BYU vs. Houston odds, picks and predictions
The BYU Cougars (24-8) and Houston Cougars (28-4) meet Friday in a Big 12 Conference Tournament semifinal in Kansas City. The opening tip at T-Mobile Center will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the BYU vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
BYU — No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll and the 4 seed in this tourney — took down 12th-ranked and No. 5 seed Iowa State 96-92 Thursday. The Cougars won outright as 2.5-point underdogs with the Over (146) easily cashing. G Richie Saunders had a team-high 23 points, including a 3-for-8 performance from downtown. BYU has won 9 straight games.
Houston, No. 2 in the country, and the top seed in the Big 12 Tourney, failed to cover as 17.5-point favorites in a 77-68 quarterfinal victory over Colorado Thursday. G Emanuel Sharp led the squad with 19 points, including 4-for-7 from distance. G L.J. Cryer struggled, going 4-for-11 from the floor, but finished with 14 points.
Houston's top rebounder F J'wan Roberts (10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds per game) sprained his ankle early in the second half and didn't play the rest of the game. Friday afternoon reports claim he'll be good to go vs. BYU, but keep an eye on it.
In the one regular-season meeting in this battle of Cougars, Houston romped at home 86-55 as a 9.5-point favorite with the Over (133.5) cashing Jan. 4. Sharp led the host Cougars with a game-high 18 points, while BYU only had one scorer in double figures — reserve G Trevin Knell (12 points).
Friday's other Big 12 semifinal pits No. 2 seed Texas Tech (25-7) against third-seeded Arizona (21-11).
THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!
BYU vs. Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Moneyline: BYU +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Houston -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
BYU +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Houston -300 (bet $300 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): BYU +6.5 (-105) | Houston -6.5 (-115)
BYU +6.5 (-105) | Houston -6.5 (-115) Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
BYU vs. Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
BYU 70, Houston 68
Houston has won 11 straight, but I don't like the vibes I'm getting from these Cougars. They have covered just once in the last 6 games — with a push as 4-point favorites at Baylor Saturday. They are still finding ways to win, but at some point, allowing teams to hang around will bite them.
BYU needs this game more for seeding purposes, and it is a solid bunch that's on a roll.
Send it with BYU (+240). BetMGM has a 'No Sweat Token' you can place on this to give you solace in case it doesn't work out.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Let's double up and take BYU +6.5 (-105). With Houston's issues covering (spreads) and the possibility of an outright win, this is my favorite bet of the bunch.
BYU is 8-2 O/U the last 10, and Houston is 5-5 O/U. The Over cashed in the earlier meeting, and I like OVER 133.5 (-110) here. Houston allowed an inferior Colorado squad to drop 68 Thursday. On a back-to-back, I like the Over potential.
Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now!
