In Tempe, the Houston Cougars defeated the No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils by a score of 24 to 16. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman delivered a standout performance: he rushed for two touchdowns and also threw for another score. Tight end Tanner Koziol added over 100 receiving yards to support the victory.

Arizona State struggled to find its rhythm in the first three quarters, failing to score until the fourth quarter. ASU coach Kenny Dillingham acknowledged that the team “didn’t play good enough … really the first three quarters”. Meanwhile Houston built a 24-0 lead through methodical offensive drives and physical defense that pressured ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Late in the game Arizona State mounted a rally. Backup quarterback Jeff Sims, filling in for the injured Leavitt, connected with Chamon Metayer on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 24-16 with just over five minutes left. The Sun Devils regained possession with a chance to tie but could not secure a first down from their own 4-yard line with two minutes remaining.

Turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities cost Arizona State dearly. They lost a fumble, had a player ejected for targeting, missed two field goal attempts and were flagged for 12 penalties. Houston’s defense, meanwhile, held firm and protected their lead until the end.

The outcome snapped Arizona State’s 10-game home winning streak and raised serious questions about their consistency. For Houston, the win reinforced their status as a rising force in the conference, showing they can perform on the road and handle pressure.