QB
B-Weigman at QB (83, junior, throw power 93). Top-3 of 77.7.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 7.0 / 10
Houston
Program Builder Fritz with Koziol at senior TE 92 and the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense in the Big 12.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Willie Fritz program where Koziol at senior TE 92 meets the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense and the East Texas Tier-4 home, Houston is the Big 12 team built to throw to a tight end and hunt the QB. Koziol anchors TE at senior 92 with catch in traffic 97 and catching 94 — the highest-rated TE in the editorial set. Machado leads the LB room at senior MIKE 86 with tackle 93 and pursuit 91. Sanford II takes the sophomore backfield at acceleration 95. Weigman runs the offense at junior QB 83 with throw power 93. Sanford II at sophomore HB plus Weigman at junior QB plus Glass at sophomore WILL form a three-deep multi-year cluster behind the senior class.
What makes Houston different from the other 3-prestige Big 12 programs is the combination of Koziol and the 3-3-5 Tite. Texas Tech asks you to ride a Veer and Shoot offense behind a senior-heavy roster. TCU asks you to ride the Air Raid behind a thin multi-year bridge. Houston asks you to ride a TE-led Spread plus the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense, with an A- conference prestige tag and East Texas Tier-4 anchoring the recruiting board. Same conference, similar prestige, different scheme combo: Houston is the only 3-prestige Big 12 program running 3-3-5 Tite in the editorial set.
The 7.0 lands on Koziol's 92 senior TE rating, the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense, and the multi-year Sanford-Weigman-Glass cluster. Fritz's Program Builder archetype with B coach prestige is real Big 12 infrastructure. The catch is the F coach stability mark (rare at 3-prestige) and the 6-of-10 senior cliff that drains the roster after Year 1, leaving Sanford II, Weigman, and Glass as the multi-year top-10 bridges. Don't pick Houston for stability assurances. Pick Houston for the Year 1 contention sprint where Koziol-Machado-Connors push for an 8-9 win season while Weigman and Sanford II mature underneath.
Head Coach
Willie Fritz
Program BuilderFritz is a Program Builder archetype with B coach prestige and F coach stability — the rare F stability mark at 3-prestige in CFB 26. The launch hands him Koziol at senior TE 92, the senior LB-DL front led by Machado and Allen Jr., and the multi-year Sanford-Weigman-Glass cluster underneath. The East Texas Tier-4 home is the structural advantage Fritz plays into. The catch is the F stability mark, which means Fritz's coordinators churn at the highest 3-prestige rate in the editorial set, and the program identity depends on Fritz himself holding the staff together.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | Big 12 |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Willie Fritz · Program Builder |
| Team Prestige | 3 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 77 |
| Top Position Group | Tight End · B+ · top-3 avg 83.3 |
| Weakest Position Group | Special Teams · C · top-3 avg 71.7 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | C |
| Brand Exposure | B- |
| Coach Prestige | B |
| Coach Stability | F |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 6 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tanner Koziol | TE | Sr | 92 | Catch in Traffic 97 |
| 02 | Jesus Machado | MIKE | Sr | 86 | Tackle 93 |
| 03 | Re'Shaun Sanford II | HB | So | 85 | Acceleration 95 |
| 04 | Dean Connors | HB | Sr | 84 | Stamina 95 |
| 05 | Conner Weigman | QB | Jr | 83 | Throw Power 93 |
| 06 | Carlos Allen Jr. | LEDG | Sr | 82 | Injury 95 |
| 07 | Carmycah Glass | WILL | So | 82 | Injury 89 |
| 08 | Marc Stampley II | CB | Sr | 81 | Stamina 93 |
| 09 | Stephon Johnson | WR | Sr | 81 | Acceleration 92 |
| 10 | Jason Brooks Jr. | LG | Sr | 80 | Stamina 91 |
Position Group Grades
RB
BSanford II at HB (85, sophomore, acceleration 95) and Connors at HB (84, senior, stamina 95). Top-3 of 82.7.
WR
B-Johnson at WR (81, senior, acceleration 92). Top-3 of 79.3.
TE
B+Koziol at TE (92, senior, catch in traffic 97). Top-3 of 83.3.
OL
B-Brooks Jr. at LG (80, senior, stamina 91). Top-3 of 77.7.
DL
B-Allen Jr. at LEDG (82, senior, injury 95). Top-3 of 78.3.
LB
BMachado at MIKE (86, senior, tackle 93) and Glass at WILL (82, sophomore, injury 89). Top-3 of 82.3.
DB
B-Stampley II at CB (81, senior, stamina 93). Top-3 of 79.7.
ST
CTop-3 of 71.7.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Spread (Houston Default)
Run Spread because Koziol at senior TE plus Weigman at junior QB anchors the design. Koziol works the seam at senior 92 with catch in traffic 97, catching 94, and awareness 93. Weigman lets it rip at junior QB with throw power 93 and throw accuracy mid 88. Sanford II breaks the line at sophomore with acceleration 95. Connors complements at senior HB with stamina 95 and acceleration 93. Johnson stretches the field at senior WR with acceleration 92.
Why this fits
A B+ TE grade led by Koziol plus a B RB grade plus Weigman's junior eligibility gives the Spread a TE-led design unique among Big 12 programs. Sanford II's sophomore eligibility plus Glass's sophomore eligibility plus Weigman's junior eligibility carry a three-deep multi-year offensive bridge.