Follow Ryan Dodson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Predicting the Big 12's top wide receivers for the 2025 season
Predicting the Big 12's top wide receivers for the 2025 season While the Big 12 lost several top wide receivers to the NFL, 2025 could still be a tremendous year for pass catchers in the conference. The Big 12 was dominated by NFL-caliber talent last season, with Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and Colorado's Travis Hunter leading the charge. However, of the conference's top ten receivers from last season, seven are now in the NFL. That turnover opens the door for a new wave of familiar faces and new playmakers to emerge and seize the spotlight in 2025. Despite losing top receivers, the conference is still returning top quarterbacks. Signal callers such as TCU's Josh Hoover and Iowa State's Rocco Becht will be looking for new targets in 2025, leaving ample opportunities for new No. 1 receivers across the Big 12. In addition to the exodus of elite wideouts, the Big 12 also saw many of its top running backs head to the NFL, which could shift offenses even more toward the passing game. With only a few proven bell-cow backs, several teams could lean more heavily on the play of their quarterbacks and receiver corps to move the chains. Some schools reshaped their wide receiver room through the transfer portal, but some schools are banking on underclassmen from last year to step up. With the 2025 season getting closer each day, here are our predictions for the Big 12's receiving leaders. If you're interested in the passing or rushing leaders, we've got you covered with our breakdown of the conference's top projected quarterbacks and top running backs as well. 10. Sincere Brown, Colorado Buffaloes The Buffs hit the transfer portal heavy for wide receivers after losing Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester. As a four-star transfer, Brown had a breakout season at Campbell, hauling in 61 receptions, 1,028 yards, and 12 touchdowns. If Brown can replicate his success at Campbell, he should be an immediate playmaker for Colorado. While the Pokes might not have the best year in 2025, Stribling should still find success. The 6-foot-2 wide out tallied 882 yards on 52 receptions in 2024. With his size and speed, he will be a reliable target regardless of how Oklahoma State performs this season. 8. Chase Roberts, BYU Cougars Roberts was the standout player for the Cougars last year and should see increased production in 2025. He averaged 16.4 yards per reception in 2024 while racking up 854 yards on 52 receptions. If BYU has another stellar year, Roberts should be a key to that success. 7. Josh Cameron, Baylor Bears Baylor should have a big year in 2025, and a big part of that will be a big season from one of their pass catchers. Baylor is returning quarterback Sawyer Robertson's top receiver from last season in Josh Cameron. The 6-foot-1 wide out racked up 754 yards, but should have more production this season if he takes another step forward. 6. Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech Red Raiders Texas Tech lost their top receiver, Josh Kelly, but they are replacing him with a player of the same caliber. The 6-foot-4 Douglas caught 60 passes for 877 yards, being the No. 2 wide receiver behind Kelly. That is elite production for a No. 2 receiver. Now, as quarterback Behren Morton's No. 1 option, Douglas should have major success in 2025. 5. Jayce Brown, Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State is full of speedsters, and Brown is undoubtedly one of them. The 6-foot wide out averaged 17.5 yards per reception in 2024 and should have success for the Big 12 title-contending Wildcats in 2025. If quarterback Avery Johnson makes the jump, Brown should have even more success as the No. 1 target. 4. Joseph Williams, Colorado Buffaloes The Buffs have a steep task of replacing Travis Hunter, and Williams is the guy for the Job. Last season with Tulsa, Williams brought in 30 receptions for 588 yards, good for 19.6 yards per catch. He should make a big jump from his freshman season at Tulsa to his sophomore year at Colorado. 3. Chase Sowell, Iowa State Cyclones The Cyclones lost both of their top wide receivers to the NFL. The solution? Bring in one of the top transfer recruits in the nation. Sowell tallied 678 yards on just 34 receptions, good for a gaudy 19.9 yards per reception. His 6-foot-4 frame should fit in nicely with the Iowa State offense and be the top pass catcher for quarterback Rocco Becht. 2. Jordan Dwyer, TCU Horned Frogs TCU also lost its top receiver, but may have upgraded with the four-star transfer. With Idaho, Dwyer was a workhorse, hauling in 78 receptions for 1,192 yards. With TCU returning talented quarterback Josh Hoover, he should have similar production to what he had with the Vandals. There is no doubt that Tyson can be the Big 12's best receiver in 2025. With running back Cam Skattebo in the NFL but quarterback Sam Leavitt returning for the Sun Devils, Tyson is set up for a productive season. In 2024, he tallied 1,101 yards on 75 receptions and could receive even more opportunities in 2025. Contact/Follow us@BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Astros mailbag: The catching situation, Jacob Melton's role and Miguel Ullola's arrival
