The Houston Cougars just did something that hasn't happened since David Klingler was slinging the ball around the Southwest Conference: they won 10 games.

Houston beat LSU 38-35 in the Texas Bowl, pulling off a fourth-quarter comeback against an SEC opponent that was supposed to roll them. It's the Cougars' first 10-win season as a power conference squad since 1990, and it announces them as a legitimate threat in the Big 12.

The Quick Hit

• Final score: Houston 38, LSU 35
• The play: Dean Connors' late TD run sealed the win
• Why it matters: Houston's first 10-win season in 35 years
• The upset: Cougars were underdogs against the SEC Tigers

Fourth Quarter Comeback

Houston trailed for most of the game. LSU's offense had been moving the ball, the Tigers' talent advantage was showing, and it looked like the Cougars were heading for a respectable but losing effort.

Then the fourth quarter happened.

Running back Dean Connors punched in a late touchdown that put Houston ahead for good. The defense held, LSU's final drive stalled, and the Cougars escaped with a victory that will define their program's transition to Power Four football.

This wasn't a fluke. Houston played physical, controlled the clock when it mattered, and made the plays down the stretch that winning teams make.

Big 12 Statement

The Big 12 is 2-0 in bowl games so far, with BYU also pulling off a fourth-quarter comeback against Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The conference that lost Texas and Oklahoma has found new life with programs like Houston, BYU, and Cincinnati.

Houston's victory over an SEC team sends a message. The Cougars can compete with anyone, and they're building something sustainable under this coaching staff.

Historical Context

The last time Houston won 10 games was 1990, when David Klingler threw for over 5,000 yards in Andre Ware's run-and-shoot system. That team went 10-1 and finished ranked 7th in the country.

This 2025 team won't finish ranked that high, but they proved they belong. Beating LSU — a program with national championship pedigree — in a bowl game validates everything Houston has been building.

Betting Takeaway

Houston covered as underdogs and cashed the moneyline for anyone brave enough to take them. The Big 12 underdogs have been money in bowl season, and the trend continued Saturday.

The Bottom Line

Houston is back. Not "back" as in returning to past glory — "back" as in announcing themselves as a program that can compete at the highest level of college football.

Ten wins. An SEC scalp. And a bowl trophy to bring home.

The Big 12 keeps winning, and Houston is leading the charge. Don't sleep on the Cougars next year.