Defense
3-3-5 Tite (Houston Default)
Run the 3-3-5 Tite because Machado at senior MIKE plus Allen Jr. at LEDG anchors the design's hybrid front. Machado reads run-pass at senior MIKE with tackle 93 and pursuit 91. Allen Jr. sets the edge at senior LEDG with injury 95 and toughness 92. Glass rotates at sophomore WILL with injury 89 and acceleration 88. Stampley II shadows the boundary at senior CB with stamina 93.
Why this fits
A B LB grade led by Machado plus the rare 3-3-5 Tite scheme gives Houston a hybrid front the rest of the Big 12 doesn't run. Glass's sophomore eligibility carries the multi-year LB bridge into Year 2-3.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- East TexasTier 4
- North TexasTier 2
- LouisianaTier 1
- AlabamaTier 1
- West VirginiaTier 1
- Metro AtlantaTier 1
- Southwest TexasTier 1
You'll recruit Texas hard. East Texas at Tier-4 is the home anchor, the Houston metro pipeline that gives Fritz a recruiting tool every other 3-prestige Big 12 program would trade for. North Texas at Tier-2 extends the in-state plan. Below that, five Tier-1 long-distance reaches aren't worth the spend. Fritz at B coach prestige can land specific Texas recruits the bigger Big 12 programs (Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State) also want, and the East Texas Tier-4 volume alone fills two cycles of premium classes.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 6-senior cliff. The senior cliff hits TE, MIKE, LEDG, CB, WR, and LG hard. Replacement TE behind Koziol is critical because Koziol's 92 OVR is the offensive identity. After TE, replacement MIKE behind Machado, replacement LEDG behind Allen Jr., replacement WR behind Johnson, replacement OL behind Brooks Jr.
Avoid the long-distance Tier-1 cluster (Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Metro Atlanta) entirely beyond a single targeted player. Lock the East Texas Tier-4 plus North Texas Tier-2 in-state plan and let the recruiting volume work.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Houston
Year 1
The Koziol-Machado Year
You're inheriting a 3-prestige roster with a 77 overall and Koziol at senior TE 92. Don't experiment. Run Spread, throw to Koziol on every other snap, ride Machado and Allen Jr. on defense, let Weigman run tempo with Sanford II rotating at HB. Year 1 is Big 12 contention at 8-9 wins on the senior class. While you're winning, sign the TE-and-MIKE Year 1 class that East Texas Tier-4 plus Fritz's B coach prestige closes.
Goal
Big 12 contention, 8-9 wins, top-30 recruiting class with TE and MIKE at the top.
Years 2-3
The Weigman-Sanford Window
Six senior anchors graduate. Weigman becomes the senior QB; Sanford II becomes the junior HB; Glass becomes the junior WILL. The Year 1 TE recruit replaces Koziol, the Year 1 MIKE recruit replaces Machado. Fritz's Program Builder archetype on the Year 1 East Texas class is the multi-year hinge.
Goal
7-8 wins, Weigman at 87+ as a senior, East Texas class held.
Year 4+
The East Texas Compound
By Year 4, the dynasty depends on whether the East Texas Tier-4 pipeline plus North Texas Tier-2 closed enough multi-year talent to backfill the senior cliff and whether F coach stability cost the program a coordinator change cycle. Realistically, sustained 7-8 wins in the Big 12 with Texas-anchored classes restocking the roster.
Goal
Stable 7-8 win Big 12 program with the East Texas Tier-4 pipeline and the rare 3-3-5 Tite identity intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for a Program Builder Fritz Year 1 contention sprint with Koziol at senior TE 92 and the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense, with caveats. Houston enters CFB 26 with a 77-overall roster, B coach prestige and F coach stability under Program Builder Willie Fritz, and a B+ TE grade led by Koziol. The F coach stability mark and 6-of-10 senior cliff are the structural caps.
What's Houston's prestige in CFB 26?
Houston enters CFB 26 with a 3-star prestige rating, paired with B coach prestige and F coach stability. The East Texas Tier-4 home plus North Texas Tier-2 form a Texas-anchored two-region recruiting plan that gives Houston the Houston metro recruiting reach.
What playbook does Houston use in CFB 26?
Willie Fritz's Houston runs the Spread offense and the rare 3-3-5 Tite defense. The Spread fits Koziol at senior TE plus Weigman at junior QB. The 3-3-5 Tite deploys Machado at MIKE (86, senior, tackle 93), Allen Jr. at LEDG (82, senior, injury 95), and Glass at WILL (82, sophomore, injury 89).
Who is Houston's best player in College Football 26?
Tanner Koziol at 92 OVR, senior tight end, with catch in traffic 97, injury 95, and catching 94. Koziol is the highest-rated player on the roster and the highest-rated TE in the editorial set. Jesus Machado at MIKE (86, senior, tackle 93) and Re'Shaun Sanford II at HB (85, sophomore, acceleration 95) round out the top three.
Should I rebuild Houston or take an easier team?
Houston is a Year 1 Big 12 contention sprint plus a Weigman-Sanford multi-year window, not a four-year quiet build. The Year 1 ceiling is Big 12 contention behind Koziol; the Year 2-3 floor depends on Weigman developing into the senior QB and the Year 1 East Texas class filling the senior cliff. Take Houston if you want Koziol-led Year 1 with East Texas Tier-4 recruiting reach. If you want a similar Big 12 profile with stronger coach stability, look at Texas Tech.