HOUSTON — Hello, Astros fans. The American League West is earning its distinction as a mediocre division. The Athletics are miserable in a minor-league ballpark. The Texas Rangers have yet to reap the rewards of hiring a podcast host as their hitting coach. The Seattle Mariners have managed to lose eight of their past 11 games against teams including the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels. Advertisement As a result, the Astros have opened a 2 1/2-game lead after playing their most consistent stretch of baseball all season. Houston's pitching continues to excel, pairing with wonderful defense and aggressive, opportune base running to keep the team afloat in Yordan Alvarez's absence. Alvarez returning at full health is the biggest boost this ballclub could get, but general manager Dana Brown will still scour the trade market for another left-handed bat in addition to a starting pitcher and, perhaps, a leverage reliever. It is crazy to think Houston has enough prospect capital to complete all three tasks, prompting questions of what the club is prioritizing — or whether it is comfortable trading from its major-league roster. Seven weeks remain to answer those questions. Here are a few others that have you curious. Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length. Might there be any momentum building toward starting Victor Caratini over Yainer (Diaz)? As a switch hitter, (Caratini) addresses one of the lineup's more glaring weaknesses. He also has a better record at the plate than Yainer, who is supposed to be a bat-first catcher in his own right. — Ryan F. Diaz has been a disappointment, Ryan, but the Astros aren't yet prepared to make such a drastic decision. That Diaz has caught almost all of the innings thrown by Houston's co-aces can't be overlooked. Nor can the relatively low workload Caratini has logged throughout his nine-year career. According to FanGraphs, Diaz entered Sunday's game worth minus-0.1 wins above replacement. Only 13 other qualified American League hitters were worse, including Diaz's teammate Christian Walker. Diaz is the definition of a bat-first catcher, but boasts a .657 OPS after 215 at-bats. Defensively, Diaz's blocking numbers are worse than last season, and his pitch framing — never a strong suit in the first place — is still lacking. Advertisement Still, Diaz has caught every one of Hunter Brown's starts and all but one of Framber Valdez's. Pitcher preference is paramount, and it's difficult to envision manager Joe Espada breaking up those batteries. Ditto for Caratini and Lance McCullers Jr., a pairing Espada envisioned before McCullers' return. Caratini, 31, has caught more than 500 innings just twice as a major leaguer. He finished both of those seasons — 2021 and 2022 — with a 79 OPS+. He entered Sunday with 191 1/3 innings caught and a 102 OPS+. There is some worry about keeping Caratini healthy, which gives team officials pause on increasing his catching workload. The aforementioned offensive numbers speak for themselves, too. Adding left-handed hitting outfielder Jacob Melton has reduced the need to play Caratini every day just for balance. Alvarez's return will further eliminate the need, but Houston does want to keep Caratini involved. He is Espada's best pinch hit option late in games, too. Is it likely that we re-sign Framber (Valdez)? What would be a realistic contract? — John P. It is not likely, John. Valdez's price tag has climbed considerably during his past six starts, a stretch in which he's posted a 1.84 ERA and struck out 47 hitters across 44 innings. Valdez and his representatives at Octagon will likely use Max Fried's eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees as a framework for free-agent discussions. Fried is two months younger than Valdez, but the two southpaws have strikingly similar numbers in their careers. During spring training, Valdez said the Astros had not approached him or his representatives about a potential extension. Even if they had, nothing in owner Jim Crane's past suggested he would make the sort of offer that Valdez would seriously consider. Crane has never guaranteed a starting pitcher more than $85 million. Closer Josh Hader's five-year, $95 million contract remains the largest free-agent deal during his ownership tenure. It feels far-fetched that he would exceed either number to the extent Valdez will require. Advertisement Why do you think the Astros are last in the