-20 at home in 2025, and Stephon Johnson had 117 receiving yards.

That 2025 Houston team went 10-3, and the Colorado team it beat finished 3-9.

Three things to watch

Colorado's second quarter: Power 4 opponents have outscored the Buffaloes 77-17 in that quarter this season.

Houston's big plays: the Cougars have 17 plays of 40 yards or more, tied for the third-most in FBS.

Colorado's path: the Buffaloes are 2-1 in one-score games, and Houston allows 14.6 points a game in the second half against 6.8 in the first.