Houston caps memorable season with victory over LSU
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Carlos Leon-Trejo, Contributor
- December 28, 2025
Cougars beat LSU in Kinder’s Texas Bowl
HOUSTON – As Tanner Koziol celebrated his first bowl appearance with a 38-35 victory over LSU, the University of Houston tight end looked around at his teammates, knowing it was the kind of moment players talk about for the rest of their lives.
The Kinder’s Texas Bowl allowed him to fulfill one of his dreams. He caught one of the Texas Bowl-record four touchdowns Conner Weigman threw as Houston earned its 10th victory of the season.
“It’s a dream,” he said after UH completed its seventh 10-win season in school history. “I played four years, and this was my first bowl game. My freshman year (at Ball State) we lost a heartbreaker at the end of the season for a (chance to reach a) bowl game.
“People talk about the bowl games all the time. They talk about them for the rest of their lives.”
The 6-foot-7, 250‑pounder spent his first three seasons at Ball State. Koziol had a brief stint at Wisconsin last spring before transferring again. Houston is where he has felt most at home, even after spending just one season with the Cougars.
“I truly met a family here in Houston, and I made a family here in Houston,” Koziol said. “I’m just excited to come back here all the time. And this place is a home and it forever will be.
“Like hitting the portal for another time, and Coach (Willie) Fritz taking me in. Coach Nagle and Coach Stone, they poured into me. Everyone believed in me.”
‘Really unique’
The Bloomingdale, Ill., native showed up when it mattered. He finished the night with nine catches for 76 yards, including a touchdown that sent the Coogs into the locker room at halftime with a 21-14 lead. Head coach Willie Fritz praised the 2025 All-America First Team standout.
“I’ve had some great tight ends, and (2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee) Delanie Walker was a great tight end for me, ” Fritz said. “And Tanner, boy, he’s something else.
“He’s really unique. He’s got a great catch radius, reach, length, he sticks his hands away from his body and he utilizes it. He does it time after time, after time, after time.”
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The No. 21 Cougars defeated their SEC foe LSU in front of 63,867 fans at NRG Stadium, which was the best bowl attendance since 2019. It was their first meeting between LSU and Houston since Sept. 9, 2000, when LSU defeated the Cougars at Tiger Stadium 28-13.
Houston overcame a 14–0 deficit. LSU opened with a 99‑yard kickoff return by wide receiver Barion Brown to take a 7-0 lead after only 14 seconds. Michael Van Buren Jr. then threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Trey’Dez Green.
Late in the first quarter, quarterback Conner Weigman found wide receiver Amare Thomas to put the Cougars on the board. The Coogs tied it in the second quarter with another Thomas touchdown. Then they took a 21–14 lead on a seven‑yard touchdown pass to Koziol.
Ethan Sanchez puts Cougars up for good
LSU leveled the game early in the third quarter with Green’s four-yard touchdown reception Weigman connected with wide receiver Travaille Frederick Jr. for a two-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, extending Houston’s lead to 28-21 entering the fourth quarter. Van Buren was able to find wide receiver Kyle Parker to tie the score at 28 early in the fourth quarter.
Kicker Ethan Sanchez pushed UH ahead to 31-28 with a 25-yard field goal. With 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, running back Dean Connors rushed for a 20‑yard touchdown, giving Houston a 38-28 lead. With over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas rushed for a three-yard touchdown. The Cougars recovered LSU’s onside kick and closed out a 38–35 victory.
“Just seeing my guys right after victory formation, ” Koziol said. “When they come off the sideline, the game’s over and we’re up on the scoreboard.
“That was the best thing for sure. Just looking around at my guys, giving them all hugs.
“Just being so happy together. Celebrating together. It’s what you dream of, ending the season on a high note.”
Carlos Leon-Trejo
Contributor
Carlos Leon-Trejo is a co-host on the Bring on the Blitz! podcast on the Our Esquina network. A graduate of the Texas A&M-Victoria, his reporting credits include major stages such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Big 12 Championship.
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