league in scoring first-inning runs? With the way it seems that they always go down in order to start games, are they not mentally prepared? — Michael S. Few fans will want to hear it, Michael, but it may just be one of those baseball oddities. Most nights, Houston is guaranteed to send an American League MVP candidate in Jeremy Peña, its leading home run hitter in Isaac Paredes and the face of its franchise in Jose Altuve up to bat in the first inning — an enviable setup the club fails to exploit. The Astros are the only team in baseball with fewer than 20 first-inning runs, but their problem is more far-reaching than just the first frame. Houston entered Sunday slashing .232/.290/.328 with a .618 OPS during its first look at a starting pitcher. No team in the sport has a lower slugging percentage in those situations. Only the hapless Colorado Rockies have a lower OPS. The Astros' lineup's OPS jumps from .618 to .722 when seeing a starter the second time. Paredes has a .508 OPS in his first look at a starter and a .939 mark during his second. Altuve's numbers are almost identical — .562 in his first look and .800 during his second. That the struggling Walker hits behind them in the batting order only exacerbates the problem. Blaming Paredes and Altuve alone for an entire team's struggles the first time through is foolish, but both men are here to help carry a top-heavy offense. Improving in their first at-bats can make that easier. Has the fact that (Miguel) Ullola hasn't been mentioned by (general manager Dana) Brown previously mean he's unlikely to get the call-up anytime soon? — Ryan C. I'd recommend listening to Brown's regular Sunday appearance on the team's pregame radio show, Ryan. During last week's discussion, Brown mentioned he and Espada 'just had a nice discussion about (Ullola) downstairs.' That the conversation happened at all indicates Ullola is on the major-league radar. Ullola has struck out 52 batters across his first 38 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and claimed Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month honors in May, a month he finished with a 1.17 ERA in 23 innings. Command remains an issue for Ullola, who has thrown just 58 percent of his pitches for strikes and is walking 5.8 batters per nine innings, but he is missing enough bats to warrant a serious look from the major-league team. Advertisement Following Monday's off day, Houston faces a stretch of 19 games in 20 days. Going to a six-man rotation for some of it seems sensible. Two spots in it are not secured, though Brandon Walter may have earned one Sunday after holding the Cleveland Guardians to two runs across six innings. Ullola's fate could be tied to that of Ryan Gusto, who has failed to finish five innings in six of his last eight starts. Gusto has a 5.60 ERA across his past 10 appearances, eight of which are starts. After Gusto's last one — a 4 1/3-inning slog against a putrid Pittsburgh Pirates lineup — Espada did not sound like someone prepared to pull him from the rotation. Gusto is listed as the team's probable starter Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, a lineup with listlessness on par with Pittsburgh. If Gusto authors a similar result, a difficult conversation may ensue — especially if Ullola continues to make his case for a call-up. One bright red flag I see with this year's team is the failure to control the opponents' running game. Do you see this improving anytime soon? And does the problem lie with the catchers? Slow pickoff moves? Inexperience in the rotation? Or all of the above? — Neeraj J. Only the Miami Marlins and Athletics entered Sunday allowing stolen bases at a higher clip than the Astros, Neeraj. Houston and Miami are the only two teams to surrender at least 70 stolen bases. It's a problem — a holistic one harped on by Houston's coaching staff since spring training. No part of the Astros' battery is absolved from blame. According to Baseball Savant, Houston's pitching staff is worth a minus-13 net bases prevented and entered Sunday allowing 56 extra bases gained by either steals or balks. Again, only the Marlins have worse numbers. Opponents have attempted 54 stolen bases against Diaz and 30 against Caratini. Diaz's average exchange and pop times have decreased from last season, while the average velocity on his throws is down from 84.3 mph last season to 83.6 mph during this one. Advertisement Still, Diaz managed to throw out eight base stealers. Caratini has only caught three. On average, runners are 54.1 feet away from second base when Diaz receives the baseball and 53.5 feet away against Caratini. League average is 56 feet, accentuating a fact that's hard to argue: Astros pitchers are giving their catchers little chance to throw anyone out. Introducing slide steps, holding the baseball longer before delivering it or varying times to home plate can