Oregon State football early opponent preview: Houston

The Oregon State Beavers will have a short week following their matchup with rival Oregon, returning home to face Houston on a Friday night in the fifth game of the 2025 season.

The Cougars went 4-8 in 2024 but pulled some upsets in the Big 12, including wins over Kansas State and TCU. Their strength was their defense, which allowed just under 23 points per game while playing in a conference known for high-flying offenses.

For the Beavers, it could be an opportunity to get back on track: The road trips to Texas Tech and Oregon are likely to be steep challenges for Trent Bray’s squad. Their schedule becomes significantly easier, at least on paper, from the Houston game onward.

Game 5: Houston at Oregon State

Date: Friday, Sep. 26

Time: 7:30 p.m. PT

Location: Reser Stadium

TV: ESPN

Houston offense preview:

Dual threat junior Zeon Chriss will compete with Texas A&M transfer Conner Weigman for the starting quarterback job. Chriss appeared in 11 of 12 games last season for the Cougars, leading the team with four rushing touchdowns and tied for the team lead with four passing touchdowns.

Needless to say, those numbers indicate a Houston offense that was prone to struggle — second-worst in the nation in scoring at just 14 points per game. But regardless of whether or not he wins the starting job, Chriss should be a factor again for Houston as a different and more athletic look under center.

The team’s top three running backs return, as do two of their three top receivers. But this will still be a “prove it” game for the OSU defense after whatever happens against the far more dynamic playmakers of Texas Tech and Oregon.

Houston defense preview:

The Cougars ranked 25th in the country in total defense, and second in the Big 12 in scoring defense behind BYU. But they lost their defensive coordinator, Shiel Wood, to Texas Tech.

If this is the year Houston turns things around under third-year head coach Willie Fritz, it will start with defense — even if the woeful offense does make strides.

Several key linebackers return, including Jalen Garner and Brandon Mack, and the Cougars added the productive Carmycah Glass from Louisiana in the transfer portal. The defensive line was also shored up with transfers Joshua Donald (Appalachian State) and Khalil Laufau (Washington State).

The biggest question is Houston’s secondary: two portal departures — Jeremiah Wilson and A.J. Haulcy — combined for nine interceptions in 2024. Can Maalik Murphy take advantage and sling it in the Beavers’ return home?

More OSU early opponent previews:

Game 1: California

Game 2: Fresno State

Game 3: Texas Tech

— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.