HOUSTON, TX (BCSNN) — Conner Weigman delivered a career-best performance Friday night, leading Houston (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) to a 36-20 victory over Colorado (1-2, 0-1) in both teams’ conference opener at TDECU Stadium. The Cougars dominated time of possession and capitalized on Colorado’s defensive lapses, scoring on seven of their first eight drives to remain unbeaten.

Weigman, a Texas A&M transfer, threw for 222 yards and rushed for 83 yards with two touchdowns, both career highs. His dual-threat ability kept Colorado’s defense off balance all night, especially in the second half when he scored on runs of 1 and 7 yards to extend Houston’s lead. “We tried to run that trick play, and they did a good job of staying with [Weigman] on it,” Houston coach Willie Fritz said. “Then Dean [Connors] improvised and ran it down there to the half-yard line”.

Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub, making his first start of the season, struggled to find rhythm. He finished 19-of-35 for 204 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, both coming in the fourth quarter. Staub’s lone scoring pass—a 37-yard strike to Joseph Williams—came too late to mount a comeback. “Staub didn’t play well,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said postgame. “I saw what you saw. He did not play well today”.

The Buffaloes’ run game showed flashes, but was largely underutilized. Simeon Price led Colorado with a 38-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, finishing with 45 yards on five carries. Houston’s Dean Connors was the more consistent force, rushing 22 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. His 19-yard burst late in the third quarter set up Weigman’s first rushing score.

Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez was nearly perfect on the night, converting five of six field goal attempts, including a career-long 52-yarder. His reliability helped the Cougars maintain control even when drives stalled. “We’re very happy with the outcome,” Fritz said. “For our Big 12 opener, playing a good squad like Colorado, this was a great result”.

Sanders, visibly frustrated after the game, called his team’s defensive effort “hot garbage” during the ESPN broadcast and later admitted, “It wasn’t good at all. I take full responsibility for the foolishness that went on out there”. Colorado’s defense allowed 209 rushing yards and failed to contain Weigman’s read-option runs, a recurring issue dating back to their season-opening loss to Georgia Tech.

Next up, Colorado returns home to face Wyoming in another night game, with Sanders undecided on his starting quarterback. “I have no idea,” he said when asked about the position’s future. Houston, meanwhile, gets a bye before traveling to Oregon State on Sept. 26, where Weigman will look to build on his early-season momentum.

The win marked Houston’s first over Colorado in program history and solidified the Cougars as a rising threat in the Big 12. For Colorado, the loss raised more questions than answers, particularly at quarterback and along the defensive front. As Sanders put it bluntly: “We gotta do better in every phase of the game”.