help. Houston's pitching staff is incorporating all of it in hopes of turning around this troubling trend. What's the chance Jacob Melton is (given) the same opportunities they have (given) Cam Smith? — Shannon E. Production precipitates playing time, Shannon, so Melton is in control of his destiny. He is a left-handed hitter who represents what this club lacks — and what it could be in the market for during the trade deadline. Perhaps Melton will make that pursuit moot. As long as Alvarez remains on the injured list, a path to regular at-bats exists for Melton at any of the three outfield spots or as the team's designated hitter. The team must be mindful of Melton's recovery from a groin injury, though, which limited him to playing four days a week at Triple-A Sugar Land before his promotion. Melton has started six of his first seven games as a big leaguer. He has demonstrated dazzling defense and an ability to prolong at-bats, but is still 3-for-20 with eight strikeouts. While Alvarez, Chas McCormick and Zach Dezenzo are out, though, a runway exists for the major-league staff to see whether Melton can be a contributor. If he proves capable, it could open a new avenue for Brown to explore at the trade deadline — perhaps using McCormick, Dezenzo or starting center fielder Jake Meyers as chips in trade talks with Melton waiting in the wings to replace them. (Top photo of Victor Caratini and Yainer Diaz: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Ten roster moves that shaped the Big 12 football offseason
If the newest era of college football has taught us anything, it's that roster management is now the most critical task for a coaching staff. From the transfer portal to recruiting, it's a constant numbers game for coaches hoping to strike the perfect balance to field the most competitive team possible. Advertisement The Athletic is examining 10 key roster developments that shaped the offseason in each Power 4 conference. Up Monday: The Big 12. Let's dive in. No school in the Big 12 was more productive in the portal than Texas Tech. Coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders brought in 20-plus commits, including 13 four stars, as ranked by 247Sports. Outside linebacker David Bailey comes to Lubbock by way of Stanford, where he played three seasons and finished 2024 with seven sacks. Howard Sampson returns to his home state after spending the 2024 season at North Carolina, where he logged more than 800 snaps and started 12 games at left tackle. Linebacker Romello Height is a fellow former ACC starter, having helped anchor Georgia Tech's defense a season ago. And former five-star wide receiver recruit Micah Hudson is back with the program after transferring (briefly) to Texas A&M. Thanks to this influx of talent, along with the return of quarterback Behren Morton, the Red Raiders should be among the favorites to win the league. The Sun Devils were one of the fun surprises of the 2024 season, reaching the College Football Playoff and taking Texas into double overtime at the Peach Bowl. Just six days after the loss, Leavitt announced he'd be returning to the Sun Devils for another year. Leavitt — who set a school record for total offense by a freshman in 2024 with 3,328 yards — lost his star running back, Cam Skattebo, to the NFL but will be in good company in the backfield with Army transfer Kanye Udoh (1,117 rushing yards in 2024). Where else would I rather be?! 🔱#forksup @SunAngelNIL — Sam Leavitt (@S_leav10) January 7, 2025 Avery Johnson, the exciting, young Kansas State quarterback, would have had plenty of suitors had he decided to leave the Wildcats and enter the transfer portal. But Kansas State retained him and should be a contender to win the conference as a result. Johnson, a former four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, finished the 2024 season with 2,712 yards and 25 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He'll need to improve his accuracy, but should feel extra comfortable in the system now that quarterbacks coach Matt Wells has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Advertisement Kansas State also added a key offensive piece in Linkon Cure, a top-40 national recruit who signed with the home-state Wildcats despite a late push by Oregon. Cure, the program's highest-rated signee of the modern era, is also a state championship-winning hurdler who gives Kansas State an athletic presence in the passing game. A 5 star who stayed in high school to set state records did just that on Saturday in Wichita! Linkon Cure ran a 14.36 to be the new 3A boys state record holder in the 110 meter hurdles! Take a look at history! @goodlandAD @sportsinkansas @KSHSAA @kansasrunning — KCMCsports (@KCMCsports) June 2, 2025 Cam Rising, who led Utah to Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022, announced last month that he was medically retiring from