West Virginia Upsets Univ. Houston in a Turnover-Filled Shootout
Houston, TX — The West Virginia Mountaineers delivered a stunning blow to the No. 22 Houston Cougars' Big 12 championship aspirations, securing a 45-35 road victory at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The Mountaineers capitalized on four costly Houston turnovers, converting those mistakes into key points to pull away in the second half.
The game started fast, with West Virginia jumping out to an early 14-0 lead behind rushing touchdowns from quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. and running back Cyncir Bowers. Houston's offense, led by junior quarterback Conner Weigman, eventually found its rhythm, tying the game at 21-21 before halftime with a touchdown run by Weigman and two touchdown passes, including one to junior wide receiver Amare Thomas.
Key Moments & Second Half Dominance
The second half belonged to the Mountaineers, who outscored the Cougars 24-14, largely due to Houston's self-inflicted wounds:
WVU Takes the Lead: The Mountaineers opened the third quarter with a career-long 50-yard field goal from Kade Hensley, following a Houston turnover on the opening drive of the half.
Pick-Six Extends the Lead: West Virginia cornerback Jordan Scruggs delivered a decisive blow, intercepting a Weigman pass and returning it 80 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Mountaineer lead to 31-21.
Mountaineers Ground Game: West Virginia's rushing attack was dominant, finishing with 246 total rushing yards. Scotty Fox Jr. scored his second rushing touchdown on a 34-yard run, and freshman running back Diore Hubbard (108 yards on 29 carries) added an 11-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach at 45-28.
🌟 Top Performers
| Player | Team | Statline | Key Contributions |
| Conner Weigman | Houston | 309 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 rushing TD, 2 INTs | Kept Houston in the game with 5 total touchdowns. |
| Amare Thomas | Houston | 10 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TDs | Weigman's top target with three scoring catches. |
| Scotty Fox Jr. | West Virginia | 157 passing yards, 1 TD; 65 rushing yards, 2 TDs | Accounted for three touchdowns and efficiently led the offense. |
| Diore Hubbard | West Virginia | 108 rushing yards, 1 TD | Led the ground game that dominated time of possession in the second half. |
| Jordan Scruggs | West Virginia | 80-yard Interception Return TD | Provided the pivotal momentum shift with the defensive score. |
The Aftermath
The upset marks West Virginia's first road victory over a ranked opponent since 2018. For Houston (now 7-2, 4-2 in Big 12), the four turnovers—matching their season total entering the game—proved to be the difference, likely ending their short tenure in the AP Top 25 and significantly damaging their chances of reaching the Big 12 Championship game.
The Cougars will look to rebound as they travel to Central Florida, while West Virginia (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) looks to build on the huge win by hosting Colorado next.
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