It sucks to lose a winnable game on the road against Texas Tech, but that is football. Even in a disappointing loss, I saw far more positives than negatives. One thing everyone can agree on is that, comparing their first quarter last year to this year, this team is dramatically better.
When I say this team is dramatically better, I have to start with the offensive line. This group is miles ahead of where UH started last season. The return of Alvin Ebosele and McKenzie Angenello and the additions of Shadre Hurst, Anthony Boswell, and Drew Terrill were expected to be an upgrade. They have met that expectation, and I believe they have exceeded it.
Early last season, it was clear that OL coach Eman Naghavi had a lot of work to do on the offensive line. Even through a 4-0 start, the offensive line was a big concern. That OL was exposed in the loss to Texas Tech in week five.
| 2025 | Dropback | Pressure | Pressure % | Sack | PBLK RTG |
| SFA | 28 | 13 | 46.43% | 1 | 29.3 |
| Rice | 28 | 12 | 42.86% | 3 | 64 |
| Colorado | 29 | 17 | 58.62% | 1 | 15.1 |
| 2026 | Dropback | Pressure | Pressure % | Sack | PBLK RTG |
| OrSt | 38 | 8 | 21.05% | 1 | 58.7 |
| Southern | 20 | 4 | 20.00% | 0 | 67.3 |
| Texas Tech | 44 | 17 | 38.64% | 3 | 65.6 |
I started tracking pressures allowed last year because, through 5 games, UH allowed the most QB pressures in the country. As the year-to-year comparisons show, those numbers have improved dramatically. Against Texas Tech last year, UH allowed 21 pressures on 30 dropbacks.
With a massively improved offensive line, we’ve seen a much more explosive and dynamic offense. The offense has shifted from trying to control the clock, shorten the game, and avoid mistakes to a more dynamic, attacking, and explosive attack. It also helps that you have a standout QB and WR who are in their second year in the offense with the same OC.
Through 3 games last year, UH had 30 explosive plays for 683 yards; this year they have 40 explosive plays for 910 yards.
A lot of that explosiveness has come from the running backs. Re’Shaun Sanford is finally back and is more explosive than ever. The addition of Makhi Hughes has given the UH program one of the better RB combos we have seen in ages. Of those 40 explosive plays this year, the running game has produced 22.
Weigman has been incredible so far this year, the guy everyone envisioned when he was one of the top recruits in the country out of Bridgeland High School. A full offseason in the second year in an offense has done wonders. All the concerns about who would replace Tanner Koziol have eased with Patrick Overmyer taking over and having a huge season to date.
Amare Thomas is still an electric playmaker, and Koby Young feels on the verge of becoming a great player. Koby has made big-time catches downfield and some huge circus catches, but now needs to lock in and catch the easy throws. Trent Walker hasn’t been as active as we expected, but he’s proven reliable when the ball comes his way. I expect his role to expand in the near future.
If the UH offense keeps performing, we will see this really good team get even better.