football after a tumultuous few years dealing with injuries. The Utes have their next quarterback in place, though. Devon Dampier transferred into the program in December from New Mexico, where he became the first QB in program history to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors. Dampier, like Johnson at K-State, will need to be more accurate in 2025 after throwing 12 interceptions and completing under 60 percent of his attempts in 2024. But he is a legit dual-threat who threw for 2,768 yards and ran for 1,166 with 31 total touchdowns last season. Even better: His offensive coordinator from New Mexico, Jason Beck, also made the move to Utah this season and is the team's new play caller. All eyes are on Colorado and coach Deion Sanders, who must replace his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, along with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The Buffs have a couple of options. Kaidon Salter, the likely starter, transferred from Liberty after throwing for 1,886 yards and rushing for 579 in 2024. Four-star quarterback Julian Lewis also enrolled in December after flipping from USC to Colorado in November. Lewis, the nation's No. 50 prospect and No. 6 quarterback, is considered the future of the program. Advertisement Coach Rich Rodriguez's return to West Virginia was one of the more fascinating developments of the offseason. The Mountaineers will have an entirely different roster in 2025, with 40-plus players having transferred out and 30-plus transferring in. That's in addition to the 25 high school prospects the program signed. Defensive linemen Jimmori Robinson from UTSA and Eddie Kelly Jr. from Missouri, as well as offensive lineman Carson Lee from Eastern Michigan, headline the transfer class. Robinson was particularly disruptive for the Roadrunners a season ago, finishing with 10 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. On the high school front, four-star cornerback Dawayne Galloway and four-star defensive lineman Taylor Brown are the two blue-chippers in the class. Rodriguez is looking at 50-plus new players in his first season back with the Mountaineers. Iowa State lost its top two receivers from 2024 in Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, who are now both with the Houston Texans. The hope is that Chase Sowell, a transfer from ECU, can slide in and give the Cyclones a big-play threat. Sowell dealt with a hamstring injury late last season but still had 678 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Perhaps most impressive: his 19.9 yards-per-catch average. In case you missed it, the 2024 season was a rough one for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys won just three games, the fewest in coach Mike Gundy's 20 seasons at his alma mater. The response? Gundy cleaned house with his staff and beefed up his roster. Markell Samuel should be able to provide immediate help up front after starting 11 games at left tackle for Appalachian State in 2024. Wide receiver Terrill Davis set single-season records at Central Oklahoma last year with 1,609 receiving yards and 15 TD catches. Quarterback Hauss Hejny comes to Stillwater by way of TCU, and former Marshall wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick finished 2024 as the Thundering Herd's leading receiver with 576 yards. Defensively, look for end Kyran Duhon to make some noise. The UTEP transfer earned second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic in 2024 after recording seven sacks in 12 games. Arizona knew it would need some help at running back after its leading rusher, Quali Conley, wrapped up his eligibility last season and headed to the NFL. Enter Ismail Mahdi, a first-team All-Sun Belt selection last season who comes to Arizona from Texas State. Mahdi rushed for 2,322 yards and caught 44 passes for 470 yards in two seasons with the Bobcats. He should be an enticing plug-and-play option for the Wildcats, who ranked No. 120 nationally in rushing a season ago. Advertisement Conner Weigman, the 2022 five-star prospect, had a tough time with the Aggies, largely due to injuries. But at his best — and healthiest — he's still a productive quarterback with plenty of tread on the tires. He and Houston need each other, which could make this a nice little marriage. The Cougars finished No. 128 nationally in total offense and No. 126 in passing offense in coach Willie Fritz's first season. They need some help, and Weigman needs a fresh start. Fritz also brought in a handful of players around Weigman, including Dean Connors from Rice at running back and Tanner Koziol (Ball State) and Luke McGary (Tulsa) at tight end. Slade Nagle is the new offensive coordinator, which reunites him with Fritz from their Tulane days after Nagle spent the 2024 season at LSU. (Photo of Devon Dampier: Jake Crandall / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
